Latest news with #Byte
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Yum Brands turns to AI to aggregate social media, third-party reviews
This story was originally published on CX Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CX Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Yum Brands' rollout of Byte, a system of AI-powered technologies, is helping the restaurant company improve customer and employee experiences, executives said on a Q2 2025 earnings call Tuesday. Taco Bell is using Byte to make it easier for customers to customize digital orders, according to Chris Turner, chief financial and franchise officer at Yum. Turner, who will take over the CEO role in October, said easy digital experiences drive overall sales growth. Yum brands can use a AI-powered voice of the consumer tool to aggregate consumer reviews from social media and third-party platforms and use that feedback to optimize restaurant operations, CEO David Gibbs said. Dive Insight: Yum's AI investments are part of a connected brand strategy that aims to simultaneously strengthen operations and enhance customer experience. Taco Bell's drive-thru voice AI rollout has reached 600 locations, according to Turner. The AI, which takes orders and relays the information to staff to simplify operations, has led to reduced employee turnover in locations where it is deployed. 'I was actually amazed at how seamless those consumer conversations were when wearing the headset for an hour and a half to two hours,' Turner said during the call. 'There was only one of those conversations where we needed [intervention] from a team member in the store, and the voice AI made that job dramatically easier.' Yum has seen the importance of its digital ordering experience across its brands, which also include KFC and Pizza Hut. Digital as a share of total sales reached 57% overall in the second quarter of 2025, up 7 percentage points year over year, according to Gibbs. KFC recorded high digital growth, with sales up 22%,Gibbs said. The increase brought KFC's digital mix to 60% of total sales. Taco Bell reached a record 41% digital mix, according to Gibbs. The increase was driven in part by loyalty program offerings, and loyalty membership grew 45% year over year. Digital sales reached $9 billion systemwide, according to a company earnings report. Same-store sales were up 2% year over year, with growth at KFC and Taco Bell offsetting a decline at Pizza Hut. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can Wendy's Digital Push and Gamified App Lift Engagement and Sales?
The Wendy's Company (WEN) is leaning on digital investments to improve engagement and drive sales as consumer traffic remains under pressure. In the first quarter of 2025, the company continued to enhance its digital channels, with app engagement reaching an all-time high. The digital mix rose to more than 20% of total sales, supported by new features that encourage customer interaction beyond the point of purchase. A key development is the gamification of the Wendy's app. This feature was introduced to deepen user engagement and build repeat visits. The app now offers more personalized content and targeted digital messaging, which the company believes is helping improve conversion rates. Another major focus is the rollout of Fresh AI and digital menu boards. As of the first quarter, Wendy's deployed Fresh AI in 168 locations and remains on track to reach more than 500 by year-end. The technology suggests curated add-ons at the point of ordering, which is already leading to higher average checks. It also aims to improve order accuracy and crew productivity, two areas linked directly to customer satisfaction. Wendy's plans to scale its digital initiatives throughout 2025. The combination of gamified engagement, personalized app features and in-store technology is expected to support stronger customer loyalty and lift average spend. As adoption increases, the digital platform is set to play a larger role in driving long-term growth. Digital transformation continues to shape strategies across the restaurant space, with Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM) and BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) focusing on operational upgrades and guest engagement. Yum! Brands is benefiting from strong performance at its KFC and Taco Bell divisions, along with continued growth in digital sales. The company is expanding its Byte platform with AI-powered personalization and loyalty integration. A new partnership with NVIDIA is expected to accelerate Yum! Brands' AI adoption across drive-thrus, kitchens and restaurant management, supporting faster service and improved team productivity. BJ's Restaurants is advancing digital upgrades across systems to streamline service and control costs. Enhancements to POS and kitchen display tools have improved order speed and accuracy, while also lowering food and beverage comp costs. In select markets, BJ's Restaurants is using AI-driven labor scheduling and forecasting to boost efficiency and guest sentiment. Off-premise digital experience remains a focus, with broader improvements planned later in the year. Wendy's shares have lost 12.2% in the past three months against the industry's growth of 4.6%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research WEN is currently priced at a discount relative to its industry. It has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 11.31, which is well below the industry average. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share has remained stable in the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Wendy's Company (WEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
