April 17, 2026
How Drinkit accelerated barista hiring by 6x with Aivy by Selectal
Drinkit, a coffee chain and part of Dodo Brands, is actively expanding in the UAE market. Today, the company operates 10 coffee shops in Dubai, with new locations planned in Abu Dhabi. By the end of 2026, the network aims to grow to 21 locations, including franchise stores.
Such growth requires a consistent and high-quality hiring process. On average, Drinkit hires 5–6 baristas per month. At the same time, the goal is not just to fill positions, but to find candidates who meet service standards, speak English well, and align with the company’s values.
How hiring works at Drinkit
The hiring process at Drinkit was already well-structured and effective. The team used classic channels—Indeed, LinkedIn, and employee referrals—which provided a steady flow of candidates. Each vacancy could receive over 100 applications.
Recruiters processed candidates step by step: reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and documenting results. This approach worked well, but required time—on average, more than 30 minutes per candidate.
What changed with Aivy
With the introduction of Aivy by Selectal, the process became significantly faster while preserving the strengths of the existing approach.
Now, candidates go through an initial stage with the AI recruiter: they answer questions, record video responses, and interact with the system at a time that suits them. Aivy analyzes responses, generates transcripts, stores interview recordings, and evaluates candidate fit on a 100-point scale.
As a result, the team receives a pre-qualified pool of candidates and can make decisions much faster.
Before → After
The improvements are especially clear in comparison:
Speed of candidate processing
Previously, initial screening took more than 30 minutes per candidate. Now, it takes about 5 minutes—an improvement of roughly 6x.
Team focus
Before, recruiters distributed their attention across all candidates. Now, most of their time is spent on those who have already passed a high-quality screening and are highly likely to be a good fit.
Handling application volume
A large volume of applicants remains an advantage, but it is now processed faster and in a more structured way.
Candidate experience
The changes have also improved the candidate experience. With Aivy, applicants can complete the interview at any convenient time, without waiting for a recruiter’s response—especially important when dealing with high application volumes.
Candidates gain a quicker understanding of whether the company is a good fit, and the overall process feels more transparent and modern. According to the team, most candidates respond positively to this format.
This strengthens Drinkit’s employer brand and makes communication with candidates more effective.
Additional capabilities of Aivy for Drinkit
The team also highlights several features that enhance the hiring process: video interview recording and storage, automatic transcription, candidate analytics, fit scoring, and the ability to personalize and brand the candidate experience.
Voice from the team
Helen Gess, HR L&D at Drinkit, summarizes the experience with Aivy:
“We already had a solid hiring process in place, but Aivy helped us take it to the next level. It significantly reduced the time spent on screening while improving the quality of candidates we move forward with. Now our team can focus on the strongest applicants, and candidates themselves appreciate the speed and flexibility of the process. It’s a win-win for both sides.”
Conclusion
The Drinkit case shows how technology can enhance an already well-functioning hiring process.
Aivy helps the team process candidate flow faster, improves selection accuracy, and allows recruiters to focus on the strongest applicants. As a result, the hiring process becomes faster, more convenient, and more efficient—for both the business and the candidates.
