CEO Tony Xu and DoorDash’s journey: The story behind autonomous deliveries
Today technology is doing something new every day, but behind every innovation there is a long struggle that ordinary people may not notice. Similarly, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said a candid thing about his company’s autonomous delivery journey that touches the heart. What he said at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference, Utah, made it clear that the world of technology is not just glamour, behind it there is also a story of “pain and suffering”.
CEO Tony Xu’s frank words – the journey was not easy
When he was asked on the conference stage how DoorDash’s autonomous delivery project is going, CEO Tony Xu said without sugarcoating – “This journey is full of a lot of pain and difficulties.” The company has been working on this project since 2017, but he told that it is like learning a new sport. A sport in which there is not just one, but five different subdomains, and it takes years to become a master.
He explained that just making software is not enough to create autonomous delivery. Hardware, logistics and human intervention all have to be mastered. And the truth is that it is rare for a single company to be equally strong in all of these things. But DoorDash’s ambition is to join the rare companies that can do this.
CEO Tony Xu’s multi-strategy plan
CEO Tony Xu made it clear that DoorDash is not running on a single track. The company is balancing its in-house research and external partnerships. In collaboration with Coco Robotics, robots are being trialled in Los Angeles and Chicago that deliver food and groceries on the sidewalk. On the other hand, drone deliveries are being run in Australia with Alphabet’s drone subsidiary “Wing”.
Not only this, DoorDash has created its own dedicated unit – “DoorDash Labs,” where proprietary delivery robots are being developed. Xu said that the investments the company started 8 years ago are now slowly showing returns. It is just the beginning, but the “first innings” of commercial progress is finally visible.
Still in testing phase in the U.S.
So far, U.S. customers have not seen any full-fledged autonomous service. CEO Tony Xu admitted that everything is still in the testing phase. Drone deliveries are running in Australia, but in the U.S., the process of obtaining permits has just begun. Xu refused to give a timeline because according to him it is a game of patience. Hurrying means compromising on quality and safety, and he is not in the mood to take risks with DoorDash.
CEO Tony Xu’s vision
If you keep the challenges and struggles aside, one thing is clear – CEO Tony Xu’s vision is long-term and bold. He believes that a mix of in-house development and partnerships will create a delivery ecosystem that can handle every complexity in the real-world. The goal in the future is to create a faster, safer and smarter delivery experience for customers.
Xu’s words also reminded us that innovation is not just a name for success stories. It is made up of failures, experiments and constant learning. For DoorDash, it is a marathon, not a sprint.
Conclusion
The story of DoorDash and CEO Tony Xu gives a simple message – big dreams require a lot of patience and struggle. The seeds that were planted like autonomy plants in 2017 are now showing small green shoots. Full bloom is yet to come, but the direction is clear. Autonomous deliveries may not be fully available today, but tomorrow they can become a normal part of our lives.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only. The views and updates given in it are based on statements by CEO Tony Xu at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference. This is not for any financial or business advice.
Also Read
UNH Stock Jumps as UnitedHealth Eyes 78% Members in Top-Rated Medicare Plans by 2026
