Taco Bell Embraces AI Drive-Thrus, Aiming for Increased Restaurant Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction

Fast food giant pulls plug on AI-powered voice-ordering at about 100 outlets after viral videos of order mishaps. You can see why this would be an appealing idea if you live in a big, tourism-heavy city. Every single ChatGPT App time you find a new authentic local place to call your own, it’s inevitable that a flood of Instagram-laced influencers and obnoxious tourists will swoop in to make the whole experience substantially less enjoyable.

Increasing sales through tailored suggestions can be a game-changer for operators who often face thin profit margins. In Toast’s recent Restaurant Trends Report, we explored the popularity of lunch foods at quick-service restaurants. We are constantly looking at how AI applications generally are performing in the industry, as well as other industries. We’re keeping an eye on all kinds of use cases out there to understand if there’s anything that we might be able to uncover that we’re not already thinking about. As we reflect on what’s happening in the competitive space, I would say we feel more and more bullish on our approach with the technology that we’ve developed and also with the partner that we have in Google Cloud.

Prior to joining MicroTouch, John held senior roles for Samsung, Elo Touch Solutions, Tyco Electronics (TE Connectivity), ViewSonic Corporation, and Tech Data. John has over 30 years of experience managing and creating sales, marketing, and product strategies for multibillion-dollar organizations. He is a true leader with a sense of balance who is focused, creative, and driven. Asher explained that although restaurants have recovered to a great degree from a critical labor shortage that began in 2020, they still face challenges in hiring and retaining employees. Now, the focus is on maximizing labor and reallocating workers to hospitality-focused activities rather than on mundane tasks.

This commitment to growth not only enhances my skills but also contributes to a more dynamic and innovative work environment. I regularly explore articles, white papers, and books on data science, AI, and related fields to deepen my knowledge. Moreover, I seek mentorship to guide my growth, and I also mentor others, creating a two-way learning experience that fosters innovation contributing to the growth of the next generation of talent.

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The restaurant industry went through one of its most tumultuous periods in years when Covid hit, with millions of jobs suddenly lost, followed by a worker shortage when the economy recovered. According to Goyal, the use of AI to generate dish images led to numerous customer complaints. Interactive projections with 10k+ metrics on market trends, & consumer behavior.

The company’s Beastro was designed to use AI to create personalized dishes, thereby cutting labor costs and cutting food waste. White Castle has been testing AI provided by speech recognition company SoundHound. And Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and others use AI drive-through tech that an SEC filing revealed was underpinned by remote human workers in the Philippines most of the time. He spent 16 years leading the Retail and Hospitality Services Practice Group at Kronos.

Key features of Slang.ai include:

Regularly gathering customer experience insights and analyzing customer feedback can help identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments. A closer look at the data shows that there are differences between demographics in terms of acceptance and preference for AI technology in everyday experiences. This information is intended for informational purposes only, and not as a binding commitment.

Taco Bell’s AI drive-thru rollout comes amidst growing skepticism surrounding the rapid integration of AI into various sectors. Labor advocates have raised concerns about potential job displacement, and even industry leaders acknowledge the need for careful implementation. Despite these concerns, Yum! Brands remains committed to its “AI-first mentality,” with AI already playing a role in its restaurant management SuperApp. The company is also testing AI technology in five KFC locations in Australia, demonstrating a broader commitment to exploring AI’s potential across its portfolio of brands. The goal for these companies is to automate order-taking, potentially reducing the need for human employees or allowing staff to focus on other tasks. However, concerns about order accuracy and customer satisfaction have raised questions about whether the technology is ready for widespread adoption.

ConverseNow’s cutting-edge voice AI technology allows restaurant guests to place orders and have their queries answered using natural human speech, making the ordering process more efficient and customer-friendly. AI-driven menus or suggestions from their server can direct diners toward popular and well-liked items they will most likely enjoy and toward higher-margin items, streamlining the experience and saving servers time. This can lead to quicker service, enhance the overall dining experience, and foster a connection between the diner and the restaurant, encouraging repeat visits and increasing average order value.

