Panera Bread’s latest technology innovation is artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced drive-thru ordering.
The fast-casual restaurant chain is testing AI technology from OpenCity in drive-thru lanes at select stores in the greater Rochester, N.Y. area. The pilot stores, in Greece and Webster, N.Y., have implemented OpenCity’s proprietary voice AI ordering technology, called “Tori”, for drive-thru orders,
Tori is installed at these select locations and takes customer orders as normal at the drive-thru speaker, with Panera associates on standby to assist if needed to troubleshoot any issues. Drive-thru customers can pull up to the Panera drive-thru, place their order as usual with assistance from Tori, and pay a Panera associate at the drive-thru window.
Source: Chain Store Age
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