Restaurant technology provider Olo has collaborated with Zipline to bring autonomous drone delivery option onto its ordering platform.
The integration, which goes live in early 2026, will allow restaurant brands using Olo Rails to select Zipline’s drone network as a fulfilment option.
This results in a connected platform, helping operators manage both conventional and drone-based delivery through the same system.
Olo Rails connects orders placed via third-party delivery marketplaces directly with restaurants’ point-of-sale (POS) and kitchen display systems.
The tool is designed to centralise workstreams, replace manual order entry and cut down on input errors.
Olo founder and CEO Noah Glass stated: “As brands embrace innovative technologies to automate low-touch tasks such as delivery, we're ensuring our platform evolves with them.
“Integrating Zipline's proven drone delivery capabilities into Rails gives our customers – from emerging brands to enterprise leaders – seamless access to the future of last-mile logistics without added complexity. Together, we’re redefining convenience, consistency and brand-controlled guest experiences.”
Zipline currently caters to customers in 20 cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including restaurant brands.
The autonomous delivery company runs services on four continents, handling orders of up to 5.5 pounds in weight and aiming to increase that limit to 8 pounds.
The drones are thermally insulated to maintain food temperature, and individual flights typically take less than five minutes.
Zipline vice-president of partnerships Chris Kenney stated: “Through this partnership, we’re making drone delivery accessible to innovative, forward-thinking brands of all sizes, so that they can enhance guest experiences while reducing operational complexity and environmental impact.
“People love getting food Zipped to them – it keeps hot items hot, cold things cold, and brings dinner for the whole family in a magical delivery experience.”
In August 2025, US fast-casual chain Chipotle Mexican Grill partnered Zipline to launch an aerial delivery service called “Zipotle” in Dallas, Texas.
