Extension builds on nearly 500-location deployment processing more than 1 million orders a week, with new AI capabilities on the roadmap

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Hi Auto, the AI company transforming drive-thru operations, and Bojangles, the iconic restaurant chain known for its boldly flavored chicken, biscuits and breakfast, today announced an extended multi-year partnership, to continue deploying Bo-Linda, the AI order taker, across the Bojangles system.

The extension follows more than two years of collaboration between both companies. Bojangles began scaling Bo-Linda systemwide in July 2024, and the platform is now live at nearly 500 locations, with plans to add 100 more by mid-2027. Bo-Linda currently processes more than one million orders per week at a 98% success rate.

"We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Hi Auto for our class-leading Bo-Linda AI drive-thru engine," said Richard Del Valle, CIO and Chief of Staff at Bojangles. "The system is a rare tool that improves the guest and employee experience at the same time, and it's been extremely well-received by both. Bo-Linda now processes more than a million orders a week across our system at a 98%, or better, success rate. This has given us the confidence to continue and expand Bo-Linda.”

As part of the extended agreement, Hi Auto and Bojangles will continue expanding Bo-Linda's capabilities, including a new dynamic upselling feature that adjusts recommendations in real time based on drive-thru queue length. When lines are longer, the system surfaces quicker-to-prepare items, helping Bojangles capture incremental upsell revenue during peak periods without slowing down service or adding labor. The feature builds on Hi Auto's core upsell engine, which already adjusts recommendations based on daypart, weather, and inventory in real time.

The extension also builds on Bo-Linda's integration with Global Payments' Genius platform via a new XPI connection, giving Bojangles real-time, enterprise-grade connectivity between voice ordering and the point of sale. The upgrade addresses the latency and reliability challenges that have historically limited AI voice ordering at scale, allowing Bo-Linda to maintain consistent performance as it has grown from 100 to nearly 500 Bojangles locations.

The platform also addresses a common operational challenge at dual-lane drive-thrus: each order is paired with an image of the vehicle that placed it, allowing staff to instantly verify the correct order when lanes merge, reducing mix-ups and keeping service moving during high-traffic periods.

"As a franchisee, what matters to me is whether a system actually works at the store level, day in and day out," said Michael Haynes, a Bojangles franchisee. "Bo-Linda has earned that trust. It's consistent, it's reliable, and it's made a real difference for my crews and my guests. Bojangles and Hi Auto created something that genuinely helps, and I'm grateful that Bojangles keeps investing in it."

In 2025, Bojangles named Hi Auto its "Legendary Supplier of the Year," the first time the company has given the honor to a technology partner, in recognition of Bo-Linda's role in reshaping drive-thru operations systemwide.

"Bojangles has been one of our most important partners from the start, and this extension is a testament to what's possible when an operator and a technology partner build together instead of just buying and selling," said Roy Baharav, CEO and Co-Founder of Hi Auto. "From nearly 500 locations processing over a million orders a week, to franchisees who trust the system on their own drive-thru lines, this is what real adoption looks like - and we're just getting started on what Bo-Linda can do next."

To learn more about Hi Auto, visit https://hi.auto/.

About Hi Auto

Hi Auto builds AI Order Taker voice technology purpose-built for QSR drive-thrus. The platform greets guests, takes orders, upsells based on real-time factors like daypart and inventory, and posts directly to the POS - backed by a human-fallback safety net. Hi Auto operates across the US, UK, and Australia, powering more than 1,000 stores and processing over 100 million orders a year for brands including Bojangles, Checkers & Rally's, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Burger King (NZ), and Popeyes (UK).

About Bojangles

Bojangles is a Carolina-born restaurant chain serving boldly seasoned hand-breaded chicken, scratch-made biscuits and sweet tea steeped with soul. Founded in 1977 as a single location in Charlotte, the legendary brand continues to grow with more than 890 company-owned and franchised restaurants in 24 states. For more information about Bojangles’ handcrafted approach to food and community impact, visit www.bojangles.com.

Fonte: Business Wire