Sargasso sister, Pronto, to deliver more than just eats
Entrepreneur Colin Rego and his team have a need for speed.
The founder and chief executive officer of Sargasso Technologies Ltd has introduced micro fulfilment centre Pronto, which he describes as a “smaller, faster Amazon”.
With the tag line “Daily essentials, delivered fast”, Pronto’s three-month pilot testing phase went live on December 1, promising fast delivery of a wide range of goods at the lowest prices on the island.
Goods available include groceries, snacks, beverages, health and beauty products, home and office supplies, pet supplies, beer, wine and spirits — and much more.
Mr Rego said that Pronto is adding products daily.
He added: “These 90 days are all about engaging and receiving feedback from the local market of customers. We need to listen to what they’re saying.”
A team of agents fills online orders at a centrally located micro fulfilment centre and delivers them to customers island-wide.
Delivery is a flat $10, or free for orders of more than $100.
Mr Rego said that customer expectations have grown well beyond Amazon’s once-market-leading same-day delivery.
He said: “Within 15 to 25 minutes — that is how fast some of the orders are being delivered, especially in the three central parishes.
“We are now moving towards a 15-minute delivery model.
“It’s the inevitable evolution of the hyper-connected consumerism we live in today.”
He said that Sargasso Technologies’ goal is to employ “technology for the good of the community”, adding: “Pronto is our first initiative in an effort to provide solutions to existing problems.”
The problem being addressed by Pronto, Mr Rego said, is Bermuda’s “increased cost of living”.
He said that Pronto works with local wholesalers and wishes to include local vendors’ goods for sale.
Mr Rego said: “It’s important to support the existing community as well.”
He stressed that his outfit prefers a collaborative approach.
Mr Rego added: “We attempted on multiple occasions to work with existing entities — suppliers, grocers, government — but there was resistance to collaboration.”
After a year and a half, Mr Rego said, “we were left to say ‘we either not do it or we do it by ourselves’.”
He said that Pronto is at present using Sargasso Sea’s delivery agents, but the plan is to build a fleet of Pronto agents.
The organisation has one micro fulfilment centre now but will expand to more locations over the next 12 months, he added.
Customers can order online on Pronto’s main shopping platform at www.pronto.bm, or on the Sargasso Sea platform.
The former is preferred, particularly for larger orders.
Mr Rego added that a Pronto app is in the works and may be available as early as March.
Pronto is open 8am until 11pm daily, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.