4 fresh tech hacks to borrow from

Operators overseas continue to use new technology to address everything from the ordering process and convenience enhancements to guest engagement to hiring practices.

Click through for four recent tech developments with ideas to borrow from.

KFC’s local operator in Hong Kong has determined that traditional self-order kiosks are not the future of ordering—they’re impersonal and too time consuming. To address the need for a system that enhances the ordering experience while trimming wait times, the chain is testing a new terminal that works by voice recognition and motion sensing.

Dubbed Kolonel Fast Connect, the OLED terminal allows guests to order by interacting with a simulated Colonel Sanders, either by telling the machine what they want or by making simple gestures like grabbing for a virtual bag of food.

Guests must first download KFC’s app and make a prepayment if they want to use the new system. Currently, any balance left over after an order is placed is donated to the World Food Programme.

Burger King Spain wants to make it easier for gamers to order food without pausing play. The chain has created a set of branded characters called the Burger Clan, which will make appearances in PlayStation 4 online games, reports The Drum.

Controlled by professional gamers, the clan characters will enter into multiplayer games to help gamers with their mission. The characters will also be available to take Burger King orders, which will show up in real life via the chain’s delivery service.

The Burger Clan is expected to expand to markets beyond Spain over time.

McDonald’s is trialing a new Job Box in Sweden that allows jobseekers to apply for a position quickly and without the need to submit a resume or complete an application.

Testing at a handful of restaurants through the summer, the soundproof Job Box offers a private space where applicants can participate in a six-question video interview.

The chain says that the booth makes the application process accessible to young, tech-savvy jobseekers. It’s an extension of McDonald’s existing video interview process, which requires applicants to download an app for use on a smart device.

KFC India’s recent I-Box promo offered guests a fairly traditional meal with a very untraditional toy—a mini figurine created in their likeness.

Available at select locations, KFC created the I-Box to promote its new 5-in-1 meal box. Guests purchasing an I-Box received a 5-in-1 box along with what the chain touted as a grown-up version of a conventional kids meal toy. KFC used a scanner and 3-D printing technology to create the figurines.

KFC India’s CMO says the I-Box campaign was a way for the brand to engage with guests, who are increasingly seeking out new experiences.