June 20 (Reuters) - Yum China Holdings ( YUMC )

said on Friday it has launched a new AI-enabled

hands-free assistant tool at certain KFC ( YUM ) stores in a bid to

boost efficiency.

The company, which operates Yum Brands' ( YUM ) franchises

including Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, said the tool, named Q-Smart,

is aimed at supporting restaurant managers in tasks such as

staff scheduling, inventory management, and food quality

inspection.

The launch follows its former parent Yum's AI-driven

initiatives, including the Byte by Yum! software it launched in

February, aimed at reducing wait times at restaurants and

improving delivery times.

Yum China ( YUMC ) said the pilot phase will lead to a larger scale

roll-out of Q-Smart in the future, following incorporation of

user feedback.