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New AI Use Cases for Restaurants

Published on January 29, 2025
By PAR Team

Oliver “Oli” Ostertag, GM of Operator Cloud at PAR Technology, shared examples of harnessing AI to create more engaging customer experiences while driving both efficiency and empathy. From personalized menu suggestions to more human-like interactions, AI has the potential to enhance the customer experience significantly.

“We’ve spent a lot of time speaking to franchisees and restaurant operators to understand their expectations for AI in 2025 and beyond. AI is more than just analytics—there’s a lot more we can do with innovation in this space,” Ostertag said.

Promoting AI as an Empathetic Partner Customers have many dining options and proactively choose one location over another.

“Customers expect AI to enhance their experience. They want to feel seen and understood by the brand,” Ostertag said.

Two key areas showing progress are voice AI and kiosk personalization.

With voice AI, “a lot of innovation is focused on creating interactions that feel human and exude empathy. The next step is integrating a brand ambassador into the AI voice to drive deeper customer engagement,” Ostertag noted. Several brands are experimenting with incorporating their brand personas into these systems.

Read at Hospitality Technology

Tiffany Disher, General Manager, MENU North America

Tiffany Disher

General Manager, MENU North America

Tiffany Disher, General Manager, MENU North America, an omni-channel ordering solution to futureproof restaurant’s growing digital sales needs. Before taking on this new role in January 2023, she was an integral part of Punchh’s growth story. She has advised hundreds of customers over the past eight years on their loyalty strategies both from a base program standpoint as well as ongoing marketing strategies. Before Punchh, Tiffany worked for Schlotzsky’s where she supported the brand marketing team by leading loyalty, eClub, R&D, Franchise advisory council and marketing analytics. Tiffany has her Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from University of Oregon and Master’s in Business with a specialty in Marketing from Baylor University. An avid golfer, hiker and mom of two small children, Tiffany spends her limited free time entering into baking competitions.