Lots of different types of retailers have embraced the opportunity to generate additional sales through mobile commerce apps. But fast-food chains — dubbed Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs) — have only dipped their toes into this space.

In part, this is because their service is fast by nature and requires an in-store visit, so there isn't an obvious advantage to enabling online or mobile ordering.

Recently, though, Taco Bell launched a mobile order-ahead app that allows customers to purchase food from the app and pick it up without waiting in line. The app has seen significant early success — with higher average order sales boosting total revenues — and now other QSRs are starting to follow suit.

In new research from BI Intelligence, we look at how fast-food chains are leveraging mobile order-ahead to attract more customers, intensify loyalty, ease payment friction, and drive additional incremental revenues.