Latest news with #HiAuto
Business Insider
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Bojangles Rolls Out Spanish AI Ordering Across All Platforms with Hi Auto
Bojangles, the beloved Southern food chain known for its flavorful menu and signature hospitality, has expanded its partnership with voice AI leader Hi Auto to introduce Spanish-language AI ordering across drive-thrus, kiosks, and its mobile app. This marks one of the first major bilingual AI rollouts by a U.S. quick-service restaurant, setting a new precedent for inclusive automation at scale. The move builds on the successful launch of Bo-Linda, Bojangles' AI-powered drive-thru assistant introduced in June 2023. Bo-Linda was created to streamline the ordering process and enhance service speed. Now, the latest upgrade brings accessibility to the forefront, offering a more personalized and intuitive experience for the rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population. Expanding Leadership in Multilingual Voice Automation With this milestone, Bojangles joins Checkers & Rally's in embracing Hi Auto's leadership in scalable, multilingual voice automation. However, Bojangles takes it a step further, rolling out Spanish-language ordering across drive-thrus, kiosks, and the mobile app in a single coordinated launch. This strategic expansion underscores a focus on reducing friction in the user experience by supporting multiple languages across key interaction points, aiming to improve accessibility and communication in users' native languages. A Win for Teams and Guests Alike According to Bojangles' Chief Information Officer Richard Del Valle, the impact of the technology has gone far beyond convenience. 'To me, the biggest thing, or the biggest surprise, has been the improvement of the employee experience,' Del Valle said. 'If we can find ways to make their lives easier, which will then translate to a superior guest experience, that's a home run for us.' By offloading complex, multilingual interactions to AI, team members are able to stay focused on their core responsibilities, such as ensuring food quality, maintaining service speed, and delivering the warmth and hospitality that defines the Bojangles brand. An Answer to Growing Economic Power According to the 2025 Latino Donor Collaborative, Latino purchasing power in the U.S. has reached a staggering $4.1 trillion. This surge places Hispanic consumers at the center of the nation's economic growth and highlights the urgency for QSR brands to offer culturally attuned and linguistically inclusive experiences. By enabling a fully bilingual ordering experience, Bojangles is taking direct action to serve this growing demographic with respect and relevance. Technology That Adapts to the Customer Hi Auto's system allows customers to switch between English and Spanish fluidly (even mid-sentence), ensuring that the ordering process remains natural and seamless. The AI boasts 96% order accuracy and nearly instant response times, creating a frictionless experience that adapts in real-time to each guest. Just as importantly, the rollout required no new hardware and minimal operational disruption. Thanks to Hi Auto's hybrid architecture and customer understanding engine, Bojangles was able to implement the new functionality efficiently and without downtime. 'To best serve our communities, restaurants need solutions that speak to all customers, and the United States is the world's second-largest Spanish-speaking country,' said Roy Baharav, CEO of Hi Auto. He adds that 'partnerships like this represent a huge breakthrough for the country's Spanish-speaking and bilingual communities.' Charting the Future of Hospitality Hi Auto currently powers nearly 1,000 drive-thru locations across the U.S., continuing to lead the charge in real-world AI deployment in the quick-service sector. Bojangles' latest rollout demonstrates that advanced technology and human-centric service don't have to be at odds. In fact, they can elevate one another. By investing in AI that empowers rather than replaces, Bojangles is showing how automation can enhance hospitality, not strip it away. It's a bold step toward a future where every guest feels heard, and every order, no matter the language, is served with ease. About Hi Auto Hi Auto is an advanced AI-powered order-taking solution designed specifically for high-volume drive-thru restaurants. Built to streamline operations, it delivers quick, accurate service with over 93% order completion and 96% accuracy consistently and at scale. Hi Auto offers centralized script management and adaptable configurations for franchise operators, helping QSR brands save between 3 to 8 labor hours per location each day. Since its founding in 2019, Hi Auto has earned the trust of top quick-service chains and is now live in nearly 1,000 drive-thru sites across the United States.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hi Auto gains $15m to automate drive-through orders with AI
Hi Auto has raised $15m in Series A funding to scale conversational AI for quick-service restaurant (QSR) drive-throughs. Hi Auto, a startup developing AI-powered voice technology for the QSR industry, is extending its AI order-taking solution to tackle increasing labour costs and enhance customer experience. The latest funding round was led by Delek Motors, Zisapel Family, Vasuki Tech Fund and a publicly traded strategic investor from the restaurant sector. It increases Hi Auto's total raised funds to $23m, with contributions from Allied Group, Goldbell Investments and the Meir Barel Group. A $4m credit line has been secured to bolster Hi Auto's growth and expansion plans. Hi Auto's software-as-a-service platform is designed to automate the drive-through ordering process, offering a greater-than-96% order accuracy and a completion rate exceeding 90%. As QSRs face rising labour costs, exemplified by California's new $20/hour minimum wage for fast-food workers, maintaining drive-through efficiency and profitability has become increasingly challenging. Hi Auto addresses these issues by shifting the ordering process to AI, allowing staff to concentrate on tasks that add more value, such as food preparation and customer service. Hi Auto CEO and co-founder Roy Baharav stated: "Rising labour costs and labour turnover continue to strain restaurant operations. Our AI-powered ordering system acts like an always-available drive-through specialist — one that never calls in sick, delivers near-perfect accuracy and can upsell consistently. This funding will help us expand our footprint and refine our product as we become a trusted partner with leading QSR brands." The company's client list includes Bojangles, Checkers & Rally's, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Burger King New Zealand and Popeyes UK. It is currently conducting multiple paid pilots with leading QSR chains in the US and internationally. This technology stands out for its advanced noise-cancellation capabilities and a language model specifically tailored for the noisy drive-through environment, which helps to minimise order mistakes. The AI uses real-time data such as store inventory, time of day and weather conditions to suggest additional or premium items to customers. Baharav added: "Whether it's lunchtime at a busy urban drive-through or late night in a suburban setting, we can determine which products to promote and when. We've seen increased check sizes directly impacting the bottom line." "Hi Auto gains $15m to automate drive-through orders with AI" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
