From the UK to Australia: Sodaclick and Oliver’s Launch the World’s First Nutritional, Unscripted Voice AI Order Taker ‘Ollie’
Sodaclick, a global leader in groundbreaking conversational Voice AI technology, is revolutionising customer interactions at Oliver’s, Australia’s premier healthy fast-food chain, with the launch of its automated voice AI order taker. Known for delivering innovative, scalable, and adaptable solutions, Sodaclick’s technology is set to reshape the drive-thru experience, offering a blend of personalisation, nutritional insights, and operational efficiency.
This cutting-edge AI is transforming drive-thrus across Australia, providing seamless, personalised service while optimising operations at Oliver’s locations. With this launch, Sodaclick and Oliver’s solidify their positions at the forefront of AI innovation and customer service excellence, redefining how AI-driven solutions enhance the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry and setting a new benchmark for the future of customer interactions.
Revolutionising the Drive-Thru with Conversational AI
The introduction of Ollie for Oliver’s, the world’s first contextually aware™ automated conversational voice AI order taker, marks a significant leap forward, enhancing both customer service and operational efficiency at Oliver’s. Designed by Sodaclick, Ollie is highly sophisticated and intuitive, engaging customers in unscripted conversations, and creating natural interactions using distinctly Australian phrases like “G’day mate” and “how ya going?” to resonate with the locals. This technology provides a seamless, personalised experience that elevates the drive-thru beyond other AI models.
Oliver’s CEO, Natalie Sharpe, shared her excitement about the game-changing nature of Ollie: “We’re thrilled to launch this Australian-first innovation enhancing the drive-thru experience so our team can focus on creating nourishing healthy wholefoods and a memorable experience at Oliver’s. Like most industries, QSRs have been impacted by the global labour shortage. At Oliver’s we want to give our customers the best possible experience wherever they choose to order, and our newest team member, Ollie, helps us do this at the drive-thru.”
She added, “Come and say hello, or if you’d prefer to speak with a member of staff when ordering our signature egg wrap or bacon and egg roll, simply ask.”
Empowering Customers with Informed Choices and Integrated AI Solutions
A standout feature of Ollie is its seamless integration with Prepit, Oliver’s proprietary nutritional database, making it the world’s first nutritional AI assistant in the quick-service restaurant sector. This integration allows Ollie to provide customers with real-time information on menu items, including calorie counts, allergens*, and ingredient sourcing. Through natural conversation, customers can access detailed nutritional information displayed on digital screens and through verbal responses, empowering them to confidently make informed, healthy choices that align with their dietary needs – an invaluable tool in today’s increasingly health conscious world.
Additionally by integrating with Shift8, a leading point-of-sale (POS) platform, Sodaclick’s AI not only elevates the customer experience but also streamlines operations by sending customer orders directly to the kitchen via the Shift8 POS. This allows Oliver’s to manage orders efficiently and accurately, reducing the burden on staff and ensuring that every interaction is smooth and more accurate.
“Our AI integration with Shift8 and Prepit enhances both Oliver’s operational efficiency and the customer experience,” said Ibrahim Jan, CEO of Sodaclick. “These partnerships demonstrate Sodaclick’s ability to deliver unified solutions that empower customers while optimising business operations, driving improved satisfaction across the board.”
Ollie’s ability to combine a personalised service with operational efficiency reinforces Oliver’s mission to provide both nourishing, healthy meals and an exceptional customer experience. By seamlessly integrating AI-driven solutions, Sodaclick ensures that Oliver’s can deliver real-time insights and efficient service, transforming the drive-thru into a truly customer centric experience.
Solving Industry-Wide Challenges with AI
The launch of Ollie addresses key challenges faced by Oliver’s and the broader QSR industry, including labour shortages and the growing demand for personalised customer experiences. For Oliver’s, these challenges were especially significant when expanding drive-thru operations in remote locations, where staffing availability and training employees to recall extensive product information on demand posed notable hurdles. In response, Oliver’s sought Sodaclick as a technology partner to implement a solution that not only improves operational efficiency but also upholds their commitment to delivering exceptional service and transparency around their food.
