IHOP to deploy an AI-powered food ordering recommendation
engine across its stores nationwide
- IHOP is the first restaurant chain to power its online
ordering system with Google Cloud's Recommendations AI
technology
- Across IHOP restaurants nationwide, guests will see more
helpful and personalized recommendations when ordering online in
the coming months
- The brand's move is part of strategic investments in its
rapidly growing online ordering and to-go business
PASADENA, Calif. and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 24,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Google Cloud and IHOP
announced that the restaurant chain is partnering with Google Cloud
to enhance its online ordering experience nationwide with AI
technology. Logged-in guests ordering from IHOP online will soon
see more helpful and personalized options, including suggestions
for their favorite IHOP items that they frequently order. The brand
is the first in the restaurant industry to use Google Cloud's
Recommendations AI technology for online ordering specifically.
Powering IHOP's new food ordering recommendation engine is
Google Cloud's Recommendations AI solution, which draws on Google's
years of experience in delivering recommended content across Google
Ads, Google Search, and YouTube. With Recommendations AI, IHOP will
lean into Google's experience and expertise in AI and machine
learning to create a more personalized and tailored online ordering
experience for guests based on customer preferences and changes to
IHOP's menu offerings, pricing, and promotions. For example, if a
guest has shown an affinity for spicy items in past orders, IHOP
will be sure to recommend its new Poblano Eggs Benedicts.
"At IHOP our guests always come first, and we're constantly
making new investments and improvements to meet their evolving
tastes and expectations. One of the biggest shifts we've seen with
our guests is a preference for online ordering, with IHOP's to-go
business rapidly growing to more than 20 percent of total sales in
the last few years alone," said Kieran
Donahue, chief marketing officer, IHOP. "Our new partnership
with Google Cloud infuses AI into IHOP's online ordering
experience, making it even easier for our guests to place online
orders, quickly find the items they love, and discover our newest
products relevant to their individual tastes and interests."
The deployment of Google Cloud's AI capabilities across its
nationwide online ordering system comes as IHOP has nurtured
increased growth in online orders. In recent years, IHOP has
optimized its to-go experience with the launch of a new website, an
easy-to-use app, and guest loyalty program that offers exclusive
rewards. Additionally, IHOP provides industry-leading to-go
packaging that cuts down on moisture, while still trapping heat,
thanks to its modular shape. The wide circular design was
specifically built to accommodate the brand's signature
pancakes.
"Using Google Cloud's Recommendations AI and BigQuery products,
our internal technology team developed an item recommendation
engine, the first of its kind in the restaurant space using
Google's AI," says Krish
Lakshminarayanan, Dine Brands Vice President, Data and
Analytics. "IHOP is now quickly building, training, configuring,
and launching our own AI models that seamlessly interact with our
guests and will provide them with a personalized online
experience."
"IHOP is a perfect example of how an action-oriented business is
practically deploying AI to create better customer experiences,"
said Carrie Tharp, VP of Industries,
Google Cloud. "Now, one of America's favorite restaurants is using
the latest AI innovations from Google Cloud to not only help its
guests, but also help boost growth."
IHOP's selection of Google Cloud's AI technology was based on a
variety of factors, but importantly came down to the ability to
fuse disparate data sources together, a flexible model, and overall
ease-of-use.
About Google Cloud
Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally
transform its business and industry. We deliver enterprise-grade
solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology, and tools
that help developers build more sustainably. Customers in more than
200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted
partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business
problems.
About International House of Pancakes, LLC
For more
than 65 years, IHOP has been a leader, innovator and expert in all
things breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The chain offers 65 different
signature, fresh, made-to-order breakfast options, a wide selection
of popular lunch and dinner items, including Ultimate Steakburgers,
Hand Crafted Melts, Burritos & Bowls and more. IHOP restaurants
offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm
and friendly service. As of June 30,
2023, there are 1,790 IHOP restaurants around the world,
including restaurants in all 50 states, two U.S. territories and 13
countries outside the United
States. IHOP restaurants are franchised by affiliates of
Pasadena, Calif.-based Dine Brands
Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).
About Dine Brands Global, Inc.
Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global, Inc.
(NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries and franchisees, supports and
operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill +
Bar®, IHOP®, and Fuzzy's Taco Shop® brands. As of March 31, 2023, these three brands consisted of
3,600 restaurants, across 17 international markets. Dine Brands is
one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world
and in 2022 expanded into the Fast Casual segment. For more
information on Dine Brands, visit the Company's website located
at www.dinebrands.com.
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SOURCE Google Cloud