As voice AI and robotics technology becomes more intelligent and widely used, one of the common complaints from the user end is that the technology is not sophisticated enough to handle interactions as fully as humans. That means no. For example, voice AI company Presto recently published an article detailing its “human-in-the-loop” approach to voice AI. These are the people who can replace humans when AI cannot understand them. Presto says that’s not necessary. It will run 85% of the time.
Not only are robots and AI becoming increasingly adept at understanding human guests, they are also becoming more conversational. Vox AI is (yet another) voice AI company looking to revolutionize drive-thrus, differentiating itself by claiming to be the most intelligent and conversational voice AI on the market today. RichTech Robotics, known for its robot barista/bartender ADAM, announced a similar update to its drink-making robot, making it more conversational than previous versions.
In other news this month, POS integration platform Chowly acquired digital marketing platform Targetable and PathSpot introduced a new platform targeting food safety.
Tech Tracker brings together what’s happening in the restaurant industry’s technology space, including news from restaurants, vendors, digital platforms, and third-party delivery companies. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and why.
Vox AI debuts as “Most Conversational Drive-Thru AI”
Vox AI will unveil advanced AI and machine learning technology for voice ordering in drive-thru lanes at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2024. Although the company is just one of many voice AI platforms in the crowded market of drive-thru voice assistants, Voice AI stands out by being the most conversational and intelligent drive-thru voice AI system in the world. claims to be better than other products.
“We don’t claim to be perfect from day one,” Maurice Clune, CEO and founder of Vox AI, told The Nation’s Restaurant News. “Instead, Vox AI will only be taken over if it proves to be as good or better than humans, which typically happens within 100 days of implementation. It’s very unlikely that you’ll need a break.”
The company also uses generative AI to unscript the interactions, allowing the AI to converse with guests even in off-topic areas. For example, if a guest asks a question about Taylor Swift, you can get an unscripted response without the computer freezing up.
Other areas where Vox AI aims to stand out include availability in over 35 languages, response speed (currently response latencies are less than 350ms), and hardware integration that can be connected for $500 and takes less time. Contains processes. 100 days of listening and learning from drive-thru conversations.
“AI systems train themselves every day and evaluate whether they can outperform humans,” Clune said. “Once Vox AI outperforms humans, Vox AI will take over and the human agent will be able to spend more time doing other tasks inside the drive-thru, such as cooking.”
RichTech Robotics updates ADAM to become more conversational
ADAM, the robot barista/bartender, was a featured exhibit at the 2022 National Restaurant Association Show, and now ADAM’s parent company, RichTech Robotics, is making the robot more conversational and able to sense guests first. We are upgrading to be able to greet you.
ADAM’s latest upgrades were showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show and will interact more naturally with guests, leveraging a chest camera to recognize when a customer is approaching and using generative AI to tell a joke or offer a drink. We introduced the robot’s new ability to carry out meaningful conversations. Recommendations.
“This technology not only addresses current labor issues, but also enhances the guest experience and makes robots more engaging and interactive,” Matt Casella, president of RichTech Robotics, said in a statement. . “Our goal is to reduce the labor burden and allow restaurants and bars to focus on other areas of their business while supporting their current staff, helping them grow, scale and increase revenue. ”
Chowly acquires Targetable
Digital ordering platform Chowley announced the acquisition of automated digital marketing platform Targetable this month, marking its second acquisition in the past year, following the acquisition of digital ordering platform Koala in early 2023. Become.
The purpose of Chowly’s new digital marketing division is to provide an affordable alternative to traditional marketing companies for restaurant brands. Ultimately, Chowly wants to become a one-stop shop for carriers’ external and digital technology needs.
“Combining these two businesses is a true ‘better together’ story that will help tens of thousands of restaurants increase sales without operational headaches,” said Sterling, co-founder and CEO of Chowly.・Mr. Douglas said in a statement. And what Mark has built with his Targetable shows a deep understanding of the customer and is perfectly aligned with how restaurants want technology to be done for them. ”
PathSpot introduces upgraded food safety platform
PathSpot has long been a leader in food safety technology for restaurant operators and now introduces an upgraded hardware and software integration platform called Safety Suite that uses cloud-based analytics to modernize safety procedures doing.
Popular hand scanner machines (which can analyze the relative cleanliness of employees’ washed hands) are now joined by other food safety technology tools such as temperature control, expiry timelines, and advanced labeling systems to help employees can now always be kept up to date. Health inspection requirements to identify and reduce food safety risks while optimizing the workforce and promoting a safer backstage environment.
Safety Suite provides real-time feedback and data insights to your employees.
“As the hospitality and food service industry continues to face a variety of macroeconomic challenges, brands cannot afford to spend time manually managing safety and compliance, resulting in food waste and significant costs. They are at risk of closure, insurance price increases, failed audits, and more,” PathSpot co-founder and CEO Christine Schindler said in a statement. “Our new SafetySuite digitizes your complete health and safety system, streamlines audit processes, improves reporting accuracy, and allows employees to focus on what matters most: food and guest experience. Our tools save operators meaningful time and resources.”
Chatmeter upgrades customer feedback platform with AI
We previously wrote about Chatmeter as one of the many technology vendors experimenting with generative AI, and the brand reputation management platform is expanding its capabilities for social media and review websites with a new program, Pulse AI: Signals. We’re taking it to a new level. This upgrade provides real-time data and analysis of specific customer sentiment, using generative AI to answer questions such as “Does the customer like the new chicken sandwich?” “What do our customers think about the wait times at our stores?”
In addition to answering direct questions, the new Chatmeter platform can provide “at-a-glance” data such as top-performing restaurant locations and top positive and negative topics on social media/review channels. Masu.
“We have made quick and effective changes to improve the guest experience,” Richard Clarke, senior manager of loyalty and guest feedback for Northland Properties, a Canadian hospitality group, said in a statement. “The result is increased future bookings, repeat stays, and guest loyalty. His Chatmeter’s ability to close the loop and generate positive results in response to customer feedback is truly impressive.
Tock adds restaurant experiences to the platform
Tock on Wednesday announced the creation of “Multi-Experience Tables” as a new and creative way for Tock user operators to earn more revenue. The idea is to take the resources restaurants already have (chef’s tables, best tables in the house, private rooms, etc.) and turn them into ticketed experiences. Restaurateurs can also dig a little deeper and offer experiences like live music, private food and wine classes, and specialty tastings. Examples include omakase and sake pairings at Shibumi in Los Angeles, food and wine pairings at Wanderlust Wine Co.’s wine cave in Austin, and an executive chef’s day at Nisei in San Francisco.
GoTab launches phone-only POS system
We already predicted that smartphones would replace kiosks as the new hub of consumer engagement in 2023, and now we see how important smartphones have become to restaurant operations. GoTab has announced a new phone-only POS platform that eliminates the need for a card reader and features features such as an OLED display, contactless payments, and multi-day battery life.
“We believe the future of hospitality will require different ways to order and pay to better suit team members and guests,” GoTab co-founder and CEO Tim McLaughlin said in a statement. “There is,” he said. “Phone-only POS allows operators to process payments without a card reader and allows team members to quickly process payments from their pocket-sized mobile devices on the go. We have identified a market need for this.”