CMG Financial's Courtney Thompson and Susan Walker Named 2025 HousingWire Women of Influence
SAN RAMON, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 2, 2025 / CMG Financial, one of the nation's top mortgage lenders, is proud to announce that two of its Executive Vice Presidents, Courtney Thompson and Susan Walker, have been named to HousingWire's 2025 Women of Influence list. This prestigious award honors women in housing who are making notable contributions to both their organizations and the industry at large. With their innovative thinking, leadership, and vision for the future, Courtney and Susan exemplify what it means to lead with impact. "This year's honorees include mentors, innovators, and community leaders," wrote Lesley Collins, HousingWire Editor's Choice Awards Program Manager. "Many are paving the way for future generations through mentorship, volunteer initiatives, and by serving on boards that influence key industry practices. Collectively, their efforts are shaping not only their companies but also the communities they serve and the future of housing itself." Courtney Thompson, EVP of Servicing at CMG, has spent the past year tackling one of the biggest challenges in mortgage servicing: building a modern, borrower-first platform from the ground up. Tasked with developing a fully in-house servicing solution, she's led a bold effort to move beyond outdated legacy systems and create something built for today's consumer. Under her leadership, the platform has taken shape as a fully connected ecosystem-one that keeps loan officers involved post-close, gives borrowers access to personalized tools and insights, and reshapes how homeowners interact with their loans. It's not just a tech project-it's a reinvention of the servicing experience, and it's already drawing attention across the industry. Susan Walker, EVP of Corporate Efficiency at CMG, has spent the past year acting as the voice of the loan officer, translating feedback from top performers into meaningful enhancements to CMG's core platforms, CLEAR and Byte. By embedding herself directly with Product and Technology teams, she helped identify workflow inefficiencies and delivered rapid-fire improvements that drove adoption, boosted morale, and aided in bolstering these systems into competitive strengths. Her impact earned her a seat on the Executive Management Team, where she now oversees Post Closing, Vendor Management, and Product. In this new role, she continues to lead with the same hands-on, cross-functional approach, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and identifying upstream efficiency and alignment opportunities. Her results speak volumes: a West Division that topped $3B in volume, over 100 strategic hires, and a culture that now embraces technology more than ever before. Susan's work isn't just about optimizing systems, it's about building a smarter, more resilient CMG. "Courtney and Susan are both exceptional leaders and trusted partners who bring passion, clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility to everything they do," said Paul Akinmade, Chief Strategy Officer at CMG Financial. "They care deeply about their work, their teams, and the future of this company. What stands out is how they bring people together to drive meaningful change, from the first moments of origination all the way through to servicing." CMG congratulates both honorees and thanks HousingWire for recognizing the leadership, excellence, and trailblazing impact of women across housing finance. To read their full Women of Influence profiles, click here. About CMG CMG Mortgage, Inc. NMLS ID# 1820 ( ) is a well-capitalized mortgage lender founded in 1993. Founder and CEO, Christopher M. George, was Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association in 2019. CMG makes its products and services available to the market through three distinct origination channels including retail lending, wholesale lending, and correspondent lending. CMG currently operates in all states, including the District of Columbia, and holds approvals with FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA. CMG is widely known throughout the mortgage banking and housing markets for responsible lending practices, industry and consumer advocacy, product innovation, and operational efficiency. About HousingWire HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets, boasting a readership that spans lending, servicing, investments, and real estate market participants, as well as financial market professionals. With over 10 million annual unique visitors, HousingWire is the community for mortgage and housing professionals to engage and connect. Industry decision-makers rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Media Contact Annaugh MadsenPhone: (667) 260-6360Email: amadsen@ SOURCE: CMG Financial press release
