Robotics and AI, once only seen in science fiction, are now well-established in various industries. This transformation is often celebrated and is akin to receiving crystal awards for technological advancements. This is particularly evident in the food industry, where the adoption of new technology might be gradual, yet it's clear that these innovations are here to stay. Businesses that stay abreast of such technological shifts tend to be the most successful, a fact often recognized at ceremonies like the Crystal Awards. Although initial teething problems are common with new technology, the long-term benefits, including improved efficiency and increased profits, are undeniable.
All the above considerations are especially important when considering how hard the pandemic hit the food industry. Restaurants all over the world face staffing shortages. Robots offer a very real and reliable solution to this problem. They can fill in a lot of gaps when it comes to preparation and delivery.
So, what exactly does robotics look like in the food industry? First, let’s think of preparation. Being a cook is a hard job. In some places, it can be easily automated. Yes, you need someone to prepare the food that will eventually be served, but that’s where a robot can fill in as a de facto line cook. While a robot may not make pizza sauce, a robot can put that sauce on a crust, plus some cheese, and put it in a cooking device. Even if you have a human employee putting the pizza in the oven, you are still more efficient as that cook only needs to be concerned with whether or not the pizza is cooked properly. It saves money for the restaurant, as the robot can make this repeatable motion as much as you need and for as long as you need without collecting a paycheck.
In a bigger city, you might have also stumbled upon delivery robots. These robots allow restaurants to deliver food without hiring a delivery driver. It also allows them to sidestep using services like Doordash or UberEats.
Another example, and maybe less of a demonstrative one, is kiosks where you can order your food. One of the takeaways from the pandemic is that consumers want to spend less time with customer service interactions. These kiosks allow customers to input their orders directly, which improves accuracy and, therefore, efficiency.
This might seem intimidating, especially to those in the restaurant industry. It shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. Robots are there simply to make the job easier. They fill staff shortages and allow for a smoother running environment.
That still doesn’t answer whether restaurant workers should be worried about a robot takeover. The thing is, it is unlikely to happen. Robots are used for menial and repetitive tasks, such as taking orders or assembly.
Plus, a robot could never replace human-to-human interaction. You will unlikely be dining at a three-star Michelin restaurant with a robot as your waiter anytime soon. Nor will any robots soon be nominated for a James Beard award.
However, robots can be great teammates that help the restaurant industry in this still tumultuous time post-pandemic. Many restaurants have shortened hours due to staff shortages. Staff shortages make restaurants less efficient and allow for fewer customers.
By embracing robots in restaurants, we are looking at a world where we can have less staff than we used to but work in an even more efficient, better way.
