Latest news with #LeilaZhang
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Yum China pilots AI-enabled restaurant management tool
Yum China has launched a pilot of Q-Smart, an AI-enabled assistant for restaurant management. The tool assists with inventory, labour scheduling and food safety, offering intelligent support for decision-making in various operational aspects. It enables hands-free interaction through wearable devices, allowing managers to perform tasks without the need to engage with touch screens or PCs physically. Q-Smart leverages natural language processing to facilitate direct communication with restaurant managers, aiding in the management of daily operational tasks. It monitors inventory levels, aligns them with sales forecasts and prompt managers to make timely decisions on ordering and replenishment. The assistant can also respond to voice commands, enabling managers to conduct equipment inspections and inventory counts while drawing from the chain's knowledge base for real-time support and solutions for urgent issues. Q-Smart is currently undergoing trials at selected KFC outlets. The pilot phase will gather feedback from the users for future enhancements. Yum China chief technology officer Leila Zhang: 'We believe that Q-Smart will not only help Yum China improve its operational efficiency, but can also serve as an example for the digital transformation and smart development of the catering industry." Yum China noted that it has been integrating AI tools into its operations since 2019, including the AI-powered "Super Brain" and handheld Pocket Managers for real-time operational tracking. In 2023, the brand began exploring generative AI applications, and by 2024 was integrating these into customer service, logistics and back-office functions. At its AI Day opening ceremony, CEO Joey Wat announced the formation of a $13.9m Frontline Innovation Fund to support restaurant employees and fuel technological innovation. This initiative includes making the All-Staff Hackathon a routine annual event. In 2024, Yum China, Italian coffee manufacturer Lavazza, and super-sports car producer Automobili Lamborghini partnered to launch a co-branded drink in China. "Yum China pilots AI-enabled restaurant management tool" 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. 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
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Yum China rolls out AI agent, to help, not replace store managers
Advertisement The assistant, named Q-Smart, was an AI-powered management system that enabled natural language interactions with store managers through wireless earphones and smartwatches, the nation's largest restaurant operator announced at an inaugural AI Day event at its Restaurant Support Center in Shanghai. Q-Smart was designed to assist frontline managers with daily operations, including labour scheduling, inventory management, and quality and safety inspections, it said. An introductory video showed Q-Smart's abilities, including monitoring product sales data, adjusting preparation plans, notifying managers and reminding staff to confirm orders. Having completed its initial development and testing phases, Q-Smart was now undergoing pilot testing in select KFC locations with continuous iterative upgrades, Yum China's chief technology officer Leila Zhang said at the event. Zhang emphasised the company's well-established digital infrastructure in restaurants, noting future plans to integrate more wearable devices and deploy Q-Smart in more stores. 'We believe that Q-Smart will not only help Yum China improve its operational efficiency, but can also serve as an example for the digital transformation and smart development of the catering industry,' Zhang said. Advertisement 'Regardless of how AI technology evolves, it remains an assistant to humans,' CEO Joey Wat said. 'From the beginning, we've positioned it to empower, not replace, our employees.'
