How Fast Food Is Getting Faster

The dreaded “line balk” is a headache for customers and a profit drain for business.

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Starbucks lost business last quarter because some customers in the US started mobile orders but didn't complete them, citing in part long wait times. The coffee chain said it’s working with Toyota’s productivity consulting arm to crack how to meet demand during the busiest times.

Then there’s Chipotle and Cava, which are turning to AI and improved scheduling to serve more customers per hour — one of the most important ways to boost sales.?

Here’s some of what Daniela Sirtori learned listening to company earnings calls and speaking with executives.

Readers: Have you ever canceled a lunch order because the wait was so long? Tell us by joining the conversation below.

Quick Hits

• People who left a job for a new one reported being less satisfied at work than those who stayed put.
• Macy’s has a new mandate for corporate employees: Two days in the office a week or face disciplinary actions.
• Tesla’s top human resources executive has left the company.
• London’s employers are letting more staff work entirely from home.

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