Are you tired of waiting in long drive-thru lines or struggling to understand a tired voice taking your order? Del Taco, the nation’s second largest Mexican fast food restaurant, is investing in the future of the drive-thru experience with the implementation of Presto Voice AI at multiple locations nationwide. This technology is designed to improve productivity, deliver a better guest and ‘staff’ experience, and drive increased revenue for the restaurant chain.
II. What is Presto?
Presto is a drive-thru automation technology provider that offers a variety of digital solutions to enhance the physical world of hospitality businesses. The company, founded in 2008 at MIT. and headquartered in Silicon Valley, has processed over 300 million transactions and is one of the largest labor automation technology providers in the industry.
Here are some of the Pro’s of Presto in drive-thrus:
- Improved labor productivity: With the technology handling drive-thru orders with little to no staff intervention, employees are freed up to focus on improving the customer experience.
- Increased suggestive selling: The AI technology can suggest additional items to customers, increasing revenue potential.
- Enhanced guest experience: Presto Voice AI reduces wait times and minimizes human error, improving the overall customer experience.
- Real-time metrics: Presto Vision™ provides 16 unique operational metrics on drive-thru performance that can help reduce wait time and increase order accuracy.
- Scalability: Presto Voice AI can quickly scale across thousands of restaurants.
Con’s of Presto in drive-thrus:
- Job loss: As technology takes over jobs, it can lead to job loss for employees who may have been handling drive-thru orders.
- Impact on economy: Automation in drive-thru can have an impact on employment and the economy.
- Dependence on technology: Restaurants may become too dependent on the technology and may not be able to function properly if the technology fails.
- Cost: Implementing the technology can be costly for restaurants.
- Complexity: The technology can be complex for employees to use and may require additional training for them.
While the benefits of Presto Voice AI are numerous, such as improved labor productivity, increased suggestive selling, and enhanced guest and staff experience, it’s hard to ignore the fact that this technology could potentially take over jobs.
III. How Presto Voice A.I. works at Del Taco
Last year, Del Taco conducted a comprehensive test of Presto Voice at select locations. The test involved the Presto conversational AI voice assistant greeting guests, reliably accepting their orders, and consistently offering upsell suggestions.
Presto Voice AI greets guests in a natural and conversational tone, allowing them to place their orders with ease. The technology also has the ability to suggest additional items to customers, increasing suggestive selling and potential revenue.
Over 95% of the drive-thru orders placed using Presto Voice were completed with no staff intervention, seamlessly being sent to the Point of Sale (“POS”) system and the Kitchen Display System (“KDS”). The technology has proven to be successful at select Del Taco locations, but it’s important to remember that as technology takes over jobs, it can also lead to job loss for employees who may have been handling drive-thru orders.
Presto Voice AI not only improves labor productivity but also enhances the guest experience by reducing wait times and minimizing human error. Staff can also benefit from the technology by being freed up to focus on other tasks and improving the customer experience.
By increasing suggestive selling and streamlining the ordering process, Presto Voice AI has the potential to drive increased revenue for Del Taco. However, as the technology takes over jobs, it’s important to consider the impact it has on the economy and the livelihoods of those who may lose their jobs.
IV. Future Plans for Del Taco and Presto Voice AI
Del Taco has decided to start deploying Presto Voice AI at additional locations nationwide after the success of the technology at select locations. This decision is in line with Del Taco’s vision of building a drive-thru that improves operational efficiency while delivering an elevated guest experience.
With its superior reliability and ability to quickly scale across thousands of restaurants, Presto Voice AI offers a significant advantage to restaurants by minimizing human error, reducing wait times, and freeing up staff to focus on improving customer experience.
Automation is an efficient and effective solution for the restaurant industry as the demand for convenience goes up and staffing headwinds continue. It can help restaurants minimize human error, reduce wait times and freeing up staff to focus on improving customer experience. Additionally, it can be a solution to the problem of labor shortage and can provide more consistency in orders and customer service. But it’s important to note that it’s not only the industry that benefits, but also the customers who can now have a more seamless and efficient experience.
V. Additional A.I. Products Offered by Presto
Presto also offers an additional AI-powered product, called Presto Vision™, which provides 16 unique operational metrics on drive-thru performance. These real-time metrics can help reduce wait time and increase order accuracy.
The 16 unique operational metrics provided by Presto Vision™ include things like: Number of cars in queue, average wait time, order accuracy, and more. These metrics can help restaurants understand and optimize their drive-thru performance, leading to a better customer experience.
Presto Vision™ can further enhance drive-thru performance by providing real-time data and insights on operational metrics. This can help restaurants identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize their drive-thru operations. However, it’s important to remember that as technology takes over jobs, it also has an impact on employment and the economy. It’s important for companies to consider and strategize how to minimize the negative impact on employees as much as possible.
Conclusion
Presto Voice AI offers numerous benefits for Del Taco and the drive-thru industry, such as improved labor productivity, enhanced guest and staff experience, and increased revenue potential. However, it’s important to remember that as technology takes over jobs, it also has an impact on employment and the economy.
It’s important to keep in mind that as technology takes over jobs, it’ll also have an impact on employment and the economy. It’s important for companies to consider and strategize how to minimize the negative impact on employees as much as possible.
