Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill, has announced the launch of Byte by Yum!, a proprietary AI-driven Software as a Service (SaaS) platform designed to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and empower team members across its global restaurant network.
Byte by Yum! consolidates essential systems into a cohesive, user-friendly platform, facilitating the adoption of artificial intelligence throughout Yum!’s brands. The platform encompasses a range of functionalities, including online and mobile app ordering, point of sale, kitchen and delivery optimization, menu management, inventory and labor management, and team member tools.
Joe Park, serving as President of Byte by Yum! in addition to his role as Chief Digital & Technology Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging its scale for digital advancement. “As the world’s largest restaurant company, Yum!’s scale allows us to make massive strides in growing our proprietary digital and AI-driven platform in partnership with franchisees,” Park stated. “We are thrilled to take this important next step to simplify and further integrate our industry-leading restaurant technologies under Byte by Yum!.”
The implementation of Byte by Yum! is already underway, with all four of Yum!’s brands in the U.S. utilizing elements of the platform to process more than 300 million digital transactions annually. Globally, 25,000 Yum! restaurants are employing at least one Byte by Yum! product.
Examples of the platform’s impact include Taco Bell U.S., which utilizes Byte by Yum!’s integrated online ordering, point of sale, and back-of-house technologies to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Pizza Hut U.S. employs the Byte by Yum! kitchen system to improve delivery times and provide guests with real-time order tracking. Additionally, KFC globally has scaled Byte by Yum!’s AI restaurant coach to ensure operational consistency and managerial efficiency.
The benefits observed from Byte by Yum! include digital transaction growth, increased pricing and promotional agility, improved order accuracy and delivery experiences leading to higher guest satisfaction, greater forecast accuracy for inventory ordering, and enhanced team member satisfaction with reduced turnover.
Yum! Brands’ strategic focus on digital and AI-driven platforms positions the company to lead the industry in technological advancements, driving growth and impact for both the company and its franchisees.
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