The Rise Of The Restaurant Robot
The Rise Of The Restaurant Robot
By Andrew Rigie Sep 24, 2018, 07:00am
Is the rise of the robot the demise of the restaurant
server, chef and bartender? Restaurants like Spyce are leading the way with
robots that cook complex meals on-demand. Companies such as OTG reimagined the
restaurant airport experience and replaced servers who take customer orders
with self-ordering tablets.
A study by the Center for an Urban Future found that the
automation potential for waiters and waitresses is 77%. That figure increases
to 87% when you factor in workers that prep food. This doesn’t mean all these
jobs will be automated, but it is a stark reminder that automation has and will
continue to reshape the workforce in ways that impact workers and change the
customer experience.
The type of experience a business wants to provide its
customers, combined with forces like labor and real estate costs, will
influence the rate at which automation replaces humans and disrupts the
traditional workflow. For example,
technology is available to automatically pull espresso shots and make
cappuccinos. But the number of coffee shops employing baristas appears to have
grown. This seems counterintuitive, but is influenced by the consumers’ desire
to enjoy an authentic coffee shop experience that includes a handcrafted
espresso drink with a touch of human interaction.
But operational efficiencies for businesses, consumers’
desire for convenience, and their evolving purchasing habits could turn your
bearded barista into an endangered species.
Increasing labor costs, no tip credit or the potential loss of it for
full service restaurants, and greater efficiencies have already been cited by
restaurateurs as a reason they’ve digitized some of their workforce.
Although some restaurants have replaced servers or counter
staff with self-ordering tablets, they still rely on humans to bring the food
to your table or pack your food to go. Companies like Bear Robotics could
change that, just read their tagline ‘Reshaping the Restaurant with Robotics
& AI.’ The robot they’ve developed can be seen on their website delivering
cuisine to diners’ tables. And while the robot may not provide the same human
hospitality as a person, they can create an futuristic experience. With further
advances in technology, these robots will be able to deliver aspects of
hospitality like being courteous and helpful, just without the actual human
touch.
Restaurant delivery personnel aren’t safe from technology
if you live in a city. Imagine if you ordered a pizza from your local pizzeria
and instead of a delivery person standing at your door with pizza in hand, a
small car-like vehicle appears, its top pops open and you take your pizza out.
Companies like Marble have built sidewalk delivery robots, which they are
developing to become fully autonomous in dense urban environments where they’ll
navigate people and all the obstructions found on city streets and
sidewalks.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine that instead of a high
school student delivering your pizza in the suburbs, a self-driving car will
pull down your driveway, a little robot will get out and bring the food up to
your front door. And while customers may not crave human interaction from
restaurant delivery, there’s a different expectation when it comes to seeing
your barkeep at the local pub.
Suggesting that your beloved bartender can be digitized
is sacrilegious to many people, but it’s not out of the question. Products like
Smartender pour over 600 different drinks from a touch screen machine that
syncs up with a bar’s point of sale system and existing equipment. And while
this self-pouring cocktail machine in a bar could never inspire a show like
Cheers, there are businesses where the efficiency of this technology outweighs
the need for a personal pour.
If you prefer a little more flair with an element of
humanity, consider the Tipsy Robot, which uses two robotic arms mimicking a
human bartender that will mix your drink, muddle your mojito, and even garnish
your libation for a little extra pizzazz.
If ordering your dinner on a tablet, having a robot serve
your food, and touch screen technology pour your beer is too much for you to
stomach, you can adjust your tip when paying for the meal from an app on your
cell phone. Ultimately, restaurants, consumers and technology companies will
determine what technology is here to stay and what is novelty. Either way,
society must do a better job planning for the future of the workforce in the
age of technology.
Really good work there. Informative and helpful. Appreciate it. But might be looking for Restaurant POS Software in California
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