Yum China trains staff with in-house Al tools

Its SuperBrain helps managers forecast sales and schedule shifts efficiently.

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Yum China Holdings, Inc. aims to automate using artificial intelligence (AI) most back-of-house operations in five years, including staff training, as it rapidly expands its KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell operations across the nation.

“A key advancement will be the capability for AI-enhanced training to quickly bring newly hired crew members up to speed on all aspects of restaurant operations,” Leila Zhang, chief technology officer at Yum China, told Retail Asia in an exclusive interview.

Artificial intelligence is deeply integrated into the Shanghai-based restaurant operator, the largest in China. The company’s internal platform, called Super Brain, helps restaurant general managers make decisions using data from sales forecasts, inventory, and labour scheduling.

“It employs AI to manage a variety of key processes such as sales forecasting, inventory management, and labour scheduling, helping to support restaurant general managers’ decision-making whilst identifying opportunities for cost savings and other efficiency improvements,” Zhang said.

Use in essential operations