We’re excited to announce DRG’s latest leap into the future of restaurant operations. We’ve started testing voice AI in drive-thrus at two of our California Taco Bell locations, Yorba Linda and Lake Forest.
At DRG, we lead in innovation.
“A lot of individuals really don’t understand it,” Angel City Bell Sr. VP of Ops Bob Schalow says.
Bob explains how artificial intelligence (AI) works. “As a guest pulls up into the drive-thru, they are greeted with an AI computer basically taking their order … it allows the order to begin with AI and then if the team member needs to take over because there’s some confusion or the guest has a difficult order, we always have a team member ready to step in and help out.”
According to Bob, there’s been a healthy learning curve with the AI test and he says the restaurant teams have “grown to love it.”
Lawrence Kim, Chief Innovation Officer at Taco Bell parent company Yum! Brands, recently expressed to CNN how confident he is in the AI technology being used.
“It’s been exciting to be on the front edge,” Bob continues.
Voice AI doesn’t replace team members — it helps them be more efficient while increasing productivity.
“We’re the first franchisee to do so in southern California and it’s had great results,” says CEO and President SG Ellison of the voice AI test.
At DRG, we’re proud to be at the forefront of advancements in the quick service industry and even prouder to be associated with a brand that is so strong in leading the way! According to this CNN article, Taco Bell parent company Yum! Brands plans to roll out voice AI to hundreds of U.S. Taco Bells by the end of the year!
Check back for more news on the results!
