It’s a host’s worst nightmare, running out of alcohol at a party.
What do you do next? Leave the party and run to the store to grab another 12-pack of beer or a couple bottles of wine? Do you just turn out the lights and send everyone home?
Tommy Riley and his friends became all too familiar with this reality last summer. They’d draw straws to determine who would make the run out to the liquor store.
During their workdays, the team was building and exploring the applications of voice skills. Combining their unfortunate party experiences with this technical ability, they began to develop a voice skill that would allow users to order alcohol from their Alexa or Google Home.
In April, Riley and the Handoff Tech team launched its solution in Denver to provide alcohol delivery that could be ordered with a sentence or two.
With Handoff Tech’s voice skill, users can talk to their Alexa and Google Assistant to order a specific product or ask for a recommendation.
Want a 12-pack of Coors? You got it. Want a bottle of red wine for under $20? Handoff Tech will recommend some of the most popular brands it has in its inventory.
After receiving an order, the company’s technology will identify the closest partner liquor store with the customer’s order in stock and place the order. The company partnered with Bonnie Brae Liquor to launch in Denver, primarily because Bonnie Brae already has a delivery infrastructure in place.
Riley said Handoff Tech guarantees delivery in 60 minutes or less.
“It’s a fairly simple ordering process and customers and retailers have really enjoyed it,” he said. “Our immediate plans are to dominate Denver and Boulder throughout the holiday season.”
After launching in Denver in April, Handoff Tech debuted in Boulder this week. The company is expanding carefully and plans to launch in New York City in early 2020 as partner liquor stores have already signed on.
“This is a future-proof way for liquor stores to connect with customers in real time,” Riley said.
Whether you’re ordering a bottle of wine or a keg, Handoff Tech charges a standard delivery fee of $5. The company also has a mobile app that uses a chatbot to take orders.
Riley said the three-person company is eyeing partnerships in some of the major U.S. metros as it plans a national expansion in the coming year.
“We’re super excited about this convergence of on-demand delivery and voice technology,” he said.
