After testing AI-driven dynamic-order throttling from Curtbit in 60 locations, Denver-based Smashburger rolled out the software last month to 129 locations, said Senior Director of Digital Engagement Veronica Luna, of Jollibee Group North America, Smashburger’s Parent Company
“With digital ordering, you have one opportunity to impress a first-time guest and very little room for error with returning guests,” she said in a company press release. “Curbit has exceeded our expectations by ensuring a reliable and transparent pickup experience for Smashburger guests. After witnessing the impressive results in our test markets, the decision to implement the Curbit system across all company-owned locations was a straightforward one.”
The initial rollout was conducted across 60 Smashburger restaurants and included a comprehensive A/B test, with 30 locations equipped with Curbit’s dynamic throttling and guest communication solution. The remaining locations continued with their traditional operations. Performance metrics such as speed of service, repeat rates and guest sentiment were evaluated at all the locations. The results showed:
- 84% improvement in Time to Pickup, leading to fresher food, reduced wait times and decreased remade orders due to quality issues.
- 22% increase in Repeat Rate, meaning restaurants adopting the technology experienced a 22% surge in order frequency over 90 days, indicating a heightened attraction to the seamless and dependable ordering process.
- 1% improvement in Google reviews, resulting in an 11% increase in Google review ratings for participating restaurants.
The solution addresses the challenge of synchronizing online order “promise times” with real-time kitchen capacity by adjusting order promise times through continuous real-time analysis based on actual kitchen capabilities. It minimizes guest wait times and maximizes kitchen output without overburdening kitchen teams, according to the release.
An integral feature of the offering is its seamless integration with Kitchen Display Systems and Online Ordering Systems, forming a closed loop between the ordering and fulfillment process. Utilizing AI, these real-time integrations facilitate dynamic order throttling, kitchen intelligence and automated guest communication, narrowing the gap between estimated and actual ticket times.
“Curbit’s collaboration with Smashburger and Jollibee Food Corp. stands as a prime illustration of a technology-driven brand dedicated to embracing digital transformation, and it has clearly yielded the benefits of AI-driven kitchen intelligence,” Curbit co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer Scott Siegel said in the release. “We are elated to provide a solution that optimizes operations and substantially elevates customer satisfaction without the need for any capital expenditure.”
