Buck Jordan here.

COVID-19 has drastically shifted almost all businesses to a delivery model.

Every single industry has now had more than a year to experiment with delivery technology, especially in the grocery and restaurant sectors.

Some of these businesses were made for that kind of change. Others were not, and suffered tremendously.

But those that took it in stride are now part of a new paradigm shift that is already changing the food industry for good. Delivery is not slowing down by any means. In fact, it’s only just ramping up.

You see, COVID has caused consumers and businesses alike to radically reevaluate the food chain.

Businesses in the food sector are now facing a new need for efficiency that trims costs and stimulates economic recovery. At the same time, customer expectations for speed, quality, low-touch, health and safety, and sustainability all challenge a business’s profitability from food cultivation to the moment of consumption.

Operators now face an uphill battle to stay in business, while simultaneously delivering consistent value to their consumers. For many businesses, delivery services are the answer.

Big and small startups around the world are now going all in on delivery, and standalone services are popping up. We’ve seen plenty of examples…

One example is from Bear Robotics, a company developing robots to serve food and help restaurant owners manage their business easier. The company has joined forces with the Houston Rockets to deliver food and beverages to fans using their Servi bot.

And Nuro, a robotic delivery vehicle company, has partnered with Dominos to make driverless, contactless pizza deliveries throughout Houston, Texas. Nuro completed a Series C funding round at the end of March.

This kind of problem-solving, scalable tech is exactly what I look for in my own investments, and I guarantee we’ll see a whole lot more players enter this space very soon. With that will come a brand-new opportunity to invest, for everyone… including you.

But before you decide to dive in, make some key considerations:

First, prioritize companies that can make delivery more efficient through robust data. It’s more complicated than ever, and customers are more demanding than ever for efficiency. I want to see companies that pay attention to proper data analytics so that they can make better decisions for their business and their consumers.

Next, look for strong partnerships that offer built-in customers. This also means more data access that the company can build into greater efficiency and tech prowess down the line to offer competitive leadership. Bear Robotics and Nuro are two great examples of this type of strong partnership.

And finally, consider consumption trends by consumers. Is there a niche opportunity, or will you go with an established food item or delivery service need (like Dominos and Nuro’s team up)? Both have their risk and reward potential.

At the end of the day, I’m not interested in investing in just another delivery company. The DoorDashes, Grubhubs, and Postmates of the world are one thing… but for any company entering the space, it’s just uninteresting if it’s not doing something special.

In every single industry, including food and delivery, I want to see a company that has some kind of technological edge. When it comes to investing, I’m looking for tough problems solved by good tech, because I think that these kinds of problems lead to good investments.

If a company wants to get outsized returns – which is exactly what investors demand – they’ve got to be doing something that’s really revolutionary and groundbreaking. That goes for delivery, and that goes for all aspects of the food services industry.

The rise of Intelligent Automation in the food technology industry is only getting started, and these developments certainly aren’t the last we’ll see from the sector. I’ll have my ear to the ground for the next biggest news out of the space, and you’ll be the first to know when something huge happens.

That’s all from me for now, but don’t go anywhere too soon. I’ll be back shortly.

We’ll talk soon,

Buck Jordan