Our Past, Present & Future...

More than a half century has passed since W.B. “Bill” Cunningham’s diligence and vision developed into Order-Matic Corporation.

Working alone in his garage, Bill developed an efficient, easy-to-use system, which he first installed in 1955 at the former Cattlemen's Drive In, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His unique system soon became the standard for electronic communication in the food service industry.

Bill displayed his ingenuity once again when he developed the ability for quick-serve restaurants to process multiple orders at one time—changing the manner in which major chains conducted business.

With the confidence of Troy Smith, founder of Top Hat Drive-In, soon to be known as Sonic Drive-In, Bill and his team embarked on another major step in communications. In 1980, Order-Matic introduced the Optimatic, a switchboard with the ability to process two orders simultaneously at a drive-in stall or drive-thru. The first Sonic Drive-In location using the Optimatic was on Lindsay Avenue in Norman, Oklahoma. This new technology increased service times, thereby changing the quick-serve industry forever.

Order-Matic continued to lead in quick-serve technology by introducing its first point-of-sale (POS) system in the early 1980s. This POS system offered the operator the ability to track the reply time, order process time, cook time and finally, delivery time. With this POS system, Order-Matic created its own new business intelligence for operating quick-serve restaurants.

Bill has received special recognition from Sonic Industries by being the recipient of the Troy Smith Award, a lifetime achievement award given to an individual who has helped Sonic become a front-runner in the quick-serve restaurant industry.

Order-Matic celebrates its 55th anniversary in business in 2010, a milestone reflecting Bill's philosophy, creativity and work ethic. The longevity of OMC confirms this Oklahoma company's dedication to creating innovative new products and providing customers with the finest equipment and service available in the industry.

Background Photographs courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society.