Smashburger
In an industry defined by bold flavors and fierce competition, fast-casual restaurant brands are discovering a new ingredient for sustainable growth: artificial intelligence.
The opportunity
At Forum3, we believe the future belongs to brands that don’t just adopt new technology—they integrate it into the way they think, operate, and innovate. That’s why we created the AI First Bootcamp, a transformational program designed to help fast-casual leaders move from curiosity to confidence in deploying AI across their business.
Today’s restaurant operators are navigating tighter margins, shifting consumer expectations, and facing increasing pressure to innovate faster. Many know that AI holds promise, but they don’t know where to begin or how to scale.
Forum3 designed the AI First Bootcamp to answer that call. It’s not a lecture. It’s a launchpad.
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“The real win isn’t just using AI—it’s building a culture where AI is a collaborator in creativity, strategy, and decision-making.”
What we did
The AI First Bootcamp is a hands-on, high-impact experience tailored for fast-casual leadership teams. Over a few immersive sessions, we guide participants through:
- What AI is—and what it isn’t—with an emphasis on restaurant-specific applications.
- Real-world use cases, from dynamic pricing to workforce planning to LTO development.
- Tactical exercises, using AI tools in real time to solve brand-relevant challenges.
- Prompting best practices, helping teams move beyond “ask and answer” toward true collaboration with AI.
One of the most powerful moments in our recent work with Smashburger was an innovation challenge, where cross-functional teams used AI to develop and pitch a new menu item—complete with visuals, branding, copy, and campaign strategy—in just 45 minutes.
“Seeing ideas turn into execution-ready assets in under an hour is always a breakthrough moment. It shows how AI can collapse time and unlock creativity at scale.”
The outcome
Forum3 doesn’t just teach AI, we help teams activate it.
After the bootcamp, our partners leave with:
- Custom GPTs tailored to their brand voice, menu structure, or pricing strategy.
- Use-case libraries for marketing, ops, HR, and more.
- Best practices and frameworks designed to embed AI into daily workflows.
- Confidence to keep learning as you go—not just testing ideas, but building on them.
And we stay close. Through office hours, async coaching, and strategic advisory, Forum3 continues to be a partner in transformation.
What we’ve learned from our work with fast-casual teams informs a clear playbook for AI adoption in the space:
- AI-Optimized Menu Development – AI can streamline menu innovation by analyzing consumer preferences, regional trends, and pricing strategies, allowing fast-casual brands to launch new items faster and with higher success rates.
- Rapid LTO (Limited Time Offer) Development – AI enables fast-casual brands to analyze trends, test new flavors, and visualize product concepts in minutes rather than weeks, helping brands quickly introduce and refine menu innovations.
- Smarter Hiring & Retention – AI optimizes workforce planning by predicting labor needs, automating resume screening, and analyzing employee sentiment to improve retention in an industry known for high turnover.
- Next-Gen Loyalty Programs – AI-driven personalization tailors promotions to individual customer preferences, increasing visit frequency and average ticket size through hyper-targeted deals and automated engagement.
- Supply Chain Adaptation – AI monitors ingredient costs and availability in real time, enabling fast-casual brands to proactively adjust menus to maintain profitability during supply fluctuations.
- Precision-Based Pricing Strategies – AI-driven insights allow dynamic pricing adjustments based on demand shifts, competitor trends, and location-based purchasing behaviors, maximizing revenue potential.
Forum3 exists to help fast-casual brands unlock the full value of AI—without the guesswork. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your efforts, our bootcamps, strategy sprints, and custom GPT development meet you where you are.
Smashburger is already on the journey. Are you ready to join them?
