Taco Bell is also conducting ongoing research into consumer preferences, speedy delivery and quality control.
The chain already is testing in about 300 restaurants a concept known as "K-Minus," meaning Kitchen Minus--which means that much of Taco Bell's food preparation would be shifted to outside vendors. By buying already fried taco shells or cooked and seasoned ground beef, for example, Taco Bell restaurants can shave labor costs by no longer having to do their own chopping, dicing, cooking and seasoning.
Then there are the high-tech gadgets. Taco Bell--like many of its competitors--is tinkering with the possibility of machines that will take orders, wrap and bag tacos, and deliver orders to customers in about half the time and at about half the cost required by workers.
Like the Omnitron. That's the gadget that Taco Bell plans to test in restaurants within 30 days; it will fill drinks more quickly, put lids on them and save 15 seconds per 32-ounce glass without spilling a drop.