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AI-powered tools can provide next-level benchmarking insights, allowing operators to quickly compare their performance with eateries in their area and understand local market dynamics across menu items and operational metrics. Asher added that restaurants recognize that if they know their customers’ likes and habits, they can enhance customer experiences and upsell more effectively. AI can analyze customer data to provide insights that give restaurants those benefits. While our primary focus is on the back-of-house (BOH)—from food preparation to cleaning—we foresee that labor shortages and rising minimum wages will continue to challenge the industry. Restaurants need to remain profitable, and lowering food quality is not a viable solution. As costs rise across various areas of the business, the long-term answer lies in incorporating technology, both in BOH and front-of-house (FOH).

Sambvani estimates that in-demand establishments receive between 800 and 1,000 calls per month. Typical callers tend to be last-minute bookers, tourists and visitors, older people, and those who do their errands while driving. In the sea of AI voice assistants, hospitality phone agents haven’t been getting as much attention as consumer-based generative AI tools like Gemini Live and ChatGPT-4o. And yet, the niche is heating up, with multiple emerging startups vying for restaurant accounts across the US.

• In the front of the house, AI chatbots and virtual assistants can handle reservations.
• Lumachain’s technology captures real-time data on the condition of items throughout the supply chain, providing a comprehensive view from farm to table.
• “IBM has given us confidence that a voice ordering solution for drive-thru will be part of our restaurant’s future, and we want to sincerely thank IBM and the restaurant teams that have been part of this crucial test,” Smoot said.
• These assistants utilize conversational AI to interpret nuances in speech, anticipate ordering patterns, and even suggest upsells based on real-time data analysis.

It’s starting to help restaurants generate demand on their own without having to do a lot of manual work that often they don’t have the time to do. To assist restaurants in this transition, Zomato is offering discounted photoshoot services to its partners. As part of this initiative, the company will provide professional photoshoots at a rate of INR 4,000-5,000, depending on the proportion of the menu that requires photography. The Wobot video analytics solution also gives retailers real-time visibility into customer demand patterns, speed of service, and security compliance. The fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain said Tuesday that it is partnering with Paradox, a maker of what the technology company calls “conversational” AI, to launch the new hiring platform.

The restaurant industry is rapidly evolving, with artificial intelligence playing an increasingly significant role in enhancing operations, customer experience, and overall efficiency. From streamlining kitchen processes to personalizing customer interactions, AI tools are changing how restaurants function in today’s competitive market. Food waste is increasingly becoming a problem for restaurants, costly in both financial and environmental terms. You can foun additiona information about ai customer service and artificial intelligence and NLP. First let us understand the challenges with the restaurants business with respect to food wastage. The fundamental challenge is to adhere to the standardised process and protocols for food management at restaurants.

As the system learns from more complete AI sessions, it continuously improves, leading to a more consistent and efficient ordering experience over time. One of Mai’s standout features is its ability to learn and improve continuously through conversational AI and machine learning. This enables the system to refine its understanding of menu items, ordering preferences, and customer interactions over time. Mai’s inclusivity is another key strength, with the platform adhering to section 508 accessibility compliance and catering to cognitive and dietary accessibility needs. This ensures a seamless and personalized experience for all customers, regardless of their specific requirements.

The minority female-founded company has developed a traceability solution that, in real-time, tracks the origin, location, and condition of individual items in a supply chain, from farm to table, enabling reduced waste and increased efficiency. Lumachain’s traceability platform is complemented by its Computer Vision AI platform that monitors operations inside food production plants, to improve quality, efficiency and safety. Momos, an AI-powered customer platform for multi-location brands, has raised $10 million in Series A funding to help food and beverage, retail and other multi-location businesses drive their entire customer lifecycle. Led by 645 Ventures, with participation from existing investors Alpha Wave Global and Peak XV and first-time investors, Soma Capital, FJ Labs, Taurus Ventures and Correlation Ventures, the investment brings the company’s capital to $17 million. AI voice ordering systems and other AI technologies will be part of the future of restaurants.

