News

Coke, Omnivore launching restaurant digital marketplace covering apps to third-party delivery

Coca-Cola North America is making a big move into foodservice tech this fall when the company said it will launch a digital marketplace that can connect restaurant customers to what it said in a news release will be "pre-vetted, industry-best restaurant technologies with competitive pricing."

June 25, 2019

Coca-Cola North America is making a big move into foodservice tech this fall when the company said it will launch a digital marketplace that can connect restaurant customers to what it said in a news release will be "pre-vetted, industry-best restaurant technologies with competitive pricing."

The company said that the tech will include front-, back- and outside-of-house solutions powered by POS connectivity platform, Omnivore. The two companies have collaborated for the past year on this effort which they say stands as a result of the Coke's investment in the platform late last year. 

The partnership also addresses a big restaurant industry need to keep pace with the breakneck speed of technological evolution current in the foodservice space, while providing the research and testing of available offerings that can be so costly but critical to appropriate tech selection. 

"Coca-Cola's digital marketplace addresses these concerns," according to the release. "Experts at Coca-Cola and Omnivore have partnered to vet today's leading foodservice technologies, taking the guesswork out of finding the best-in-class digital solutions for restaurant operators."

The curated marketplace is focused on both customer engagement and restaurant operations, including: 

• Online and tableside ordering and payment.
• Customer engagement. 
• Kiosks. 
• Digital menus. 
• Inventory technology. 
• Labor/employee platforms. 
• Analytics. 
• Third-party delivery. 
• Loyalty programs/platforms. 

Coca-Cola North America Director of Digital and Payment Platforms for National Foodservice and On-Premise Marketing Billy Koehler said this sort of digital leadership is continuation of a theme for the company, which has long been involved in seeking out equipment and services that will help restaurateurs do their jobs better. 

"Decades ago, we provided customers with value-adds like Coca-Cola-branded cash registers and static Coca-Cola signage," he said in the release. "In the 21st century, combining our expertise in foodservice and digital to offer tangible technology solutions provides the most value for our restaurant partners who always welcome an edge to increase their revenue. The marketplace is just one example of the digital solutions we'll be rolling out for customers in the months to come."

The marketplace is scheduled to open this September and access is free for restaurant clients of Coke. The companies said costs for marketplace technologies varies, though Coke clients will receive "more competitive rates," the release said. 

Coca-Cola and Omnivore this spring launched their so-called "Menu Management Solution" app earlier that gives brands a level of ownership and control over their their digital menu content and branding brand digital platforms. 

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