higher kiosk AOV than counter in-store orders
faster drive-thru speed of service than industry average
conversion rate on drive-thru voice AI upsells
*Results of limited unit test in limited markets are not intended to represent systemwide results. AOV refers to average order value only, not total restaurant sales. Taco John’s makes no representations through presentation of these pilot results.
The Challenge
From Taco Tuesday Roots to Tech-Driven Expansion
Taco John’s, operating nearly 350 units nationwide, has embraced technology as the backbone of scalable growth. Facing a competitive quick‑service environment, Taco John’s needed a unified POS and technology solution to ensure fast, consistent service—even under peak demand.
The growth ambitions were clear, but so were the operational hurdles standing in the way:
- Drive-thru bottlenecks at peak hours slowed throughput and risked eroding guest satisfaction—an unacceptable trade-off in a category where speed equals sales.
- Labor constraints across markets made it difficult to staff every lane and counter while maintaining a consistent guest experience.
- Missed revenue opportunities at the order window, where upselling depended entirely on team consistency and training.
- Fragmented technology and data silos limited visibility into performance across ordering channels, stalling efforts to scale best practices system-wide.
The Solution
Qu Powers Smart Growth
Enter Qu’s Unified Commerce Platform, bringing together POS, KDS, and kiosks—with POS and KDS integrating directly with Presto Voice AI. This modern infrastructure didn’t just upgrade systems; it transformed the brand’s operational DNA, enabling efficient labor models, faster drive-thru throughput, and data-driven decision-making at scale.
Revenue That Scales: Kiosks and voice AI don’t just improve efficiency; they put more money in every ticket.
- +19% Kiosk AOV
- 44% of upsell offers convert
Labor Optimized, Not Overworked: Automation takes on repetitive tasks so teams can focus on hospitality, not hardware.
- 29% faster drive-thru service in locations using voice AI means shorter lines and happier guests
Plug-and-Play Innovation: Qu’s deep integration with Presto Voice keeps operations running smoothly.
- 93% of voice AI orders require no staff help, freeing crews to do more with less
People-first Leadership That Gets It
Heather Leed Neary champions a people-first, process-driven culture that supports sustainable expansion. Steve Smyth ensures every tech investment is scalable, simple for staff, and proven to deliver cost savings.
This isn’t a pilot. This is a playbook for the future of Taco John’s: unified technology, automated efficiency, and leadership that knows how to turn innovation into results.
"POS is the heartbeat of the restaurant—when you remove friction for both guests and teams, every part of the business grows smarter and faster"STEVE SMYTH, Director of Technology, Taco John's
