Yum Brands has introduced Byte by Yum, a collection of proprietary software-as-a-service AI-driven products.
This will help its brands like Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill streamline operations by consolidating all its tech solutions into a one-stop shop management platform.
Byte’s platform includes online and mobile ordering, payment systems, tools to improve kitchen and delivery operations, and ways to manage menus, inventory and labor.
“With Yum’s scale, we can significantly accelerate the growth of our proprietary digital and AI-driven platform in partnership with franchisees. Byte by Yum simplifies and integrates our restaurant technologies, creating new opportunities for team members, franchisees, and customers,” said Joe Park, Yum’s chief digital and technology officer, in a statement.
Over the years, the company has been picking up and building new tech capabilities. With Byte, the company is phasing out the legacy names and branding for products like Poseidon, Yum! Commerce Platform, Tracks, and SuperApp, which are now housed under Byte.
Adapting to the changing tech landscape
As brands figure out their tech strategies, some, like Yum, have chosen to build their own platforms, while others go for outsourcing to external vendors or take a hybrid approach, combining in-house development with outside solutions.
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In Yum’s latest earnings call, CEO David Gibbs highlighted the benefits of a unified tech platform.
“You might have dozens of different tech vendors that you’re trying to coordinate with to make your restaurant work every day,” Gibbs said. “By building our own tech stack and making that investment, we’re giving our franchisees a much more turnkey solution.”
In the U.S., all four of Yum’s brands are leveraging Byte by Yum to process more than 300 million digital transactions annually.
For example, Taco Bell uses Byte’s online ordering, POS, and back-of-house tech, while Pizza Hut U.S. uses the platform’s system to speed up delivery times, cut down wait times, and give customers real-time updates on their orders.
The technology is also expanding internationally, with over 25,000 Yum restaurants using at least one Byte by Yum product.
