When cars line up for a drive-thru, speed and accuracy are table stakes. But what if your AI order taker also encouraged customers towards fries, drinks, or upgrades? That’s exactly what Hi Auto’s built-in upsell tool is doing, quietly increasing revenue and turning a simple order into a bigger check without slowing the line.
Hi Auto, a tech company specializing in AI order takers for QSR drive-thrus, has made waves with its flawless order-taking and revenue enhancement. The company reports accuracy exceeding 96% on orders and completion rates of 90-94%. However, what truly sets it apart is its dynamic upsell algorithm, which can be seamlessly integrated into existing order-taking systems. This algorithm automatically suggests add-ons or premium items based on factors such as time of day, weather, inventory, and other real-time elements, enhancing the upselling process without disrupting the current operations.
Why AI Outperforms Humans at Upselling
Upselling isn’t just about the technology; it’s also about the people behind it. In fast-paced drive-thrus, human employees are often constrained by speed expectations and multiple responsibilities, and they often lack clear incentives to upsell. Instead, they focus on speed and efficiency, especially during high-volume periods. Bernstein reports that the industry average for upsell attempts at fast-food chains is 42%, resulting in many missed revenue opportunities due to fatigue, distraction, and a lack of motivation.
This isn’t the first time AI has helped increase revenue with its suggestive selling. Here are other real-world examples that highlight its capabilities:
- Applebee’s and IHOP are rolling out a generative AI-driven “personalization engine” in their locations. Built on Amazon’s Q, it analyzes a customer’s habits and past orders to recommend menu items at ordering.
- TabSquare’s AI platform was deployed at SushiTei restaurants, leading to a 10% increase in average item value and a 5% rise in overall order value. It achieved this by suggesting complementary dishes to enhance the dining experience, such as sashimi after ramen.
- Zappos leverages AI chatbots to upsell add-ons, such as socks with shoes, resulting in conversion lifts of up to 25%. These bots analyze browsing and purchasing data in real-time to craft personalized suggestions.
AI excels at upselling because it’s never tired, distracted, or inconsistent. While human cashiers risk irritating customers by pushing extras, especially when diners just want to get through the line, AI strikes the right balance. It delivers subtle, timely, and personalized suggestions without the fatigue or impatience that can creep into human interactions.
Real Results from Operators
Those benefits show up in dollar signs. GM Linda Ronda of Checkers & Rally’s shared, “We’ve had cashiers that get tired of being on the register, and they get to the point where they stop upselling, but Hi Auto is always upselling.” Similarly, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken reports measurable gains. Chuck Doran, a franchise co-owner, noted, “Our average ticket has gone up in the drive-thru to the tune of about 2%.”
Hi Auto conducted an experiment in which human employees handled over 1,000 orders, compared to AI’s 4,000+ orders. The AI order taker attempted upsells on 76% of opportunities and achieved a 10% overall ticket increase, while employees attempted upsells in just 4-5% of cases, resulting in fewer conversions.
Synchronized Intelligence: Contextual, Courteous, Consistent
Hi Auto’s AI order taker is perceptive and adapts on the fly, recommending cold drinks when it gets hot, combos in the morning, and desserts after an entrée. By monitoring cues, it knows when to push and when to close gracefully. This balance of persistence and perceptiveness avoids the pushy feel that humans can accidentally communicate.
For human cashiers, upselling is yet another cognitive load while they juggle order accuracy, speed, payment, and customer interactions. AI executes suggestions perfectly each time, compounding revenue without complaints.
A Response to Margin Pressure and Labor Costs
The timing is no accident. QSR operators are under pressure from multiple sides. California raised the fast-food minimum wage to $20 per hour, labor shortages persist, and customer patience for errors or delays is thin. Restaurants aren’t just looking for speed but also solutions that drive top-line growth.
Hi Auto delivers on both. With labor costs climbing, its automated system reduces reliance on staff, providing much-needed relief, while the AI upsells and increases average revenue per order. This dual impact is what’s winning the attention of QSR chains and franchise owners.
A Smarter Way to Drive Revenue
Hi Auto’s upsell engine is a clever capability for growth. By weaving together accuracy, speed, and sales intelligence, it transforms routine drive-thru interactions into higher-value moments. For QSRs juggling rising costs and shrinking margins, this is a lifeline.
As the industry shifts toward automation with intelligence, Hi Auto isn’t just a glimpse of the future, it’s already here. Precise, profitable, and always ready to sell just a little bit more.
