Pizza Hut Partners with Toyota for Futuristic Delivery Initiatives

The world’s top car manufacturer and the company behind the biggest pizza delivery service on the planet have joined forces. Pizza Hut and Toyota announced their global partnership on Monday as the two powerhouses explore ways to innovate the pizza delivery service.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held from January 7-12 in Las Vegas, Toyota revealed their designs of a self-driving delivery vehicle called e-Pallette. In partnership, Pizza Hut revealed that they are one of the founding members for this new initiative called the “mobility service business alliance” that also involves companies like Amazon, Didi, Mazda and Uber. The new delivery concept comes after Pizza Hut deputed several new initiatives meant to improve their pizza delivery service. Such innovations include new delivery pouches designed to maintain the heat of pizzas and have them delivered 15 degrees hotter than before. Pizza Hut also developed a delivery algorithm to improve accuracy and reliability when it comes to delivery times. They have even pilot tested a beer and wine delivery service in the US.

“In our ongoing and relentless pursuit to own and define the modern pizza experience for our customers, we are focused on technology-based solutions that enable our team members and drivers to deliver even better customer experiences,” said Artie Starrs, President of Pizza Hut, U.S. “With Toyota, we are excited to be partnering with an undisputed leader in human mobility with a reputation for innovation, reliability and efficiency, as we define the pizza delivery experience of the future.”

Toyota’s initiative to develop flexible, purpose-built, fully-autonomous vehicles will help them partner with many other companies looking to innovate their mobile services. Toyota plans on testing out their new e-Pallette vehicle in the US by as early as 2020.

Pizza Hut, who is planning on using these vehicles to innovate their delivery service, is also looking into designs that have mobile kitchens inside the e-Pallette. Such innovations could better their service in delivering pizzas of the upmost freshness.

In addition, the two companies are working on plans to improve the current driver/delivery environment. Starting early this year, the companies are going to test dual communication technology to track the behaviours of Pizza Hut drivers. From this data the companies will improve the performance, safety and delivery of their e-Pallette vehicles.

“The common ground between our two global brands is fueled by innovation that enriches peoples’ lives,” said Zack Hicks, Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Connected. “The e-Palette Alliance and e-Palette fully-autonomous vehicle are major steps in our expansion to advance products and services that help provide mobility for all, and we’re thrilled to continue the journey in partnership with Pizza Hut.”