It’s An AI World For KFC Customers In China

Yum China continues to introduce digitally enabled initiatives at its 7,000-plus KFC stores in China. Among the new innovations are AI-powered self-ordering digital kiosks, a fully automated dessert station, and the launch of a “future store.”

The "Smile to Pay" facial recognition payment technology, first introduced at a KFC unit in Hangzhou in 2017, has now been rolled out to more than 300 KFC restaurants across the country. Hangzhou also is home to the “future store” that provides customers with a fully immersive dining experience, integrating self-ordering kiosks to digital and mobile payment solutions, in an open, transparent layout.

KBAR, the newly launched fully automated dessert station in Suzhou, allows customers to scan a QR code and select one of three flavors of ice cream; a robotic arm scoops and serves the ice cream. Yum China, which sees dessert as a key growth driver, has more than 1,000 KFC dessert kiosks across China.

According to Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China, the chain aims to use technology to redefine every touch point of the customer journey.

Yum China Holdings is a licensee of Yum! Brands in mainland China and has exclusive rights there to KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Yum China also owns the Little Sheep and East Dawning concepts.