News Briefs

With over 50 years of history, Golden Corral is executing an ambitious growth strategy that includes
expanding its buffet restaurants, increasing off-premise sales, and advancing digital ordering. The recent
national rollout of the Qu’s unified commerce platform / POS, Decision Logic suite of web and mobile
solutions back-office system standardization, which utilizes the AT&T retail network bundle, has
empowered its restaurants to reach the new heights.

More Than An Equipment Upgrade

This rollout marked a shift in how Golden Corral utilizes technology to support restaurant operations and
enhance the guest experience. The installation of new hardware at every location nationwide required a
precise overnight transition and seamless vendor collaboration to avoid possible business disruptions. As
one of Qu’s preferred implementation and staging partners, HonorBuilt played a key role, using a
dedicated team of full-time technicians and a proven process to ensure the project stayed on time, on
budget, and met specifications.

“We knew we needed a partner who could manage the complexity of this upgrade,” said Dawn Gillis,
Chief Information Office of Golden Corral. “HonorBuilt quickly proved its value by recommending that
we address issues related to back-office cable management and replace old network wiring with the POS
rollout to build a strong, reliable technology backbone. HonorBuilt was the right partner to make this
happen.”

Dubbed “Cloud Corral,” Golden Corral’s new technology platform integrates Qu’s point-of-sale, native
online ordering, drive-thru, and kitchen solutions, streamlining sales and many operations processes
across all locations. The brand now operates on a cloud-based platform with centralized menu
management while allowing franchisees to adjust daypart pricing by location. Since implementing Qu’s
technology, Golden Corral has reduced training time on their old system from several shifts to about 30
minutes, demonstrating the system’s ease of use and adaptability.

“Partnering with Qu meant more than just acquiring new hardware and software for our front-of-house
operation — it was about embracing a holistic transition strategy,” said Dawn Gillis. “Their solutions are
intuitive and tailored to support the unique aspects of our business.”

A Proven End-to-End Solution
In 2024, Golden Corral, Qu, and HonorBuilt successfully completed the full brand rollout to Qu’s unified
platform within just seven months. HonorBuilt managed every aspect of the deployment, from procuring
and staging to configuring equipment ahead of installation to drop shipping ready to install restaurant
specific bundles.

HonorBuilt provided end-to-end support throughout the nationwide rollout, ensuring all hardware was
fully prepared from day one. The system-wide effort established a strong foundation for future growth,
backed by HonorBuilt’s expertise and commitment to quality.

HBX Group (HBX.SM), an independent B2B travel technology marketplace, is taking Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the travel industry to the next level. With a strategic evolution focused on automation and personalization, the company is optimizing hotel distribution, improving customer service and facilitating real-time decision making. 

Thanks to the integration of advanced AI models, HBX Group already handles 20% of customer service contacts exclusively through AI in those areas where it has been implemented, reducing response times to seconds for the most common requests. This progress reinforces its position as a leader in technological innovation, with plans to further expand automation and improve service quality. 

"AI is not the future, it is the present. Its impact on distribution and personalization of the journey is already generating tangible results for our customers and partners. With this evolution, we are improving operational efficiency and offering a more agile service adapted to the needs of the market”, says Xabier Zabala, Chief Operations Officer of HBX Group.

To achieve this, the company has implemented multiple AI-based solutions that are revolutionizing the booking management, customer service and commercial management of its partners: 

• Automated omnichannel customer service. Implementation of virtual assistants through chat, email and web channels that not only resolve frequent queries, but also manage requests and bookings, with unbeatable response times.

• Training of new recruits. Transformation of the process of preparing and training new customer service agents with the use of a new AI tool that realistically simulates the interactions and assistance needs of customers, being able to simulate multiple scenarios, languages and levels of difficulty.

• Automated content improvement. Automatic identification and execution of improvement opportunities in hotel service descriptions and experiences, as well as immediate translation into 18 languages.

• Anomaly prediction and detection. Machine learning models that identify unusual patterns in bookings and user behavior, enabling faster and more accurate detections of phishing attempts and thwarting the targets of cybercriminals.

The impact of AI on teams and the future of automation

Beyond transforming the customer experience, AI is redefining the way support and distribution teams operate at HBX Group. The automation of repetitive tasks has enabled customer service agents and sales teams to focus on strategic and higher value-added aspects. 

To support this change, the company has launched specific training programs for its customer service teams to develop the skills needed to work in conjunction with AI systems. These include training using AI agents that behave like customers to train teams to handle more complex cases and deliver higher-value interactions, demand prediction to efficiently manage resources, advanced itinerary personalization, expansion of virtual assistants in multiple languages and automation of financial processes. In addition, they seek to implement predictive AI that not only responds to customer needs, but anticipates them, thus improving user experience and operational management.

“With these initiatives, we reaffirm our commitment to technological innovation and the digital transformation of the tourism sector, consolidating our position as a benchmark in the application of Artificial Intelligence to optimize processes and improve the customer experience”, adds Xabier Zabala.

Security, transparency and compliance

The implementation of AI at HBX Group is accompanied by rigorous security and compliance protocols to ensure data protection and transparency in the use of these technologies. All solutions developed comply with international standards, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other industry-relevant regulations.

To avoid bias and ensure responsible use and operation, the company has developed a system of continuous auditing and monitoring. This monitoring allows the performance of AI models to be evaluated, ensuring that recommendations and automations are interpretable, auditable and aligned with HBX Group values.

Wifinium, a provider of critical, commercial-grade connectivity solutions, has expanded its workforce with the team from Evolution Tech Services, a New York-based wireless network installation firm with a strong reputation in the hospitality market. The addition of Evolution Tech Services’ specialized team of network architects and field service engineers (FSEs) will allow Wifinium to provide an even more streamlined and comprehensive experience for its clients.

