Applebee's, Presto Enhance QSR Tech with AI and New POS Systems
Applebee's has chosen Toast technology as its new point-of-sale (POS) and kitchen display system (KDS) partner. This significant move aims to enhance customer experience and streamline service operations across all Applebee's locations. Applebee's, a well-known casual dining chain in the United States, has always appealed to consumers with its affordable prices and comfortable dining environment. On the other hand, Toast is a leading provider of digital solutions for the restaurant industry, offering a suite of services including POS systems, reservation platforms, and delivery services. By integrating Toast's advanced technology, Applebee's hopes to improve internal workflows and operational efficiency. The implementation plan involves a complete overhaul of Applebee's POS and KDS systems by the end of the year. Toast's team will collaborate closely with Applebee's to ensure a smooth installation and integration process. According to Applebee's senior management, the new systems will be more stable and reliable, significantly reducing customer wait times and improving order accuracy. The upgraded POS system will also expedite check-out processes, further enhancing the overall dining experience. The Chief Technology Officer of Applebee's is optimistic about the partnership's potential to boost operational efficiency and alleviate employee burdens. He emphasizes that Applebee's is committed to leveraging the latest technology to optimize service quality, and Toast's technology will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. Additionally, the new systems will enable Applebee's to collect and analyze operational data more effectively. The KDS system, in particular, will allow for precise monitoring of kitchen workflows, helping to identify and resolve issues promptly. The enhanced data collection and analysis capabilities will provide valuable insights for future business decisions, ensuring that Applebee's can adapt to changing consumer preferences and market trends. Industry experts have voiced positive reactions to Applebee's collaboration with Toast, viewing it as a strategic move in a highly competitive market. As customer expectations for dining experiences continue to rise, restaurants must adopt innovative technologies to meet these demands. Applebee's proactive approach to integrating advanced digital solutions demonstrates its commitment to staying ahead in the digital age and maintaining a leadership position in the casual dining sector. --- Presto Phoenix, Inc. recently announced the launch of a new phone ordering business unit during the Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC) in Phoenix. This expansion of Presto's enterprise-grade voice AI products for quick service restaurants (QSRs) is designed to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Presto Phoenix, Inc., a leading provider of drive-through voice AI services for the QSR industry, is headquartered in San Carlos, California. The company's CEO, Jay Lefevre, expressed excitement about adding AI-native phone ordering capabilities to Presto's portfolio, stating that this will enable the company to offer a broader range of voice AI solutions to its clients. The new phone ordering system leverages advanced voice recognition technology to automatically identify and process customer orders, reducing the manual workload for staff. Lefevre highlighted the system's real-time data analysis capabilities, which can provide immediate feedback on customer preferences, boost repeat business, and optimize inventory management. Following extensive internal testing, Presto has rolled out the new phone ordering business to a small group of major QSR chains, including McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC. These chains have reported significant improvements, with an average 30% reduction in order time and a 15% increase in customer satisfaction. These positive results have paved the way for wider adoption and market expansion. In the coming months, Presto plans to extend this service to more QSR clients, further driving digital transformation in the industry. To achieve this, the company will invest heavily in research and development to refine its voice AI technology and data analysis tools, ensuring the system can effectively meet the diverse needs of different restaurants and customer behaviors. Presto has also announced strategic partnerships with leading technology companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Google. These collaborations will leverage the extensive expertise in artificial intelligence and data analysis these companies possess. Such alliances are expected to accelerate Presto's technological advancements and speed up market penetration. Industry insiders see Presto's phone ordering business unit as a demonstration of the company's leadership in voice AI technology and a significant innovation for the QSR sector. As digital technologies continue to evolve, the application of voice AI in restaurants is expected to grow, significantly improving operational efficiency and service quality. This trend will provide customers with more convenient and personalized dining experiences, solidifying Presto's position as a frontrunner in the digital transformation of the restaurant industry. Presto Phoenix, Inc. was founded in 2010 and has since made notable achievements in the drive-through voice AI market, serving both domestic and international clients. The launch of the phone ordering business unit marks another important milestone in Presto's journey to provide cutting-edge digital services to QSRs. Together, these strategic moves by Applebee's and Presto illustrate a growing trend in the restaurant industry: the adoption of advanced digital solutions to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. By partnering with leading technology providers, both companies are poised to maintain their competitive edge and drive innovation in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of dining experiences.
