Pizza Hut is taking a leap into the future! The fast-food chain announced on Wednesday, February 27, that it has teamed up with delivery service FedEx as part of an ongoing effort to modernize and enhance the food delivery experience.
More specifically, the two companies joined forces to create something called the FedEx SameDay Bot which, according to a press release, is “a new autonomous delivery device aimed to revolutionize local delivery.” Testing for the bots is slated to begin as early as summer 2019 in select markets, and the computerized entities are expected to “serve as support to existing delivery staff in an effort to improve efficiency of the delivery process without compromising the quality of America’s favorite pizza.”
The bots, which were developed by FedEx and the DEKA Research and Development Corp., are equipped with proprietary technology that allows them to navigate unpaved surfaces, curbs, and even steps in order to deliver a flawless door-to-door delivery experience.
“Our success is built around the best-in-class experiences we provide to our customers,” said Nicolas Burquier, chief customer and operations officer of Pizza Hut, U.S. “As we look to advance our business and continue providing experiences that our customers deserve, exploring technology solutions that allow our team members to do what they do on an even greater scale is critical to our success.”
He added: “Testing of the SameDay Bot with FedEx is just one more way we’re looking to the future of delivery at Pizza Hut.”
This is hardly the first time the Texas-based chain has been a frontrunner when it comes to technological advances. In fact, Pizza Hut introduced the first way to order pies online in 1994 and has been a leader in the delivery space ever since.
“The FedEx SameDay Bot is an innovation being developed to change the face of local delivery and help brands like Pizza Hut address the growing needs of their customers,” said Brie Carere, executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for FedEx. “The FedEx bot looks to redefine delivery for this market in a manner that is cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly.”
Pizza Hut is also known for its fun and charitable gimmicks. In January, the chain offered a year of free pizza and Super Bowl LIV tickets to the first baby born after the kickoff in the face-off between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams, and the following month the company agreed to donate “a load of pizzas” to the homeless at the urging of singer Sia.
