ConverseNow Acquires Valyant AI, Solidifying the Trend toward Voice AI Drive-Thru Restaurant Technology |

In a move that highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in the restaurant industry, ConverseNow, a technology solutions provider specializing in voice AI solutions for restaurants, has acquired Valyant AI, a drive-thru automation technology provider. The acquisition aims to leverage the combined strengths of both companies to accelerate the adoption of AI-driven solutions in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector.

Founded in 2018, Valyant AI has focused on developing and deploying voice AI technology specifically for the drive-thru environment. Its flagship offering, an AI voice assistant called Holly, integrates with existing drive-thru communication systems from established manufacturers such as PAR and HME. Additionally, Holly is compatible with a range of POS systems, including those from Brink, Xenial, NCR, Aloha, and Oracle Microsystems. This focus on integration with existing infrastructure underscores Valyant AI’s approach to providing easily deployable solutions for QSR brands. The company has signed deals with well-known brands such as CKE and Checkers, indicating some market acceptance of its technology.

ConverseNow is looking to integrate Valyant AI’s technology and team into its operations with its existing portfolio of voice AI solutions. Both companies have a shared goal of making AI solutions more accessible to a wider range of restaurants, regardless of their size or existing technology infrastructure. This shared vision, coupled with their complementary technology capabilities, forms the basis for the acquisition.

“Our goal is to make AI a ubiquitous tool for restaurants of all sizes, enabling them to improve operational efficiency and customer experience across all ordering channels,” said Vinay Shukla, co-founder and CEO of ConverseNow, in a company press release. He also emphasized the strategic fit of the acquisition, stating, “Valyant AI’s expertise in drive-thru automation complements our existing voice AI capabilities and enables us to offer a more comprehensive set of solutions to the QSR market.”

Rahul Aggarwal, co-founder, COO and CPO of ConverseNow, which closed a $10 million funding round in August 2022, highlighted the technological synergy, stating, “Valyant’s patented technology and proprietary hardware, combined with their seamless POS integration capabilities, are a good fit with ConverseNow’s existing AI technology stack. We believe this will enable us to build even more robust and scalable solutions for the industry.”

ConverseNow’s AI-powered virtual ordering assistants are designed to have a natural-sounding dialogue with customers, allowing them to understand customer intent and guide the ordering process. These assistants use conversational AI to interpret nuances in language, anticipate ordering patterns, and even suggest upselling based on real-time data analytics. The company’s cloud-based platform supports multiple languages ​​and serves various high-volume ordering channels, including phone ordering, drive-thru interactions, self-service kiosks, and voice-enabled chat on mobile devices.

The acquisition brings an additional technological advantage to ConverseNow: an AI Employee Assist product. This voice-enabled tool, powered by generative AI, offers restaurant employees the ability to get instant answers to work-related questions. This solution, which has already been tested by Valyant AI, is designed for both brick-and-mortar and drive-thru environments and is expected to be rolled out more broadly by the end of the quarter.

In the short term, both companies will continue to operate under their respective brands, ensuring continuity of services to existing customers. This approach allows both companies to leverage their shared resources and expertise while integrating their technologies.

Despite the optimistic projections from both companies, the widespread adoption of AI in drive-thrus is an evolving environment. While some brands are reporting success with AI-powered drive-thru systems, others, like McDonald’s, have recently completed testing with AI providers and opted to explore alternative solutions. Presto Automation, another player in the AI ​​drive-thru market, has also come under fire for its reliance on human helpers to support its AI system.

The ConverseNow-Valyant AI acquisition represents a significant consolidation of resources and expertise in developing restaurants with AI technology. However, the long-term viability and effectiveness of these technologies in real-world QSR environments has yet to be fully assessed as the technology matures and industry-wide adoption patterns emerge.