From Pizza Hut to Taco Bell: Yum! Brands’ CDTO Joe Park on Building a Restaurant-in-a-Box Technology Ecosystem

Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

937: In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Joe Park, President of Digital and Restaurant Technology Ecosystem and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Yum! Brands. Joe discusses Yum!’s incredible journey from 19% to over 50% digital sales in just a few years, fueled by innovations in proprietary technologies and AI-first strategies. He shares insights into how the company has built and scaled an integrated technology ecosystem—referred to as “Restaurant in a Box”—to empower franchisees and enhance the customer experience globally.

Joe also highlights Yum!’s strategic use of generative AI and voice AI to streamline operations, reduce team member attrition, and improve restaurant operations. Additionally, he delves into leadership training initiatives, including an AI and digital mindset curriculum developed in partnership with Harvard Business School, to prepare Yum!’s leaders for the digital future.

Highlights include:

• Digital Transformation at Scale: Joe discusses Yum! Brands’ evolution from 19% to over 50% digital sales and the deployment of kiosks across its restaurants.
• Restaurant in a Box: How Yum! Brands integrates proprietary technologies into a seamless platform for franchisees.
• AI-Driven Operations: The use of voice AI and Dragontail to enhance efficiency and employee satisfaction.
• AI and Digital Leadership Training: A Harvard-led curriculum to equip Yum!’s top 200 leaders with AI skills.
• Team Member Empowerment: How tools like the SuperApp digitize and simplify daily routines for restaurant managers.
• Centralized vs. Decentralized Governance: Balancing global and brand-specific needs for scalability.