- Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright says the fast-casual chain is increasing at an “exponential fee,” with plans to open greater than 300 new areas this yr. Key to creating the expansion occur is new AI expertise, like its hiring platform, “Ava Cado,” Boatwright tells Fortune.
In the event you’re a fan of bowls, tacos, and burritos, there’s excellent news: there may be a Chipotle opening in your neighborhood quickly.
The corporate presently operates over 3,700 eating places, but it surely has bold targets to develop to 7,000 areas within the U.S. and Canada alone. On stage at Fortune’s COO summit immediately, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright revealed that the corporate is increasing practically by the day.
“We are going to open a brand new Chipotle restaurant this yr virtually each 24 hours,” Boatwright mentioned to Fortune’s Kristin Stoller. “And if you concentrate on the expansion that’s forward of us and the necessity for extremely succesful, function pushed, worth oriented people is extra essential immediately than it most likely ever has been for our model.”
Chipotle presently employs over 130,000 workers—and with growth additionally deliberate for Mexico, Boatwright admitted that utilizing AI expertise 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 decreased by 75%.
And whereas the usage of 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 hold our restaurant staffed, however ensures now we have one of the best expertise that’s out there within the business,” he mentioned.
AI would possibly offer you a reduction in your subsequent Chipotle bowl
Whereas Chipotle is becoming a member of the lengthy record of corporations embracing AI throughout its enterprise, Boatwright mentioned you shouldn’t count on to have a robotic folding your burrito anytime quickly (although, it might be making your guacamole).
“We don’t look to switch the human expertise, we glance to take away waste and develop or improve the crew member expertise,” he added.
The corporate can be utilizing the expertise 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 may escalate over time to get the client to come back into the shop. AI expertise helps tailor the offers to the person based mostly on their personalization and general 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 expertise and initiatives will solely work if clients benefit from the product.
“Clients come to Chipotle for the meals,” he mentioned.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com