How Ara Khachikian’s Over.Vision Connects Food with Computer Vision Tech
Restaurant businesses are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to stay competitive. The demand for quick service and consistency is higher than ever, pushing restaurant owners to explore technological solutions that can keep them competitive. Fast-food giants like McDonald’s and Domino’s have already begun integrating AI-driven systems to address these issues. McDonald’s made headlines in 2021 when it acquired Dynamic Yield, an AI company focused on improving drive-thru efficiency by predicting popular orders and speeding up service. Similarly, Domino’s deployed AI-based predictive tools to enhance order accuracy and ensure timely deliveries, resulting in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction. These examples highlight the growing demand for AI solutions that offer real-time insights, enabling restaurants to manage kitchen efficiency, monitor staff performance, and quickly respond to customer needs.
Recognizing these challenges, Ara Khachikian, a tech entrepreneur with experience in the restaurant industry, developed Over.Vision, an AI-powered video analytics platform. “Restaurants today need more than just basic analytics; they need a comprehensive solution that can adapt to their unique workflows and provide actionable insights,” Khachikian explains. His journey began in 2016 when he founded the fast-food chain Shtefan Burger. During this time, he encountered many of the inefficiencies that restaurant managers struggle with, including inconsistent ingredient control and a lack of visibility into staff performance. These experiences prompted him to create a platform that could transform how restaurants operate, using AI to address real-time issues and support better decision-making.
Over.Vision provides a range of functionalities tailored to the restaurant industry’s specific needs. The platform leverages multi-model AI techniques to monitor staff productivity, track ingredient usage, and predict customer behavior patterns. “Our platform ensures that every aspect of restaurant management—from kitchen operations to guest experience—is covered, allowing managers to make informed decisions on the spot,” Khachikian notes. The platform’s combination of VGG16 and YOLOv9 deep learning models enables precise tracking of ingredient handling, staff activities, and customer movements. This capability gives restaurant owners a clear picture of what’s happening in their establishments, helping them maintain high standards of service and efficiency.
One of the most critical aspects of restaurant management is maintaining consistent quality in food preparation. Over.Vision’s AI-driven monitoring system ensures that only fresh ingredients are used and that inventory is managed efficiently. By tracking ingredient quality and usage in real-time, the platform helps reduce food waste and ensures that restaurants can offer their customers a high-quality dining experience. “We’ve designed the platform to alert managers when ingredients are underused or approaching expiration, which helps minimize waste and optimize resource utilization,” explains Khachikian.
Labor cost management is another area where Over.Vision brings significant value. According to a study by Boston Consulting Group, restaurants using AI-driven platforms have managed to reduce labor costs by up to 15% while maintaining high service standards. By monitoring over 90% of staff operations, Over.Vision enables managers to identify top performers, provide targeted feedback, and offer performance-based rewards. This has a direct impact on reducing employee turnover and fostering a more engaged workforce. “Our goal is to serve as an additional pair of eyes for restaurant managers, making it easier to spot inefficiencies and optimize staff productivity,” Khachikian emphasizes.
Understanding guest behavior is crucial for delivering a superior customer experience. Over.Vision analyzes seating patterns, tracks customer interactions, and predicts peak service times, allowing managers to optimize table turnover and allocate staff more effectively. This data-driven approach ensures that restaurants can maintain a seamless service flow even during the busiest periods. “Our platform provides a multi-angle view of the dining area, allowing managers to anticipate guest needs and adjust operations in real-time,” Khachikian explains. This not only improves the customer experience but also helps build long-term loyalty.
Looking forward, AI is expected to play an even more significant role in transforming restaurant management. Gartner forecasts that by 2025, over 50% of quick-service restaurants will adopt AI-driven automation to boost efficiency. With its focus on real-time adaptability and seamless integration, Over.Vision is poised to become a leader in this space. “We want to bring cutting-edge AI to every aspect of restaurant operations, from ingredient management to customer service, enabling owners to streamline processes and enhance the dining experience,” says Khachikian. His vision for Over.Vision is to continue innovating and supporting restaurant owners in creating more efficient and profitable businesses.
