Denny's is upgrading 500 diners with artificial intelligence

The push to understand customers better and stand out in a crowded industry means Denny's is fully-embracing high-tech offerings. ©Image Credit: Unsplash / Karina G

AI is coming to your favorite restaurants, as Denny's announces new technology. Dubbed "Project Grand Slam," 500 Denny's locations will be upgraded with AI technology that will be used in several ways.

AI will open a window into customer behavior

Over the next 12-18 months, Denny's will be installing AI tech in 500 locations. One of the main goals of the technology is to give the company a better understanding of its customers.

"You gotta know who your consumer is, and you gotta know it fast," said Denny's CEO Christopher Bode. "Everything is changing so fast these days. You can't wait for data for nine months from now. You need to get it today. We have 500 restaurants now in the queue to have some type of asset upgrade over the next 12 to 18 months, which is huge for us. So, facility modernization is really important."

It will do more than provide customer feedback

While the AI is being touted as a way to get better, more accurate customer data, there's more to it.

Denny's states the AI will improve food forecasting and labor scheduling, streamline internal communications, and, perhaps a bit controversially, adjust menu pricing based on local market conditions.

All of this falls under Denny's "Project Grand Slam" initiative, which is meant to be a 24-month turnaround for the company.

Leaning into technology

Denny's is fully embracing technology, with a new point-of-sale system also being rolled out. There will also be table-side tablets, and the mobile app got a major upgrade.

"Value used to be the end-all, be-all in the industry," Bode said. "You can get people in by giving them the right price, but now they want the experience to manage that price at the same time."

"If I go out of my home with my family, it better be worth it," he said.

A new Denny's experience

Don't be surprised to find your local Denny's moving to a more high-tech and modern experience over the next year, which may be exactly what you want.

Source: Fox Business

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