Innovator Develops, Scales Payment Tech
Priyanka Mehra, Director of Product Management, Olo, received Hospitality Technology’s Top Women in Restaurant Technology - Innovator Award at MURTEC 2023.
Mehra was among 15 women recognized for their accomplishments. HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards, sponsored by Paerpay, are now in their seventh year.
Mehra recognized the opportunities to make a difference in the restaurant technology space. “Restaurants & hospitality is a massive industry and an underpenetrated space when it comes to software and technology,” she said about her career path. “It’s exhilarating to support the development of industry-first products that meet direct operator needs and make a meaningful impact on operations and guest relationship management.”
After working for Microsoft, Mehra joined Olo in 2015 and helped grow its delivery enablement platform, Dispatch, from a few hundred to more than 25,000 locations in three years. Her colleagues cite her extensive product management know-how, a strong ability to scale combined with deep knowledge of Olo. “An established product leader with strong technical expertise and a clear track record of creating restaurant products that improve the day-to-day experience for guests and operators alike, Priyanka is a key contributor to Olo’s continuous growth, innovation and success as it drives the industry forward,” her colleagues say. “She’s played a key role in developing and growing Olo’s payment business, redefining the checkout process for guests, and increasing efficiency and profitability for restaurants through her work on Olo Pay and Borderless. Her impact spreads beyond guests and operators with Olo Women’s Network, as she strives to be a positive influence for both the industry and her peers in 2023 and beyond.”
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Meaningful Support
This past year, Mehra supported the launch of Olo Pay, the company’s first fully integrated payment platform designed to help restaurants grow and protect their digital business. “I’m proud to be on a team supporting Olo’s newest segment offering and pioneering the future of digital payment within the industry,” she explained.
Mehra’s accomplishments also include founding Olo’s largest employee resource Group, Olo Women’s Network.
“As a female working in restaurant technology, I’m eager to share my story and provide a safe place for my peers to engage in meaningful conversations that support women in the workplace,” she said. Mehra is striving “to foster a sense of belonging and acceptance within the Olo community and inspire others to progress in their careers.”
Ops + CX
Mehra said she is passionate about technology that allows restaurants to not only increase operational efficiency but also support their mission of pleasing their customers.
Looking ahead, Mehra is excited about the future of payments. “Streamlined digital payments are long overdue for the restaurant industry. I’m eager to watch solutions like Olo Pay catch on as brands realize the benefits of secure and speedy checkout. I’m eager to watch solutions like Olo Pay catch on as brands realize the benefits of secure and speedy checkout. …We are not only redefining the checkout experience for guests through advanced mobile wallet support and fraud tools, but also improving the day-to-day lives of our customers by providing them tools that cause less overhead and manual efforts,” she said.
After a call for nominations, Top Women in Restaurant Technology Award winners were chosen by Hospitality Technology magazine and members of its Research Advisory Board. The winners were announced and honored during an awards program on March 8 at the 28th annual MURTEC (Multi-Unit Restaurant Technology Conference), in Las Vegas. HT will begin accepting nominations for the 2024 Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards in mid- October.
