Tortoise Pivots from Last Mile Delivery to Mobile Commerce
The company is already working with 18 retailers, and the service is tap-to-pay.
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The News
Tortoise is pivoting away from its last-mile delivery roots to focus using its teleoperated robots for mobile commerce.
The compay has signed up 18 retailers who will use Tortoise robots as mini-mobile stores. Tortoise will provide the robot for free and take a cut of revenues.
Customers can pay for items simply with tap-to-pay, there is no app to download or site to register with.
The Story
The first subject line of the first OttOmate newsletter almost six months ago read: “Why Tortoise Might Speed Ahead in Robot Delivery.”
Welp.
Looks like I was wrong. Tortoise won’t finish last in robot delivery, it’s just finished with last-mile delivery. The company announced at the Curbivore show in Los Angeles today that it is pivoting to mobile commerce. And while I may have been wrong about Tortoise’s future, this seems like a smart move for the company.