Technology

CPK cuts labor variance by 50% via AI partnership

photo: CPK

February 23, 2026

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California Pizza Kitchen is slicing into the future of upscale casual dining by ditching legacy systems in favor of AI-driven operational tools. The 144-unit global brand has partnered with Axial Shift to modernize its labor forecasting and employee engagement, reporting a significant reduction in labor variance.

Since its founding in 1985, CPK has been known for menu innovation, from its signature Barbecue Chicken Pizza to its global expansion. However, company leaders noted that while the food evolved, the brand's labor forecasting software had remained stagnant.

"We wanted more than our labor software provider was able to deliver," JT Szczuka, CPK's chief procurement officer, said in a case study. "We needed a more dynamic way to manage our labor and labor targets."

Precision in the kitchen

For high-volume operators, an inaccurate forecast often leads to a "lose-lose" scenario: over-scheduling drains the bottom line, while under-scheduling compromises the guest experience.

Before the pivot, CPK managers were forced to make constant manual adjustments to hit internal goals. Jeremy Phillips, CPK's senior manager of training and development, noted that previous platforms simply could not produce an accurate enough picture of the week ahead.

Since implementing Axial Shift, the variance between actual and forecasted labor has been reduced by more than 50%. The platform utilizes AI-based forecasting to optimize scheduling, allowing managers to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on the floor.

Eliminating app fatigue

A key component of the partnership was consolidation. Rather than juggling multiple platforms for scheduling, communication and reporting, CPK moved its operations into a single interface.

The shift has streamlined the "mid-day check-in" process. Previously, managers had to manually text sales and labor updates to regional partners throughout the shift. Now, that data is available in real time to all stakeholders.

"There is no more texting, because the information is right there in everyone's hands in real time, all the time," Phillips said.

In a move to support its hourly workforce, the company also highlighted that the Axial Shift app is free for team members to download, removing the "pay-to-work" barrier seen with some other third-party scheduling tools.

Gamifying the guest check

Beyond the back-office efficiencies, the platform has introduced a competitive element to the dining room. Through "challenges," employees can track their sales of specific items — such as happy hour drinks or appetizer specials — in real time.

According to Kristi Leon, CPK's senior director of IT restaurant systems, this transparency has driven participation in suggestive selling contests. While the primary goal of the tech overhaul was labor management, Szczuka noted the revenue boost was a welcome side effect.

"The gamification capability was such an added bonus," Szczuka said. "The platform pleasantly surprised us with additional tools to attack another opportunity in our restaurants — raising average check."