Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grabbed everyone’s attention recently. Though it’s been around a while, it’s finally hitting its stride, with an expected 37% growth by the end of this decade. Let’s dive into how AI is shaking things up in the restaurant and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) game, both now and in the future.

Finding hungry customers

• AI chatbots: Missing a customer’s call can be a deal-breaker – 83% of customers will bolt if they get sent to voicemail. AI chatbots understand and answer questions in everyday language, like booking a table or checking wheelchair access. They’re like your superhero call-answerers, saving sales that might have slipped through the cracks.
• Personalised marketing: AI helps you tailor your marketing to individual tastes. Meat lovers get the burger scoop, while vegans hear about veggie pizza specials. When customers feel valued and understood, they are more likely to return and spend with you.
• Social media sherlock: People talk about you more than they talk to you. AI can keep tabs on social media chatter, so you can spot issues and ways to improve. It’s your secret agent for social media surveillance.

Streamlining orders

Voice orders: We’re all used to talking to Siri and Alexa, so why not chat with AI to place orders? AI handles voice orders quickly and accurately, whether you’re ordering on your phone or at a kiosk.

Face recognition: Add AI face recognition to the mix, and it can identify customers, fetch their order history, and suggest extras – all of which can boost your sales. Plus, it speeds up payments, making the whole ordering process a breeze.

Enhancing delivery efficiency

Delivery partners: If you work with various delivery partners, AI can quickly figure out which one can get the order to the customer the fastest and at the right cost. It’s like having a GPS for delivery.

Optimising routes: For delivery drivers, AI is your co-pilot, helping to map out the quickest routes and even combine multiple orders for efficiency.

Smart inventory

By considering past sales, forecasted weather, local events, and anticipated demand for specific dishes and beverages, AI helps restaurants order the right ingredients, reducing waste and enhancing profitability. AI’s ‘what if’ analysis capabilities can also anticipate the impact of price fluctuations on profit and automatically adjust prices, menus, or provide insights for human managers to make informed decisions.

Staffing solutions

AI helps you find the right balance in staffing. It predicts customer demand based on past data and external factors, like local events or the weather. No more under or overstaffing.

In a nutshell, AI offers opportunities to boosts sales, trims costs, speeds up service, and ensures consistency. But remember, AI can’t replace the warm, human touch that makes guests feel welcome. The true power of AI lies in its ability to free up time for humans to focus on what they do best – delivering an exceptional guest experience. In this symbiotic relationship between AI and human expertise, the hospitality industry stands to benefit immensely.