Highlights from the 427 Innovation Lab: Learn from Panera Bread and KFC

What happens at 427° degrees?

A transformation occurs at 427° Celsius: metals become pliable, opening up endless possibilities to merge separate entities into something novel and extraordinary—often greater than the sum of its parts.

Braze launched the 427° Innovation Lab on April 27, 2023 to cater to the growing demand for innovative customer experiences and empower brands to turn ideas into reality through technology. Our vision is to blend data and technology with creativity to forge "Absolutely Engaging Brands" and usher in a new era of creativity in customer engagement. This effort began as the art of the possible with Melting Points: Where Creativity Meets Technology. Today, through our Brazestorming workshops, we team up with customers and partners to ignite sparks of creativity and transform great ideas into captivating multi-channel campaigns.

We’re excited to share our first creativity roundup featuring a quick set of brilliant use cases.

From ✨Sparks to Campaigns 🔥

1. Panera Bread Reveals What Era You Are In

In April 2024, Panera ushered in a new era featuring an exciting menu reboot. Are you in your “Grains on Grains” era? Or perhaps your “Bread Bowl” era? Conceived during a creative brainstorming session with the Braze 427° Innovation Lab, the “You're in Your ___ Era” campaign delivers a unique era-personality based on your purchasing behavior and suggests new menu items just for you. With this exciting brand evolution, Panera Bread transcends the transactional, enhancing the brand experience and fostering more meaningful customer relationships.

2. KFC India’s Gamified “Bucket It” Challenge

KFC India aimed to boost engagement and conversions on their mobile app with a fun, gamified campaign called "Bucket It." The campaign, promoted through email, push notifications, and in-app messages, invites users to catch flying chicken filets in a bucket to win rewards like free menu items and discounts. To learn more and see the results, check out the full story.

Final Thoughts

Feeling inspired and ready to learn more? Download this year’s guide: Melting Points AI: New Flavors of Creativity. Or, check out our Innovation Lab Webinar: Melting Points AI Use Cases.