As part of the Evolution Tech Services team joining Wifinium, Principal and Founder Krisendat Lakhnath will assume the position of Senior Manager of Network Architecture at Wifinium. Kris has more than 15 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering complex wireless network solutions to enterprises.

“Essential to enabling productivity, collaboration, and growth, a superior wireless experience is paramount for our clients,” explained John Dolmetsch, CEO of Wifinium. “Recognizing this critical need and championing our commitment to innovation, we are thrilled to add Kris and his expert team of network architects and FSEs. Their expertise in solving complex connectivity challenges combined with their knowledge of emerging technologies, such as WiFi 6E and 7, perfectly aligns with our strategic growth objectives. We look forward to delivering next-generation wireless solutions to even more clients by welcoming this impressive team to the Wifinium family.”

Wifinium will leverage the team’s specialized skills to expand its network design, installation, and monitoring services, with a focus on providing white-glove technical solutions for clients requiring sophisticated wireless infrastructure. The team will fully integrate into Wifinium, utilizing the company’s robust network operations center and comprehensive support infrastructure to accelerate service delivery and innovation.

This incoming group brings deep technical know-how and hands-on field experience to help Wifinium clients enjoy flawless connectivity throughout their facilities. Flawless connectivity is vital for hospitality, as guests expect seamless online experiences for communication, entertainment, and even critical work.

“The team and I are very excited to join Wifinium,” said Kris Lakhnath. “We’ve made our name over the years by tackling complex WiFi challenges, especially in the hospitality segment, and this move allows us to amplify that expertise. By joining the renowned Wifinium operation, we can concentrate fully on what we love to do most: building advanced wireless networks.”

Pizza Hut India, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., has onboarded MoEngage to centralize its customer engagement initiatives. A global leader in the pizza category, the QSR giant will use the insights-led engagement platform to enhance customer experiences by exploring new communication channels.

The idea was to significantly modernize the Martech stack for seamless operation, prompt quality support and state-of-the-art features and functionalities. The evaluation phase led to MoEngage coming out on top and fitting the bill on all fronts.

“MoEngage stood out to us because of three primary things- capability, scale, and support. The platform’s advanced analytics suite, coupled with the AI-enabled offerings, will help Pizza Hut create relevant programs for its end consumers. Additionally, the support provided by the Customer Success team and the Implementation team proved to be unmatchable in the market. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to exploring new and intuitive ways to communicate with our customers and uplift satisfaction metrics significantly.”, said Manish Gupta, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Pizza Hut India.

Actionable Customer Data

Automating customer data reports was another crucial objective for Pizza Hut. Using MoEngage’s reporting capabilities, the brand has been able to achieve this seamlessly, remarkably cutting down the manual efforts required to execute it.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Yash Reddy, Chief Revenue Officer, MoEngage, said, “We are thrilled to partner with a giant in the QSR industry like Pizza Hut and excited to help them level up their customer experiences even more. By leveraging our cutting-edge platform, we're poised to help Pizza Hut redefine the way it engages with its customers and set new benchmarks for satisfaction and loyalty. 

MoEngage is an insights-led customer engagement platform trusted by 1,350+ global consumer brands, including Unilever, Airtel, PNB, The Coca-Cola Company, IndusInd Bank, Titan, Samsung, McAfee, Flipkart, Domino’s, The Indian Express, Nestle, OYO, and more. 

Vingcard, an ASSA ABLOY company and provider of advanced technologies for the hospitality industry, has unveiled its latest innovative advancement in door lock security with the launch of its Vingcard NovelTubular Deadbolt solution. Featuring a modern and robust design that is ideal for both retrofitting or new doors, the Vingcard Novel Tubular Deadbolt sets a new standard in solution flexibility and can be customized and upgraded with the newest enhancements in technology.

Available in a wide range of aluminum finish options to suit any style, Vingcard Novel Tubular Deadbolt’s advantage lies in its future-ready Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), NearField Communication (NFC) and Zigbee connectivity compatibility. Support for BLE and NFC ensures that properties can activate mobile key technology at any point in time. The solution is also able to support digital wallet-enabled mobile keys that do not require users to first download a separate app. Instead, mobile room keys can be downloaded to a digital wallet and used with the Vingcard Novel Tubular Deadbolt via an emailed link. The functionality is also made available thanks to the lock’s compatibility with Vostio Access Management, a cloud-based solution that is always up-to-date with the latest security protocols via automatic software updates.

By also being compatible with Zigbee connectivity technology, Vingcard Novel Tubular Deadbolt can be updated to support a range of security-enhancing features, including the ability for employees to receive real-time alerts for issues such as key credentials that are suspected of being used inappropriately. Additional security-boosting abilities include being able to support the latest credential encryption standards. For keycards and other physical formats, this includes MIFARE DESFire EV2 and EV3, MIFARE Plus EV2, MIFARE Ultralight AES and EV1, as well as MIFARE 2GO for mobile key credentials.

“Our Vingcard Novel Tubular Deadbolt steps into an essential role that lets properties keep pace with the ever-faster pace of technology evolution in door lock design and functionality,” said Li Wang, SVP and Head of Hospitality. ”Its robust future-proof adaptability is matched by a sleek and attractive appearance that is a perfect fit for multiple building styles and use-case needs.”

Each Vingcard NovelTubular Deadbolt features a turn lever that manually unlocks a door once a presented credential is verified. The solution is also ADA compliant for users with disabilities and is designed to fit standard deadbolt door cutouts for the US market.