Delphi Display Systems in Costa Mesa, a maker of indoor and outdoor digital menu signs, order confirmation systems for drive-throughs, speed-of-service timers and other fast-food restaurant-oriented technology, has inked a deal with Orange County’s largest restaurant chain.
The company said last month it would supply Taco Bell of Irvine with its latest generation order confirmation systems and technology, and that it would become Taco Bell’s preferred partner for order confirmation technology.
The Mexican food chain will use Delphi’s core offering, Endura 15X—a product used by quick-service restaurants in their drive-through operations. The outdoor display systems are used by restaurants “that require direct sunlight readability and reliable operation in harsh environmental conditions,” according to Delphi’s marketing materials.
The products can be integrated with a restaurant’s point-of-sale system and can stream or display video content directly from systems inside the restaurant.
The video stream goes both ways. The device allows consumers to see their order in real time, providing them a chance to spot any potential problems.
“They can catch mistakes and provide some up-sale opportunities,” founder and Chief Executive Ken Neeld told the Business Journal. “It increases efficiency and reduces errors in the ordering process.”
Taco Bell has annual sales of about $10 billion through some 7,000 locations, about 350 of them overseas. It plans to expand to 9,000 units, including 1,000 overseas, by 2022 as it aims for $15 billion in sales.
Delphi’s roots trace back to 1995.
It has long specialized in serving fast-food restaurants—Taco Bell has been a customer since its inception—and also serves the education, retail, and theme park sectors.
Delphi has more than 35,000 installations in more than 70 countries.
Customers include the University of California system, Disney and nearly every big fast-food chain, such as Panda Express, KFC and McDonald’s.
The company generates about $20 million in annual revenue, with international business accounting for about 20% of sales, though it’s still growing.
“We’re principally in Asia, but new areas of growth are in the Middle East,” Neeld said.
Last September, it disclosed a “seven figure” investment from Palo Alto’s Decathlon Capital Partners to fuel product innovation and grow sales.
Delphi employs close to 50 workers, most of whom are based in the company’s office on Hyland Avenue.
The company is trying to pivot from a product maker and distributor into a software services provider, an ongoing trend in the technology sector worldwide.
“That’s our long-term strategy,” Neeld said. “Most of all the development we’re doing now is cloud-based software solutions.”
Improve Traffic in LV
Santa Ana-based Iteris Inc., which makes sensors and other devices for traffic and agricultural applications, has linked with one of the world’s largest networking equipment makers in an effort to improve foot and vehicle traffic in Sin City.
The partnership involves the installation of Iteris’ video detection platform with Cisco Systems Inc.’s (Nasdaq: CSCO) Connected Roadways technology, which is used by traffic operators to monitor vehicles and roadways.
The joint system will analyze data from vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
A focus of the rollout is pedestrian safety and connected vehicle applications in one of the few cities in the nation with active autonomous ride-share vehicles on the streets. The emerging technology was put on display last month during CES, the world’s largest technology fest.
Beyond Las Vegas, a broader initiative between the two companies will target smart city programs across the country through joint sales and co-marketing activities highlighting the integration of Cisco communication systems into current and future projects.
Iteris (Nasdaq: ITI), buoyed by contracts with the Orange County Transportation Authority and Caltrans, boosted revenue to $102 million in the 12 months through June.
Its two-year sales growth of 23% was good enough to claim the 10th spot among midsize companies—those with revenue of $100 million to $499 million—on the Business Journal’s list last year of the fastest-growing public companies based in Orange County.
Its shares were trading at about $3.80 and a $127 million market cap as of last week.
