OKLAHOMA CITY – Sonic Drive-In, known for its unique carhop service, expanded testing of an app-based remote ordering system to 27 locations. It’s a move that will differentiate the fast food restaurant from other quick-service competitors and could potentially roll out in late summer.

Customers can order from the closest Sonic location via their smartphone, set the time of pickup, pay on the app and pull into the restaurant where the food is brought to them at the appointed time. Sonic executives claim that advance ordering is made easier with Sonic’s drive-in format as opposed to traditional counter service.

"The app is already out there," said CEO Cliff Hudson. "It's the integration in the market at the store level and the order-ahead piece."

Throughout testing, the company is measuring metrics like ops execution, technology scaling, customer acquisition and sales delivery. This push toward digital is just one of many new sales strategies within Sonic’s Integrated Customer Engagement initiative. The company is simplifying its menu, streamlining kitchen operations, releasing a new under-350-calorie burger and revamping its ad campaigns.

Mobile ordering is already available through Starbucks and McDonalds locations, which is causing employee frustration and confusion. The industry needs to find the right balance and processes because it isn’t going away anytime soon: The number of orders being placed on mobile apps went up by 50% in U.S. restaurants last year.