In my opinion, adoption of AI will have major contribution to larger hoteliers working on franchise model and it will be very effective in inventory management. It wasn’t long ago that AI struggled to reliably produce food that stirred our appetites at all, more often generating freakish and off-putting fare. Yet in an academic paper published by the journal Food Quality and Preference earlier this year, researchers found that AI models tended to make food “appear somewhat glossier and with warmer and more uniform lighting,” enhancing its appeal. In fact, participants in the study rated AI-generated images as “more appetizing than real photos” when not informed of which images were fake and which were authentic.

While human-powered data discovery and analysis is time intensive, these same tasks can be accomplished in minutes using AI. The technology can rapidly surface data and identify and analyze patterns related to customer habits and preferences, track sales trends, forecast demand for ingredients, and identify operational bottlenecks. These types of actionable insights are valuable in helping restaurants improve operational efficiencies to reduce costs and enhance profitability. AI-powered benchmarking for competitive pricing and operations 

Many restaurant operators lack the time to benchmark or compare their performance against their peers.

• AI is also a great tool to help restauranteurs develop content tailored to their business.
• VOICEplug AI is an innovative platform that seamlessly integrates with existing communication systems to provide customers with a natural voice conversation and command experience.
• Ciaran Martin is a Senior Local SEO Consultant at Add People digital marketing agency.
• “I got my first taste of Wendy’s and have been enjoying [it] ever since,” says Spessard, who joined Wendy’s in 2020 as vice president of restaurant technology and has served as chief information officer since February.
• The popular eatery’s multisensory dining experiences draw customers from different parts of the world.

The collaboration aimed to develop and deploy an automated voice ordering solution to simplify operations for crew members and enhance the customer experience. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told CNBC in June 2021 that the voice recognition system was accurate about 85% of the time, necessitating human intervention for approximately one in five orders. While the future of new technology is promising and solidified in the industry, it’s crucial to remember the timeless elements that keep customers coming ChatGPT back. As we embrace innovation and elevate it, let’s not lose sight of the human touch, work ethic, and managerial excellence that have been the bedrock of the restaurant industry for over a century. In the ever-evolving landscape, the next level of success lies in the hands of leaders who seamlessly blend technology with humanity, creating an unforgettable dining experience for patrons. LumachainHeadquartered in Sydney, Australia, Lumachain’s mission is to improve how food is produced, for good.

Momos was founded in 2021 by Alluri and Andrew Liu, alongside a team from Uber, Grab, Microsoft and Intuit. The team had previously managed thousands of businesses at UberEats and GrabFood, and found that existing solutions could not help brands manage their customers seamlessly across multiple locations. In particular, the Momos team saw the opportunity that AI presented, and partnered with OpenAI from its inception, starting as a member of the GPT-3 beta program. While the path forward for AI in fast-food drive-thrus may still have challenges, it also offers immense potential for innovation and improved customer service. Restaurant AI solutions are undeniably in the nascent stage; therefore, expect solutions to evolve as technology advances and AI models learn. However, keep in mind that those advancements are occurring at a faster pace than when previously disruptive technologies came to market.

I remember one of our customers in the Boston area, they were launching online ordering and they wanted to run a promotion to get the word out. And I think it was dollar burritos, and it broke the restaurant because of the demand. chatbot restaurant Every time I talk to restaurant owners, they talk about how that show just brings to life what it is like working in restaurants. In the episode I did watch, they have all these online orders and the restaurant can’t fulfill them.

Additionally, the platform’s 24/7 availability ensures that customer inquiries and orders are managed round the clock, minimizing missed opportunities and enhancing overall customer service. Future – Predictive analytics algorithms could be used to predict future trends and events which, in turn, will help the restaurants to forecast the future inventory needs. AI algorithm could be trained on past data of including the customers purchasing style, events, most preferred food category, seasonal requirements, thus forecasting a restaurant’s need accurately. In addition to the expansion of Voice AI across Taco Bell U.S. drive-thrus, five KFC restaurants in Australia are simultaneously testing Voice AI technology in drive-thrus. While Yum! Brands has not disclosed its technology partners in this endeavor, they have emphasized the system’s ability to comprehend diverse pronunciations of menu items, a direct response to past criticisms of similar technologies. Despite McDonald’s challenges, Taco Bell remains confident in its AI-powered drive-thru system.