By automating the order-taking process, Ollie frees up to 30% of staff time, allowing employees to focus on high-value tasks like food preparation and delivering high quality customer service. This holistic approach alleviates stress on staff, improving productivity and job satisfaction, while maintaining the personal touch that customers expect, and ensures that Oliver’s stays at the forefront of the QSR industry. Working alongside staff members, Ollie ensures a smooth ordering process, with team members remaining integral to assist whenever needed. This approach creates a perfect balance between cutting-edge automation and the personal touch of human service. Oliver’s is already seeing the benefits of this streamlined approach, with Ollie enhancing speed, accuracy, and engagement at the drive-thru.
Transparency remains a core value for Oliver’s, and customers will always have a choice when interacting with Ollie. The AI is designed to recognise when human intervention is needed and can seamlessly hand over to a staff member if a request arises or is required. Current feedback from Oliver’s staff and customers suggests that many customers find the AI-driven experience refreshing and engaging.
Expanding the AI Experience Beyond the Drive-Thru
Beyond transforming the drive-thru, Sodaclick is set to roll out voice AI enabled kiosks across Oliver’s in-store locations, creating a seamless, omnichannel customer experience. These kiosks will allow customers to interact with the brand through voice or touch, catering to various preferences and ensuring accessibility for individuals with visual or physical impairments.
By offering flexible solutions that adapt to customer needs, Sodaclick’s AI not only enhances convenience but also ensures that businesses can provide a truly inclusive experience across various channels. This approach further streamlines operations, elevating the customer journey and reinforcing Oliver’s commitment to delivering exceptional service through innovative technology.
Setting a New Standard for AI-Powered Customer Service
As Sodaclick continues to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve in real-world applications, the success of Ollie marks a pivotal moment for both companies and a new era for the QSR industry. With seamless integrations, real-time customer insights, and the ability to scale globally, Sodaclick is fast becoming the go-to partner for businesses looking to leverage the power of voice AI to enhance customer interactions and streamline operations.
“Our AI technology is designed to elevate customer interactions beyond simple automation,” said Ibrahim Jan, CEO of Sodaclick. “We aim to make AI-driven experiences smarter, more engaging, and ultimately more valuable for both businesses and customers.” The successful deployment of Ollie is just the beginning. “We are thrilled to be part of Oliver’s transformation and excited to continue shaping the future of customer interactions globally.” Jan added.
Sodaclick’s innovative use of AI has already garnered attention at global events such as Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), and is currently featured at the Google Customer Experience Centre (CEC) in California, demonstrating its potential to drive success for businesses worldwide.
Watch the video to see Ollie in action.
*For allergen inquiries, Ollie directs customers to the digital screens displaying detailed allergen information and always refers them to a staff member for confirmation
About Sodaclick:
Sodaclick is a leading global AI experience innovator that is driving the future of retail, hospitality and beyond.
With Sodaclick’s conversational voice AI solutions, businesses can increase sales through upsell opportunities, unifying brand image, and personalising data driven interactions with its customers. Sodaclick enables QSR brands to address labour shortages, improve speed of service, and overcome language barriers by reshaping the in-store and drive-thru experience.
Effortlessly aligning with the wider ecosystem of hardware and software partners, Sodaclick offers a flexible avenue to introduce its digital products across various sectors, including QSRs, retail, hospitality, education and public spaces.
Sodaclick is committed to influencing the future of technology, by creating new ways to engage with the world and empowering brands to thrive in an age defined by AI innovations.
For more information, please visit www.sodaclick.com or contact: marketing@sodaclick.com
About Oliver's:
Founded in 2003 to bring good food to everyone, Oliver’s has a passionate customer base that love our premium fast food offering. We connect people with nourishing whole foods that taste good on-the-go through our 15 restaurants along the east coast of Australia. Our balanced menus cater to every dietary requirement, allergen or preference, serving specialty coffee and breakfast classics in the morning through to a full lunch and dinner menu including burgers, bowls and its signature pockets. Oliver’s also serves smoothies, fresh juices and food to grab and go such as sandwiches, salads, muffins and snacks, plus 100% organic coffee. We’re unwavering in our quality and standards, working alongside nutritionists and dietitians to ensure your trust in our product at all times. We’re intentional about the growers and suppliers we work with, and seek out Australian farmers and local products as much as we can to shape our fresh, nutrition-forward menu. At Oliver’s, we’ve got your health covered. Visit https://olivers.com.au/
Sodaclick Ltd. London, UK
Sodaclick is a digital signage platform specialising in dynamic content and voice AI experiences at every touchpoint
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