By Orit Naomi, RTN staff writer – 2.6.2025
Yum! Brands has announced the launch of Byte by Yum!, a new proprietary Software as a Service (SaaS) platform designed to enhance the operational efficiency of its global restaurant chains, including KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill. This innovative AI-driven technology aims to streamline operations, improve customer experience, and provide franchisees with a competitive advantage in an increasingly digital industry.
The introduction of Byte by Yum! represents a significant shift in how Yum! Brands integrates technology into its operations. By consolidating essential restaurant systems into one cohesive, easy-to-manage platform, the company is creating a seamless digital ecosystem for its franchisees. This initiative is expected to drive significant improvements in service speed, order accuracy, and overall guest satisfaction while also reducing operational inefficiencies.
Joe Park, Chief Digital & Technology Officer of Yum! Brands and President of Byte by Yum!, emphasized the strategic importance of this platform. In a press statement, he highlighted how the scale of Yum! Brands allows for substantial advancements in AI-driven restaurant management, making it easier for franchisees to adopt and benefit from digital transformation. By leveraging AI, the platform enables restaurants to anticipate customer demand more accurately, manage inventory more efficiently, and enhance team member productivity.
The platform incorporates a range of digital capabilities, including online and mobile ordering, point-of-sale systems, kitchen and delivery optimization tools, menu management solutions, and labor management functions. It also provides team member tools designed to streamline training and daily operations. With AI at its core, Byte by Yum! offers enhanced predictive analytics, ensuring that franchisees can make data-driven decisions that maximize profitability and customer satisfaction.
In recent years, Yum! Brands has made strategic acquisitions and investments to build its digital ecosystem. With Byte by Yum!, the company is phasing out legacy technology names such as Poseidon, Yum! Commerce Platform, Tracks, and SuperApp, consolidating them under one unified brand. The transition to Byte by Yum! ensures a more integrated approach to restaurant technology, with 25,000 Yum! restaurants worldwide already utilizing at least one of its products. The U.S. market has been particularly active in adopting these tools, with all four of Yum!’s brands leveraging the platform to process more than 300 million digital transactions annually.
Taco Bell has been at the forefront of digital adoption, utilizing Byte by Yum!’s integrated online ordering, point-of-sale, and back-of-house technologies to enhance customer experiences and accelerate service times. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut has leveraged the platform’s kitchen system to improve delivery efficiency and order tracking, ensuring customers receive real-time updates on their food’s location. Across KFC locations worldwide, AI-driven restaurant coaching is being implemented to improve operational consistency and increase managerial efficiency.
Franchisees and restaurant operators are already witnessing significant benefits from Byte by Yum!, including increased digital transactions, enhanced pricing and promotional agility, and greater accuracy in order fulfillment. AI-driven forecasting has led to improved inventory management, reducing waste and optimizing supply chain efficiency. Additionally, the technology has contributed to increased team member satisfaction by simplifying workflows, thereby reducing turnover rates and improving overall employee retention.
Yum! Brands has consistently demonstrated a commitment to technological innovation, recognizing that digital transformation is critical for the future of the restaurant industry. The company’s investment in AI is not only enhancing operational efficiency but also driving customer engagement. Digital sales continue to be a major growth driver, with Yum! reporting nearly $8 billion in digital sales for Q2, surpassing 50 percent of total sales. Taco Bell’s loyalty program has seen a 30 percent year-over-year increase, while KFC’s digital sales (excluding China) have grown by 20 percent. Additionally, kiosk sales at KFC locations have surged by 40 percent, reflecting the growing preference for self-service technology.
Looking ahead, Yum! Brands is investing in voice AI as the next frontier of restaurant technology. The company plans to introduce voice AI ordering in hundreds of Taco Bell drive-thrus across the U.S. by the end of the year. In addition, select KFC locations in Australia are currently testing voice AI technology to streamline the ordering process. By leveraging AI-powered automation, Yum! aims to enhance the speed and accuracy of order-taking while freeing up human team members to focus on providing a superior guest experience.
As the restaurant industry continues to evolve, the adoption of AI-driven solutions like Byte by Yum! is becoming increasingly critical. By integrating cutting-edge technology into its operations, Yum! Brands is positioning itself as a leader in digital transformation, providing franchisees with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.