---
title: "Chipotle's Online Business Success"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/7b431e1b-1af1-4be4-a613-657b84cf5bcb
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/how-chipotles-online-business-achieved-1-billion-in-sales-2711652
category: "Mexican"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Mexican"
published: 2019-11-18T20:15:04.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:29:06.159Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/fefee47086501a0a269ba12aaa21cf496991.jpg
---

# Chipotle's Online Business Success

**TL;DR:** Chipotle has invested heavily in its digital future, deploying digital order pickup lanes and launching a new loyalty program, resulting in $256 million in digital sales during the third quarter. The chain's digital sales have grown exponentially, generating $725 million in the first three quarters of the year.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-11-18. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/how-chipotles-online-business-achieved-1-billion-in-sales-2711652).*

## Story

**Every day, the QSR landscape becomes increasingly digital. With** **digital ordering constantly growing** **and** **mobile pick-up orders becoming more popular than ever****, Chipotle has been at the front of this movement for some time, developing new technologies from voice automated ordering to grab-and-go shelves as a way to digitalize its offering.**

**This year, Chipotle has invested heavier than ever in its digital future, deploying** **digital order pickup lanes dubbed Chipotlanes****. It also launched a new loyalty program—****Chipotle Rewards****—and revamped its online catering platform to create a more seamless experience for both customers and crew members.**

**The investment seems to be paying off. Digital has been growing exponentially for the restaurant,** **generating $256 million during the third quarter****, an increase of 87.9% compared to the previous year’s quarter.**

**In addition to streamlined online pick-up ordering, Chipotle has prioritized** **voice automation for phone orders****, which rolled out across its system this year. The chain will join** **the emerging trend of using artificial intelligence to improve the ordering experience** **while boosting operational efficiency and freeing up employees from doing time-consuming tasks at the same time.**

**In 2017,** **Domino's began offering the ability ordering via emoji****, while** **Wingstop** **and** **Dunkin'** **also offer** **voice ordering****. Starbucks launched** **voice ordering** **in China earlier this year. The QSR burger chain** **Sonic also began testing a voice-automated menu in May** **through a partnership with Mastercard and kiosk vendor ZIVELO.**

**AI technology also allows franchisors to collect data on customer preference, monitor sales activity to predict future supply chain needs and help with scheduling employees to maximize workflows. For example,** **TGI Fridays has been using machine learning** **for guest customization and employee scheduling. Earlier this year, McDonald’s began** **testing voice-activated drive-thrus and deep-frying robots.**

**When it comes to the digital world, Chipotle has just barely scratched the service and yet the first three quarters of the year have** **generated $725 million in digital sales****, meaning the chain could close in on $1 billion by the end of 2019 if the fourth quarter proves to have $200 million or more in digital sales. Not too bad!**

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- McDonald's (company)
- Starbucks (company)
- Dunkin' Brands (company)
- Domino's (company)
- loyalty program (topic)
- Chipotle (company)
- Wingstop (company)
- online ordering (topic)
- TGI Fridays (company)
- Sonic (company)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/how-chipotles-online-business-achieved-1-billion-in-sales-2711652). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/7b431e1b-1af1-4be4-a613-657b84cf5bcb).