Hi Auto Names Crystal Deaderick as Head of Sales to Drive AI Voice Ordering Expansion

Hi Auto, a global leader in AI-powered voice ordering for drive-thrus, has appointed Crystal Deaderick as Head of Sales, marking a significant step in the company's expansion strategy. The October 27, 2025 announcement positions Deaderick to lead Hi Auto's growth initiatives as demand for automation solutions in the quick-service restaurant industry accelerates.

Deaderick brings more than 20 years of combined experience in restaurant operations and technology sales to her new role. Her background includes senior positions at Dragonfruit AI, Qu POS, and Revel Systems, where she consistently exceeded performance targets and led teams to close multi-million-dollar technology deals. Her operational experience began at age 14 working in restaurants and continued through college and early adulthood, providing her with firsthand understanding of the daily challenges restaurant teams face.

The appointment comes as Hi Auto's AI order-taking platform serves nearly 1,000 drive-thru locations with a 93 percent order completion rate and 96 percent accuracy. These performance metrics exceed the industry standards outlined in Hi Auto's 2025 Buyer's Guide for QSRs, which identifies 90 percent order completion and 95 percent accuracy as minimum requirements for commercial viability.

Deaderick's leadership approach focuses on helping restaurants run smarter and improve both customer and employee experiences. Her unique combination of operational knowledge and technology sales expertise enables her to understand restaurant operators' needs and translate them into actionable solutions. This background will be crucial as Hi Auto addresses the challenges of scaling across diverse markets and franchise models, including variables such as background noise, regional accents, and unique menu configurations.

The timing of this appointment reflects the growing importance of AI voice ordering in the quick-service restaurant sector. According to Restroworks, drive-thrus account for more than 75 percent of all fast-food sales in the United States. The combination of labor shortages and customer demand for faster service has made AI adoption a key priority for major restaurant chains seeking to maintain consistent service quality while reducing human error and improving upselling opportunities.

Hi Auto's strategy under Deaderick's guidance will focus on building lasting partnerships with global QSR brands and expanding the company's presence among franchise operators. Her proven track record in enterprise sales and operational understanding positions her to drive adoption across major franchise networks while ensuring the technology delivers measurable operational gains for restaurant owners and their staff.