- Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright says the fast-casual chain is increasing at an “exponential price,” with plans to open greater than 300 new places this yr. Key to creating the expansion occur is new AI know-how, like its hiring platform, “Ava Cado,” Boatwright tells Fortune.
For those who’re a fan of bowls, tacos, and burritos, there’s excellent news: there is perhaps a Chipotle opening in your neighborhood quickly.
The corporate presently operates over 3,700 eating places, but it surely has formidable targets to increase to 7,000 places within the U.S. and Canada alone. On stage at Fortune’s COO summit at this time, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright revealed that the corporate is increasing almost by the day.
“We are going to open a brand new Chipotle restaurant this yr nearly each 24 hours,” Boatwright mentioned to Fortune’s Kristin Stoller. “And if you consider the expansion that’s forward of us and the necessity for extremely succesful, goal pushed, worth oriented people is extra crucial at this time than it in all probability ever has been for our model.”
Chipotle presently employs over 130,000 staff—and with enlargement additionally deliberate for Mexico, Boatwright admitted that utilizing AI know-how has made the hiring course of a lot faster. Final yr, Chipotle launched “Ava Cado,” the corporate’s AI hiring platform, and since then, Boatwright mentioned hiring occasions have been lowered by 75%.
And whereas using AI within the hiring course of could also be an unwelcome signal for human useful resource professionals, Boatwright mentioned AI has a spot in enterprise throughout all verticals and industries.
“This not solely helps us maintain our restaurant staffed, however ensures we’ve got the perfect expertise that’s obtainable within the trade,” he mentioned.
AI may offer you a reduction in your subsequent Chipotle bowl
Whereas Chipotle is becoming a member of the lengthy listing of firms embracing AI throughout its enterprise, Boatwright mentioned you shouldn’t count on to have a robotic folding your burrito anytime quickly (although, it could be making your guacamole).
“We don’t look to switch the human expertise, we glance to take away waste and increase or improve the staff member expertise,” he added.
The corporate can be utilizing the know-how inside its rewards system. If a buyer hasn’t made a purchase order within the final two weeks, Boatwright mentioned they could be provided a deal that can escalate over time to get the client to come back into the shop. AI know-how helps tailor the offers to the person primarily based on their personalization and total model utilization.
And whereas Boatwright solely simply grew to become CEO final yr—after serving as COO for over seven years—he admitted his makes an attempt to scale the corporate with new know-how and initiatives will solely work if clients benefit from the product.
“Prospects come to Chipotle for the meals,” he mentioned.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
