How AI is bringing true personalization to workplace dining

Over the coming months, we will be running a series penned by Alice Guéhennec, our Global Chief Tech, Data, Digital, and Innovation Officer, exploring how AI and other technological innovations are reshaping the future of workplace dining.

How AI is bringing true personalization to workplace dining

In the 20 years I have worked in this field, I have seen technology enable some truly transformative innovation... I have also seen it fall flat.  

If we consider this duality in the context of AI, the responsible and impactful use of this potentially limitless technology depends on maintaining alignment with the strategic goals of the businesses it serves.  

Within our industry, for example, many client organizations are looking to boost retention and productivity by feeding the wellbeing of their workforce. Therefore, when we deploy AI-based innovations we must direct them towards a truly elevated result – outcomes that have never been possible until right now.  

We serve more than 80 million consumers daily on over 27,000 client sites around the world. This means we are deeply aware of how dietary requirements and cultural preferences differ from country to country, and how mood in the moment and individual values will differ from person to person.

Yet while tastes diverge, return-to-office mandates are becoming ever more common. This creates a challenge for businesses that wish to draw their people in and boost team spirit while sustaining the ‘new normal’ of a personalized experience. It may sound counterintuitive, but ever-expanding choice is not the answer.

Accurate data forms the bedrock for AI-enabled food services that will take personalization to the next level. By blending nutrition data with health goals, combining buying behaviors with recipe flavors, and considering menu costs with past spend, it’s possible to deliver the perfect dish for every moment, all the time.

Good business is about meeting consumer needs, and we’ve collected data on these needs for decades. What was once written on paper then typed into spreadsheets is now captured digitally, with more than two million monthly transactions turned into actionable insights for thousands of sites. This is robust, real-world information about what works and what doesn’t, enabling rapid adjustments that improve the guest experience and keep them coming back.

It could explain how this choice would reduce their fat consumption, cut their carbon footprint, fit their budget and be ready to collect in 15 minutes.

As they browse menus, book spaces, place orders and make payments, they transfer valuable insight with every interaction. By adding agentic AI, we can elevate the experience, enabling menu suggestions that factor in their health goals, finances, and even time pressures.

We already use AI to generate seasonal menus that match local pricing, sourcing and dietary preferences, so this is the obvious next step. And it has a worthwhile side effect: freeing up time for more guest interaction.

AI offers almost limitless possibilities, both as a personal companion for everyday life and a transformative business tool. But we must remember that innovation is not an end in itself. It’s a personalized employee experience that will help our clients to build community, boost satisfaction and drive productivity – our job is to enable that in the best way we can.