Technology

Wendy’s is bringing Google into its restaurants

The burger chain is working with Google Cloud to help create new dining experiences for its customers.
Wendy's Google Cloud
Photograph: Shutterstock

Wendy’s hopes Google Cloud can help with its restaurant experience.

The burger chain on Tuesday said that it is partnering with Google Cloud to use its data-driven insights to improve the experiences inside its restaurants for both customers and employees.

The Dublin, Ohio-based chain said it would use Google Cloud’s artificial intelligence, machine learning and hybrid cloud tools to create new ways for customers to order in its drive-thrus or consumers’ mobile devices.

For instance, the company said that it could use speech-to-text or Google Search and Maps to improve the ordering process and make it faster and more convenient.

“We are committed to providing our customers with the greatest experience possible, and our partnership with Google Cloud is raising the bar by enabling us to match the experience to their preferences,” Wendy’s Chief Information Officer Kevin Vasconi said in a statement.

The company plans to use Google’s BigQuery and Looker tools to improve business analytics. It also plans to use Cloud artificial intelligence to improve ordering through mobile, web and other restaurant touchpoints. Wendy’s also plans to use Google’s Anthos open-source management program.

Wendy’s is pushing hard to make its ordering easier and last year lured Vasconi from Domino’s to lead these efforts. It also launched its loyalty program last year.

It comes as more industry sales are coming online and through the drive-thru, pushing companies to increase their digital ordering efforts to remain competitive.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Focus on dine-in customers, even as more opt for takeout

The Bottom Line: Data from Technomic shows that dine-in service builds equity with customers. So restaurant chains should not ignore it, even if most business walks out the door.

Financing

Social media is changing the restaurant industry

The Bottom Line: From the success of brands like Crumbl and Dave’s Hot Chicken to the struggles at Starbucks and McDonald’s, social media is playing a massive role in how consumers view chains.

Financing

Here's what people are talking about at the National Restaurant Show

The Bottom Line: We had a lot of conversations during the first two days of the country’s biggest restaurant exhibition in Chicago. Here’s what we’ve been hearing.

Trending

More from our partners