The drive-thru lane has always been the ultimate test of speed, accuracy, and consistency in fast food. In recent years, amid labor shortages and rising customer expectations, chains have sought solutions that scale without compromising service. Hi Auto, a voice AI platform built specifically for drive-thru operations, has now provided one of the clearest answers: its system processes more than 100 million orders per year, demonstrating that AI can operate reliably at scale.
AI That Thrives in the Fast Lane
Hi Auto’s AI Order Taker is not a generic voice assistant. It was designed from the ground up for the high-volume, noisy, and unpredictable drive-thru environment. Across nearly 1,000 stores in the U.S., U.K., New Zealand, and Australia, it maintains 93% order completion and 96% accuracy.
Roy Baharav, Co-Founder and CEO of Hi Auto, says, “It’s exciting to ramp up the number of restaurants using our AI Order Taker, but that metric represents true success when these transactions provide real value for our QSR customers and their guests. What we view as the real achievement here is how Voice AI is improving efficiencies and employee satisfaction while boosting revenue and delivering outstanding guest experiences at almost a thousand drive-thru locations.”
The platform allows operators to centrally manage scripts, upselling prompts, and promotions while giving franchisees flexibility over local menu items. Its built-in labor optimization can save three to eight hours per store each day, freeing staff to focus on other aspects of service.
Reducing Stress, Improving Operations
Restaurant operators are noticing immediate operational benefits. Bojangles’ CEO Jose Armario highlights the consistency of the system, branded as “BoLinda”: “You can set [Bojangles’ custom-branded Voice AI] BoLinda to suggest to sell by day part, by promotion, etc. She’s very consistent and very reliable.”
He continues, “You could see immediately the day we put Bolinda in our restaurants: we would see those stress levels come down and we would see the guest experience get better.” Franchise owner Neil Pathak echoes this impact on employees: “From day one, the biggest thing I noticed with having Bolinda was that the crew members felt a sense of relief. The person that used to do cash, take orders, make drinks… they’re just so relaxed now compared to before.”
Checkers & Rally’s operators report similar results. General manager Linda Ronda recalls, “Before Hi Auto, we used to have stress trying to run to the front and answer the speaker for the guests and ring up orders and stuff. But now we can do other things and be able to still pay 100% attention to the guests at the window.” Jason Amell, executive with Michigan’s largest Checkers & Rally’s franchisee group, adds, “You always get a nice friendly voice with Hi Auto, versus if you have a [human] order taker, they could be grumpy or in a bad mood, and then that gets conveyed to your guests. Hi Auto eliminates that.”
Consistent Upselling, Every Time
Hi Auto has also changed how restaurants approach upselling. Ryan Weaver, CEO of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, notes, “You might get an upsell 20% of the time with humans in the drive-thru. With Hi Auto, our voice AI order-taking partner, we’re getting it 100% of the time.”
Rally’s franchise owner Mike Rosania says, “One of my favorite things about Hi Auto is it actually upsells better than my employees can. And I really thought my employees were top-notch upsellers. Hi Auto just knocks it out the park every day, every shift, day in and day out.” General manager Alisha Burton adds, “With Hi Auto, they’re 100% consistent. You will never miss a beat on the upselling, being the friendliest, and giving the customer the best service over the speaker.”
Turning AI Into Restaurant Infrastructure
Founded in 2019, Hi Auto has positioned its AI Order Taker as a foundational tool for high-volume drive-thrus. Beyond automation, it delivers operational reliability, stress reduction, and revenue gains. The milestone of 100 million annual orders is more than a headline; it signals that voice AI has moved from novelty to essential infrastructure for the fast-food frontline.