Associated Press
02-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CMG Financial's Courtney Thompson and Susan Walker Named 2025 HousingWire Women of Influence
SAN RAMON, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 2, 2025 / CMG Financial, one of the nation's top mortgage lenders, is proud to announce that two of its Executive Vice Presidents, Courtney Thompson and Susan Walker, have been named to HousingWire's 2025 Women of Influence list. This prestigious award honors women in housing who are making notable contributions to both their organizations and the industry at large. With their innovative thinking, leadership, and vision for the future, Courtney and Susan exemplify what it means to lead with impact. 'This year's honorees include mentors, innovators, and community leaders,' wrote Lesley Collins, HousingWire Editor's Choice Awards Program Manager. 'Many are paving the way for future generations through mentorship, volunteer initiatives, and by serving on boards that influence key industry practices. Collectively, their efforts are shaping not only their companies but also the communities they serve and the future of housing itself.' Courtney Thompson, EVP of Servicing at CMG, has spent the past year tackling one of the biggest challenges in mortgage servicing: building a modern, borrower-first platform from the ground up. Tasked with developing a fully in-house servicing solution, she's led a bold effort to move beyond outdated legacy systems and create something built for today's consumer. Under her leadership, the platform has taken shape as a fully connected ecosystem-one that keeps loan officers involved post-close, gives borrowers access to personalized tools and insights, and reshapes how homeowners interact with their loans. It's not just a tech project-it's a reinvention of the servicing experience, and it's already drawing attention across the industry. Susan Walker, EVP of Corporate Efficiency at CMG, has spent the past year acting as the voice of the loan officer, translating feedback from top performers into meaningful enhancements to CMG's core platforms, CLEAR and Byte. By embedding herself directly with Product and Technology teams, she helped identify workflow inefficiencies and delivered rapid-fire improvements that drove adoption, boosted morale, and aided in bolstering these systems into competitive strengths. Her impact earned her a seat on the Executive Management Team, where she now oversees Post Closing, Vendor Management, and Product. In this new role, she continues to lead with the same hands-on, cross-functional approach, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and identifying upstream efficiency and alignment opportunities. Her results speak volumes: a West Division that topped $3B in volume, over 100 strategic hires, and a culture that now embraces technology more than ever before. Susan's work isn't just about optimizing systems, it's about building a smarter, more resilient CMG. 'Courtney and Susan are both exceptional leaders and trusted partners who bring passion, clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility to everything they do,' said Paul Akinmade, Chief Strategy Officer at CMG Financial. 'They care deeply about their work, their teams, and the future of this company. What stands out is how they bring people together to drive meaningful change, from the first moments of origination all the way through to servicing.' CMG congratulates both honorees and thanks HousingWire for recognizing the leadership, excellence, and trailblazing impact of women across housing finance. To read their full Women of Influence profiles, click here. About CMG CMG Mortgage, Inc. NMLS ID# 1820 ( )( ) is a well-capitalized mortgage lender founded in 1993. Founder and CEO, Christopher M. George, was Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association in 2019. CMG makes its products and services available to the market through three distinct origination channels including retail lending, wholesale lending, and correspondent lending. CMG currently operates in all states, including the District of Columbia, and holds approvals with FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA. CMG is widely known throughout the mortgage banking and housing markets for responsible lending practices, industry and consumer advocacy, product innovation, and operational efficiency. About HousingWire HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets, boasting a readership that spans lending, servicing, investments, and real estate market participants, as well as financial market professionals. With over 10 million annual unique visitors, HousingWire is the community for mortgage and housing professionals to engage and connect. Industry decision-makers rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Media Contact Annaugh Madsen Phone: (667) 260-6360 Email: [email protected] SOURCE: CMG Financial press release
The National
21-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Abu Dhabi cyberdog could support elderly in social care
Displayed at Gitex Europe in Berlin, 'Byte' is promoted as a low-maintenance alternative to man's best friend
