Presto Phoenix Inc., which provides a voice AI solution for QSR drive-thrus, has raised $10 million from Remus Capital-affiliated investors and other existing investors. The capital will be used to expand deployments, technology, and customer impact. The round follows Presto's recent integration with Toast and other AI partners including ElevenLabs and Bluejay, and continued expansion of deployments with existing and new QSR customers.
Hospitality Technology's QSR section rounds up restaurant technology developments: Presto raised $10 million to accelerate voice AI; global QSR kiosk deployments head toward 750,000; Presto Voice AI integrates with Toast POS; Omilia's founder discussed scaling voice AI from single-store pilots to 890+ drive-thrus; and Pilot is updating digital ordering and adding kiosks across 900 North American travel centers.
Long John Silver's, a seafood and chicken chain with nearly 500 locations, is advancing a digital transformation led by Tim Newton, chief technology officer and head of brand operations, who joined in 2024. The brand upgraded its point-of-sale system to a cloud-based setup in 2019 and is now replacing static cardboard menu boards with digital displays, testing computer vision and predictive analytics at the drive-thru speaker box, and piloting five voice AI solutions. With average unit volumes of $1.1 million, any technology added must make financial sense and fit a demographic that includes older and more rural guests. Newton said tech integration is not about cutting labor but redistribut…
Presto Phoenix Inc. announced that its Presto Voice AI has joined the Toast Partner Ecosystem and integrated with Toast POS. Operators using both solutions can connect Presto Voice directly into their Toast POS, allowing orders captured through AI-powered voice automation to flow directly into the kitchen. According to the announcement, this can help reduce order errors, enhance upsell consistency, and free staff to focus on hospitality and throughput. The integration enables QSR franchise groups using Toast to adopt Presto Voice AI, automating drive-thru order-taking while improving speed, accuracy, and operational efficiency. The Toast Partner Ecosystem includes more than 200 integration…
DeCheco's Pizzeria uses voice AI agent Ali to handle phone orders, aiming for 50 locations by 2038. Currently at 6, soon 9. AI reduces labor costs, increases average ticket size, and supports generous employee benefits.
Zaxbys CTO Mike Nettles has completely overhauled the brand's tech stack since 2021, with the brand now surpassing 1,000 locations and over 70% of transactions occurring at the drive-thru. Partnering with Hi Auto, they piloted voice AI across 25 stores, fine-tuning for nine months before rollout. The AI improved dynamic upselling but created kitchen operational challenges, leading to integration with PAR Brink POS and QSR Automations kitchen display systems to streamline order flow.
Zaxbys CTO Mike Nettles has been overhauling the tech stack since 2021, replacing all legacy systems in five years. The company has over 1,000 locations, with 70% of transactions at the drive-thru. Partnering with Hi Auto, they deployed voice AI, piloted at 25 stores, integrated with POS and kitchen display systems to improve operations.
Sabre will co-host the DeepLearning.AI Voice AI Hackathon on July 18 in Silicon Valley, challenging developers to build travel AI agents using Sabre production APIs and Vocal Bridge voice technology. The event aims to explore managing the complete trip via voice AI, including flights, hotels, ground transport. Partners include American Airlines, PayPal, with about 400 developers expected.
San Francisco-based startup Q Concierge offers a voice AI digital concierge that integrates into hotel systems to handle guest interactions, capture missed revenue, and improve operations. Founded in 2024, it works with brands like RIU Hotels and Olive Hotels, capturing $1.2 million in annualized booking revenue at a single resort. Its AI connects directly to PMS to perform tasks like reservation changes.