How KFC and Taco Bell’s top technologist is embracing AI and automation across 63,000 restaurants

Jim Dausch, the top technologist at Yum Brands, is leading the way in embracing AI and automation across 63,000 of the company's restaurants, including Taco Bell and KFC. A key early accomplishment was improving the delivery of Pizza Hut's food by ensuring it was as hot as possible. The previous software processing orders followed a basic "first in, first out" flow, which often left orders waiting for available drivers.

Dausch's team implemented a data-driven automation layer that changed the workflow, instructing cooks to delay making the pizza until the system was confident that a driver would be available for pickup. This change resulted in hotter food deliveries and a noticeable boost in customer satisfaction scores. Dausch, who joined Yum Brands in late 2024 as their global chief digital and technology officer for Pizza Hut, was later promoted to hold the same title for the entire enterprise.

He oversees Yum's websites and apps, digital order platforms, corporate systems, AI and data, and restaurant technology across all of their locations. Yum, which recently suffered a sales hit due to a cyclospora outbreak, has been focused on investing in technology for customers, workers, and franchisees, who have traditionally shouldered the highest costs for food and labor.

Dausch is cautious about implementing new tools without a clear return on investment, but has approved several technologies such as digital kiosks and an automated voice AI ordering system. These innovations have led to higher check averages and improved accuracy and customer satisfaction. Dausch's Byte platform consolidates Yum's online and mobile app ordering, point of sale, kitchen and delivery, menu management, inventory, and labor management tools and systems into a single data source, resulting in an 85% reduction in stockouts.

While Dausch credits former CEO David Gibbs for prioritizing technology and AI, he acknowledges that ultimately, craveable food at a fair price continues to win diners.