By RTN editors- 6.1.2025
From regionalized AI voice assistants to new tech-forward restaurant builds and enhanced data personalization strategies, the week of May 25 brought a wave of innovation across the restaurant technology landscape. Brands like Domino’s, Wendy’s, and Papa John’s are doubling down on digital transformation to streamline operations, elevate guest experiences, and boost long-term profitability. Here’s a closer look at the week’s top stories.
Domino’s Enhances AI Voice Ordering with Regional Accents
Domino’s is making a major upgrade to its AI-powered voice ordering system by integrating regional accents into its text-to-speech functionality. Powered by Rime Labs, the update introduces conversational AI voices modeled on specific American English dialects, such as Southern and African-American Vernacular English.
The move is already paying off—Domino’s says customer hang-ups have declined sharply, and the system now handles about 80% of all phone orders across North America. As labor shortages persist, this enhancement is helping Domino’s scale its operations while keeping service experiences friendly and familiar.
Wendy’s Opens 74 New Tech-Forward Restaurants
Following the closure of 140 underperforming locations in 2024, Wendy’s is bouncing back in 2025 with the launch of 74 new restaurants—28 of them in the U.S.—as part of a long-term modernization push.
These new units feature a full suite of digital enhancements, including:
- Self-service ordering kiosks
- AI-powered FreshAi ordering assistant
- Digital menu boards and kitchen displays
- Streamlined kitchen layouts designed to increase throughput by up to 50%
Wendy’s investment signals a clear shift toward smarter, more efficient restaurant formats, especially in suburban and travel plaza locations where speed and convenience are paramount.
Papa John’s Deepens AI Partnership with Google Cloud
Papa John’s is taking personalized marketing and ordering to the next level by expanding its AI partnership with Google Cloud. The pizza giant plans to deliver hyper-relevant experiences through a new online chatbot, predictive offers, and voice assistant ordering—all powered by behavioral data and machine learning. By leveraging Google Cloud’s AI stack, Papa John’s aims to improve customer retention and engagement, drive incremental orders through personalized push notifications and loyalty offers, and simplify digital ordering across mobile, web, and voice channels The move aligns with the brand’s goal of creating “frictionless, omnichannel ordering journeys” that adapt to individual guest behaviors.
Clover Launches “Clover Hospitality by BentoBox”
At the National Restaurant Association Show, Clover introduced “Clover Hospitality by BentoBox,” a POS system tailored for upper-market restaurants. This solution integrates advanced technology to enhance guest experiences and streamline both front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
As these developments show, restaurants are increasingly embracing AI, automation, and customer data to unlock growth and efficiency in 2025. Whether optimizing back-of-house operations or tailoring front-of-house experiences, technology continues to reshape how restaurants compete—and how customers interact with their favorite brands.