The company’s cloud-based platform supports multiple languages and caters to various high-volume ordering channels, including phone orders, drive-thru interactions, self-service kiosks, and voice-assisted chat on mobile devices. She is focused on using innovative methodologies to help brands deliver exceptional customer experiences. Livers believes in the power of data and is committed to empowering her clients to bring the voice of the customer into the boardroom. She  has held a number of senior executive positions including CEO, President, and EVP with market research firms, and has managed seven of the top ten QSR chains’ national mystery shopping programs, including McDonald’s. In the fast-paced world of fast food, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a topic of heated discussion, especially with giant brands adopting (…or, ahem, dropping) this new technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

ConverseNow, the leading provider of voice AI technology for restaurants, has joined forces with Adora POS, a leading point-of-sale system for single point and multi-point restaurants. Through this partnership, Adora POS customers now have access to ConverseNow’s market-leading voice AI solutions, designed to streamline phone ordering processes and drive consistent upsell strategies. Restaurants can also use facial recognition to learn about their customer base without identifying specific people. The technology helps restaurants understand customer preferences across different demographics, track their interactions, and gain insights that enable managers to make informed decisions about operations, marketing, and customer service enhancements. This alliance delivers PolyAI’s lifelike voice AI to help restaurants tackle challenges around staffing and provide consistent hospitality, even off premise.

This expertise will be crucial as Checkmate expands its reach to serve mid-market and enterprise brands. ’s Next-Generation Cloud First POS System—a technological innovation that enhances operational efficiency and empowers employees. Also enhancing operational efficiency is Taco Bell’s Touch Kitchen Display System (Touch KDS), a technology that streamlines order prioritization and enhances accuracy. The technology has been rolled out to most of the company’s restaurant locations.

Last May, voice ordering AI garnered much attention at the National Restaurant Association’s annual food show. Bodega, the high-end Vietnamese restaurant I called, used Maitre-D AI, which launched primarily in the Bay Area in 2024. Newo, another new startup, is currently rolling its software out at numerous Silicon Valley restaurants.

Recently, Popmenu has expanded its AI capabilities to tackle major industry hurdles such as labor shortages and missed revenue opportunities. The platform’s AI-driven features automate various aspects of restaurant operations, from creating personalized marketing content to managing customer calls and delivering in-depth analytics. This comprehensive approach allows restaurant operators to streamline their processes, make data-driven decisions, and focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences. In the front of the house, AI chatbots and virtual assistants can handle reservations. They answer frequently asked questions and recommend menu items based on customer preferences. With predictive analytics, restaurants can also anticipate busy periods and staff accordingly.

Some, but not all of the AI concepts discussed in this article are currently offered by Toast to customers. The development, release and timing of any products, features or functionality remain at the sole discretion of Toast, and are subject to change. The technology aids in making informed decisions about menu changes and additions, helping menus remain exciting and relevant, and helping avoid over or underreacting to the newest trend. Szot said restaurants are finding that their customers are more comfortable with facial recognition.

These are paired with text recipes either directly copied from other websites or generated by AI programs that have scraped such material. (That in itself is something of a problem for home cooks in an age when Google AI is recommending Elmer’s glue as an ingredient for tomato sauce.) Despite all this, the page has 44,000 followers. Restaurateurs are often dealing with the here and now, because they’re just running their business today. Bringing that to life at scale with data, I think, is something that’s very much possible. The latest development comes at a time when Indian enterprises have started leveraging AI to improve their services and increase efficiency amid the global GenAI boom. Effective from Monday (September 16), non-compliant restaurants will be delisted from the platform, Zomato’s food ordering and delivery division CEO Rakesh Ranjan told Financial Express.