How Artificial Intelligence Is Advancing Foodservice Operations
March 2023
Strap in for a rapidly accelerating future. As technology advances and optimizes the foodservice industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a more widespread solution to operational challenges in foodservice, from assisting with everyday tasks to anticipating dining trends.
Increasing Efficiency
As staffing remains challenging for operators, finding innovative solutions is as crucial as ever. AI can compensate for labor shortages by minimizing human error and streamlining the customer experience. Casual dining pizza brand Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings has learned this firsthand by using ConverseNow, “the leading voice AI technology platform for restaurants,” according to FSR Magazine. Though inconsistent at first, AI has become more responsive and able to react to customers’ orders in profitable ways such as upselling.
In another AI success story, Jet Pizza generated $31.36 million in sales from their text message-based ordering system, which they adopted in 2019. The platform, OrderAI, can swap out a customer’s order from a Pepsi to a Coke, for example, and is able to save customer data and prompt reorders with a simple “yes” or “no” response.
Predict and Respond to Trends
AI platforms can even alert operators to consumers’ ever-changing preferences. By culling data from a broader range of sources, they can report on up-to-the-moment trends much faster and more accurately than traditional field research methods. But the most significant benefit lies in AI’s ability to synthesize tons of raw data into clear and actionable insights. A Nestlē-owned meal kit company called Freshly began using Tastewise, an Israeli AI food and beverage platform, to research consumer preferences. One of the first meals Freshly rolled out was their golden chicken with apricots, which the company developed based on data from Tastewise that showed an uptick in consumer demand for comfort food and global cuisine.
As technology continues to innovate the foodservice industry, operators are seeing the benefits of using artificial intelligence in new and unexpected ways. How would AI help in your operation? Share your thoughts on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. Or visit our Resource Center for more tips and trends.
Sources:
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/12/10/artificial-intelligence-improves-americas-food-system
https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/22103-how-ai-is-accelerating-front-end-innovation
https://www.fsrmagazine.com/content/anthonys-coal-fired-pizza-rolls-out-ai-phone-system
https://www.qsrmagazine.com/exclusives/jets-pizza-sticks-cutting-edge-ai-technology
https://www.clickworker.com/customer-blog/artificial-intelligence-food-industry/
https://www.qsrmagazine.com/technology/introducing-first-ai-photo-generator-restaurants
