VOL. 18, NO. 4 / FALL 2023 / URNER BARRY'S REPORTER • 23
hands. This practice aids in cultivating
a more accurate inventory calculation
and more effective ordering.
Comparatively, about half the time is
saved using the Autocado, minimizing
the time it takes to prepare the store's
number one add on item, guacamole. It
maximizes all hands-on deck to service
more daunting, complicated tasks.
AI has been effective in detecting
patterns that have aided in the
preparation of menus and can even
generate responses to abundant
social media posts and reviews. It will
in fact become more ubiquitous in
foodservice as these few examples
show how investments made in this
technology helped boost profitability
and progress customer service for
many businesses.
Article contributed by Natasha Estremera
nestremera@urnerbarry.com
Meanwhile, White Castle recently
expanded their partnership with
SoundHound, a tech firm that
specializes in AI and voice-recognition
technology solutions. The first
phase of the partnership introduced
SoundHound's technology powered
voice AI ordering at select White
Castle drive-thru locations. And now
a new agreement will extend that
technology to over 100 of White
Castle's U.S. drive-thru lanes by the
end of 2024.
"White Castle is committed to
investing in the best available
technology to create welcoming and
enjoyable drive-thru experiences for
our customers," commented Mike
Guinan, Vice President, Operations
Services for White Castle. "Our
partnership with SoundHound has
allowed us to be first movers in this
space and we're excited to do even
more to satisfy cravers everywhere.
Working together, we'll be able to
deliver the drive-thru experience of
tomorrow today."
That "drive-thru experience of
tomorrow" includes orders taken
and processed in just over 60
seconds, plus constant and reliable
performance, and even a 90% order
completion rate that exceeds previous
staff-based benchmarks.
Other than greeting customers and
taking orders, some AI has even been
put to work-literally. The "Autocado,"
a collaborative robot prototype, has
been tested in a Chipotle in Irvine,
California. Up to 25 pounds of
avocados are inserted vertically, and
the robot peels, pits and chops the
fruit. It then drops it into a large metal
canister where final ingredients are
added before being mashed by human
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