The QSR drive-thru is the ideal environment for voice: with employees repeating the same tasks and constantly communicating with one another, voice AI can automate these functions and provide information instantly. Major chains like White Castle and McDonald’s (which acquired voice ordering startup Apprente in 2019) are already piloting voice-enabled drive-thrus at several of their locations. In Spain last year, McDonald’s even installed kiosks where customers can order with voice commands. This week, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken leveraged their own assistant at the drive-thru. As long wait times continue to remain significant pain points for customers and employees alike, restaurants are exploring new ways to eliminate this friction. However, these voice experiences must balance promoting efficiency with ease of use.