QSR May 2022

S P ON S O R E D B Y E N V Y S I ON , A MO T O R O L A S O L U T I ON S C OMPAN Y

Getting drive-thru operations right is critical, even more so in the current environment. “Right now, our top focus in our stores is on growing top line sales through drive-thru execution, with an em phasis on late-night operations,” Aiello says. “A lot of companies took a natural sales lift during the pandemic just because there were more consumers in general going through drive thrus, but to main tainit andtorealize the truepoten tial, you’ve got tohave consistently outstanding operations.” As FlynnRestaurant Group re focuses on meeting high demand at the drive thru, data is onemain prongof itsapproach.Thecompany holdsweeklyengagement callswith its storemanagersandareacoaches to review outlier reports fromEn vysion Restaurant Solution Suite, a video surveillance and loss pre vention software solution that ties reporting tovideoverification.The outlier reports show video footage and transaction data side-by-side,

D uring the worst phases of COVID-19, a case could bemade that drive thrus saved the quick-service restaurant industry. When diningroomsclosed, drive thrus shoulderedmostof therevenue intake for many chains—and that trend shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. “The increase in the percentage of drive-thru sales, pre-pandemic versusnow, hasbeenabsolutelyremarkable—not only forour company and our brand, but for the industry as awhole,” says JonAiello,market presidentwithFlynnRestaurantGroup. “Thedrive thru is the lifeblood of quick-servicerestaurants rightnow, andI feel like that change ishere tostay.Companies thatareabletooperatedrivethrus thatareextremely efficient, extremely accurate, and friendlywill have the advantage.” To take drive-thru operations to the next level, operators need to focus on what the data reveals. / BY KARA PHELPS The Future of the Drive Thru Is Data

providing insights and context todig deeper into thenumbers. “Weget tohaveagoodconversationeveryweekaboutwhere theop portunities are, and that’s been reallyhelpful,”Aiello says. FlynnRestaurantGrouporiginallychoseEnvysiontohelpmitigate business risk. Beyond helping to reduce loss prevention, the platform hasalsoprovedvaluable inotherways. “Initially,whenwestartedwith Envysion, our biggest gainwas obviously loss prevention,” Aiello says.

“Theplatformhelpedus see where we weremissing the boat in terms of refunds, voids, promos—thingsgoing on thatmaybe shouldn’t be going on. But a hidden ben efit that we’ve discovered

“Companies that are able to operate drive thrus that are extremely efficient, extremely accurate, and friendly will have the advantage.”

along theway has been the operational improvements we’ve been able tomake, just throughthenormal courseof engagingwiththevideosand engagingwith theoutlier reports.We’vebecomebetter as anorganiza tionas a result of it.” Envysion has allowed Flynn Restaurant Group to identify key ar eas of their drive-thru operations andmake measurable differences over time. “Everybody hasmore on their plate, and no one has time to watchvideoall day,”Aiellosays. “Envysion integratesahigh-techvideo surveillance systemintoourPOSandgives us real-timedata. Infiveor 10minutes over coffee, you’re able to identify where your pain points are—notonly intermsof lossprevention, but also intermsofoperational deficiencies. You’reable togoandaddress those immediately insteadof being buried ina computer all day. It’s beenahugehelp tous.” Z

To learnmore, visit envysion.com.

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MAY 2022 | QSR | www.qsrmagazine.com