Growth Club
1851 Growth Club
%2Fstory1%2F2724173%2Fac23a9792ba7845e8c6a48d8c6a946467371_544x306.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Nation’s Restaurant News: Yum! Brands Is Testing Artificial Intelligence and Automation
The parent franchisor is implementing systems such as voice AI and beverage automation to increase efficiency across brands like KFC.
It looks like Yum! Brands, the parent company behind quick service franchises Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, is betting big on artificial intelligence (AI). In a recent earnings call, CEO David Gibbs hinted at more automation, calling AI a “big positive for the industry,” reported Nation’s Restaurant News.
The parent company is on track to have its automated inventory management (AIM) system rolled out across the KFC United States system by the end of 2023. The AI-module, which was developed in-house, predicts and suggests the product quantity that a general manager should order. The fried chicken franchise actually began exploring AI-powered digital menu boards all the way back in 2019 to automate the process of taking orders.
In addition to AIM, Yum! Brands is testing a voice-enabled AI drive-thru system in several of its California restaurants. Chief financial officer Chris Turner said the system has increased speed, productivity and efficiency. The system even provides automated upsell recommendations. The company is also testing a proprietary automated drinks fulfillment system, which will be integrated into its proprietary point-of-sale (POS) platform called Poseidon.
Yum! Brands will also be expanding its global data hub, which collects most of its global transaction-level sales data, amongst other metrics. Turner noted that the company will continue to develop and test new AI capabilities, such as personalized upselling recommendations and intelligent menu pricing recommendations, that “pull from the global data hub and integrate into our own technology platforms” in the coming year.
The parent company shifted 10 points of general and administrative expenses toward digital and technology over the course of the last three years, Turner pointed out. Notably, franchisees also share in those investments via fees.
To read the full article, click here.
Related Articles:
%2Fstory1%2F2726133%2F50749af80e21597f19b0867c423dec054579_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2726170%2F6a42923f1a8d59ecca6dd3770d8f19694710_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2725589%2Fd05753a39d9323576c5d6d89553af5858646_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2725614%2F74d32ff163633413c2e7cfc5a5d9422a9392_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2726193%2Ffb2d1ce4e98dd29939c5e75f92ac446e4322_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2726192%2F27eade7e5dbe46f24c2762de5ceb56372128_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2726187%2Fbc6fb1fe05d84245054a99e0ff9e38b16030_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
%2Fstory1%2F2726186%2F89e595a9c8a9749fcd5a4f8f34ec533f558_544x306.jpg&w=640&q=75)
