AI automated voice ordering will soon roll out to some Carl's Jr. and Hardee's drive-thrus in the U.S.
CKE Restaurants Holdings, the chains' parent company, is expanding the technology to more locations in partnership with AI technology providers Presto Automation, OpenCity, and Valyant
AI.
The companies' voice automation tech will roll out to an undisclosed number of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, which operate around 2,800 restaurants in 44 states and 1,000 outside the U.S.
Pilot programs of AI technology from all three companies led to improved labor productivity at restaurants, according to CKE.
Testing of Presto's automated voice ordering resulted in a "significant" increase in revenue at select locations, according to the firm.
Presto said its Voice product was able to "upsell" customers more often, boosting the average check size at the restaurants.
McDonald's has also been testing an AI-powered voice system at certain drive-thrus.
Earlier this year, some customers said the AI-enabled voice ordering got their orders wrong.
IBM and McDonald's currently have a strategic AI partnership to scale the automated technology to more locations.
