Most of us know what it feels like to be a regular at our favorite pub, café, or early-morning donut shop. You stop in often enough that the staff doesn’t just recognize your face - they recognize your taste. You walk in and before you even reach the counter, they’re already smiling because they know what’s coming.
“Oh, that’s Mike,” someone says behind the bar. “He’s a big bock guy. His usual is Shiner… but we just tapped a seasonal that he’s probably going to love.”
That kind of experience feels effortless when you’re there three to five times a week. It’s natural. It’s what hospitality is supposed to feel like. But what if you could have that same personalized experience at scale - even in a fast-paced drive-thru where staff is juggling long lines, several tickets, and the classic rush-hour chaos?
That’s exactly what uKnomi was built to deliver.
At the heart of uKnomi is a unique system that combines Vision and Conversation AI to recognize guests and build a profile around what they truly prefer. From a guest’s very first visit, uKnomi begins learning in real time. And after that initial interaction, every return visit becomes smarter, more personalized, and more valuable for both the guest and the business.
And the impact isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” Personalization is quickly becoming the standard. In fact, brands that tailor and personalize experiences are 71% more likely to see stronger customer loyalty. The reality is simple: when customers feel understood, they come back.
uKnomi makes that possible through a powerful concept built directly into our platform: Traits.
Instead of storing guests as static “customer accounts,” uKnomi creates dynamic profiles built around something that is instinctive. Traits are simple, human, and incredibly powerful groupings that represent a guest’s habits and preferences. Think:
Spicy Lover
Sweet Tooth
Cost Conscious
Taste Explorer
These traits aren’t guesses. They’re based on real ordering behavior, repeated patterns, and subtle signals that QSR businesses typically miss.
For example, a guest who always adds jalapeños, chooses spicy sauces, or consistently orders the “hot” version of a sandwich can earn the Spicy Lover trait. Once that preference is recognized, the business can recommend the perfect add-on: extra heat, premium spicy toppings, a limited-time hot sandwich, or even a spicy snack pairing that matches their palate. Instead of feeling like an upsell, it feels like a natural suggestion.
The same strategy works beautifully for a Sweet Tooth guest. Maybe they always ask for an extra pump of syrup in their latte, upgrade to flavored creamers, or consistently grab the cookie or chocolate croissant at checkout. That guest is a prime candidate for bakery bundles, seasonal dessert promotions, or limited-time sweet treats — and uKnomi ensures those offers happen at the exact moment they’re most likely to convert.
But the real magic is that these insights don’t sit buried in reports.
They come to life through inQ, uKnomi’s real-time customer engagement system positioned just above the point of sale. inQ prompts staff with exactly what to do at exactly the right time — whether that’s a personalized greeting, the right upsell or cross-sell suggestion, a reminder about rewards, a review prompt, or even a stronger closing thank-you.
It’s like giving every employee the instincts of the best team member in the building — the one who always knows what to recommend, how to connect, and how to make guests feel like they belong.
Because when businesses recognize guests and understand their preferences, every transaction becomes more than a transaction. It becomes a personalized experience — one that builds loyalty, increases revenue, and keeps customers coming back for more.
That’s the uKnomi difference: hospitality at scale, powered by intelligence, delivered in real time.