Yum China unveils AI tool in a bid to boost efficiency

Yum China Holdings said on Friday it has launched a new AI-enabled hands-free assistant tool at certain KFC stores in a bid to boost efficiency.

The company, which operates Yum Brands' franchises including Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, said the tool, named Q-Smart, is aimed at supporting restaurant managers in tasks such as staff scheduling, inventory management, and food quality inspection.

The launch follows its former parent Yum's AI-driven initiatives, including the Byte by Yum! software it launched in February, aimed at reducing wait times at restaurants and improving delivery times.


Yum China said the pilot phase will lead to a larger scale roll-out of Q-Smart in the future, following incorporation of user feedback.