Olo reposted this
You’re lucky in your career if you get the opportunity to work on a truly breakthrough product. Something that revolutionizes an industry. If you get just one of those in your career, you should consider yourself fortunate. We launched Olo 19 years ago and we’ve since been fortunate enough to launch several breakthrough products. Starting with text message ordering in 2005, years before the iPhone was announced. It hadn’t been done before and it put Olo on the map. 2008 helped us realize that we must pivot to serving restaurants as a B2B offering to achieve scale. So in 2009, we introduced enterprise online ordering, which was POS and payment integrated and branded to look and feel like the brand. It was all wrapped up as a SaaS (software as a service) offering with a monthly fee instead of an upfront and ongoing investment of tens of millions on a homegrown platform. Restaurant guests wanted the food brought to their doorstep, so in 2016, we introduced nationwide direct delivery as a service with the launch of Dispatch. Then came the unprecedented. In 2020, COVID rocked the restaurant industry, and Olo scrambled to help dozens of brands activate online ordering, contactless pickup, and delivery so they could continue operating safely. I believe we will look back on 2022 and the introduction of Borderless as a watershed moment for the industry. Our customers came together and created something that benefits everybody. As a result, millions of Borderless guests now enjoy passwordless, secure logins and faster checkout experiences across the entire Borderless network of restaurants. 2024 has accelerated the road to 100% digital. We’ve expanded strategic POS partnerships with providers such as Qu POS, NCR Voyix, and TRAY, positioning restaurants to collect and connect the dots of guest data from every transaction to provide truly personalized experiences and make every guest feel like a regular. As I reflect on 19 years of innovation, 19 years of breakthrough moments have become our legacy and motivation in pursuit of our mission: Hospitality at Scale™️ That’s the ideal future state for the restaurant industry and its guests. In our history lies the blueprint for accelerating the future.
And building a company that is amazing to work for in the process. Starting a company is one thing. Building one with amazing people and culture is another thing entirely. I’m so proud to be a very small part of such an amazing group!
Such a cool journey, Noah Glass. Ever since I sat at a lunch meeting with you (maybe 1.5 years ago??) in a lovely NYC restaurant, I've thought of that story you told me then about "every guest feeling like a regular." You and Olo really live the whole philosophy and vision. Fun to watch the success. 🥂
So very glad and grateful to be a part of the magic - here's to miles and miles more of that Olo(TM) hospitality and service. Onwards and Upwards!
I think the intention is to make an impact and to grease the friction points of industry. Not every idea does this the first time out. Or at all. Congratulations
It great story Noah and well deserve successful one too. To more discovery and success to come
So much has been done, and so much is yet to come! I started just before the Covid scramble, and it's been a wild journey since! Looking forward to continuing the journey. :) ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨
Here's to the miles ahead 🥂 I am so thankful to be a part of team Olo!
Love seeing this journey of constant innovation. Congratulations Noah on a wonderful business.
And we're just getting started!
You forgot to include leading the ARTS Self Service Order Interface Technical Specification in 2012. This is where we got to work together. I like to claim your success is because of me 😎