Evaluation of the current business processes with human assessors would require a lot of staff with the same qualification using the same methodology. Additionally, the objectivity of the collected data and conclusions would be questionable, since the staff behavior and performance would change under observation (people normally work harder when they feel their performance is being evaluated). It would also require each assessor to observe and register the actions of multiple staff simultaneously for many hours without missing details. This would involve the "human factor" and subjectivity at each stage, reducing the resulting data reliability.

Vision Systems.tech designed and developed a complex software solution that analyzes video data captured by existing customers' video surveillance systems to identify and evaluate regular restaurant operations. The software automatically identifies the type of operation each employee is performing at every moment of time, the number of guests in a line for making an order, and the amount of time taken to clean each table after guests leave. Collected stats were displayed in a clear and consistent way at the central self-service portal where authorized users can generate pre-built or self-created statistical reports and visual layouts.

Customer's management obtained a powerful instrument for reliable evaluation of the production process in multiple restaurants. After collecting operation performance data for the first two weeks new instrument allowed the business to identify specific deviations in particular processes that influenced overall facility performance. In some cases, management could take immediate business decisions. Other, required additional audits but it took much less time and resources as a particular targeted process was identified in advance. In all cases, performance indicators demonstrated an immediate boost.

The core of an AI system is software that uses machine-learning algorithms. It can run both on a remote server and on specialized computers (Video Processing Units) located in each facility allowing to create either centralized, decentralized, combined or cloud architecture.

The software uses data captured by existing video surveillance systems to analyze video streams. At the initial set-up stage system administrator user admin panel to define zones for each operation (chopping, cooking, preparation, washing, guest table cleaning, cashier desk, etc) on camera-captured images. Staff uniform is marked with unique graphical markers that help computer vision clearly identify each employee. The Machine Learning model created by Vision Systems' Data Scientists identifies operations performed by each employee at each moment. This information is stored in the database to be used manifold for analytical reports providing insights. Authorized personnel can view pre-designed graphic performance visualizations as well as create their own reports with built-in report designer.

This solution can evolve in multiple directions. New features can be added to increase restaurant staff engagement. For example, you can gamify the staff operations by providing them access to a team or personal performance data and establish an internal performance excellence award system. Analytics can provide way more insights if it is combined with restaurant business management software. It, for example, could help to see non-obvious dependencies between the sales rate of a particular meal in a particular restaurant with its cooking process deviation in it.

Adding new Computer Vision features will let QSR analyze drive-thru performance, sanitary standards (wearing gloves, and facemasks), and many other aspects increasing customer satisfaction, mitigating risks, and preventing loss.