With the widespread progression and development of AI over the past few years, there seems to be some sort of new technology every other day. Not being in-tune with this digital era will keep your restaurant or bar at a disadvantage amongst competitors. One increasingly popular approach to differentiate your restaurant from other restaurants is the adoption of automation and robotics within the business at various touchpoints: front-of-house, back-of-house, and delivery.
In this three-part series, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of incorporating robotics and automation into your restaurant. Here, we’ll focus on front-of-house robotics such as hosting, waiting, and serving. There are a multitude of robots like Pepper (robot host/waiter) by Softbank Robotics, Dinerbot (robot host/waiter) by Keenon, Scorpion (robot bartender) by Richtech Robotics, cleaning robots, and many more. These robots are particularly important because customers not only see them, but they will interact with them as well.
Have you ever thought about the addition of robots to your staff? Consider these benefits and drawbacks.
REASONS FOR ROBOTS
- Efficiency and Productivity – With speed and precision, robots can reduce waiting times.
- Consistency – You know exactly what service you’ll be getting every time.
- Hygiene and Safety – Robots can ensure hygiene and safety standards, reducing the risk of food contamination.
- Cost Savings – Long term, robots can reduce labor costs and waste as well as pay for themselves rather quickly.
- Unique Customer Experience – Robot hosts, waiters, and servers differentiate the restaurant, attracting more guests and increasing patronage and revenue.
- Reduction in Human Error – With fewer mistakes, robots enhance the dining experience and satisfaction.
- 24/7 Service – Robots can work all hours of the day without any breaks.
- Relieved Staff – Robots can take some pressure and responsibility away from other employees, preventing them from being overwhelmed and burned out.
REASONS AGAINST ROBOTS
- High Initial Investment – Purchasing and installing restaurant robots can be a significant expense for small businesses.
- Maintenance Costs – Regular software updates and repairs can add up over time.
- Job Displacement – Use of robots can lead to job losses in the industry.
- Customer Resistance – Some guests may prefer human interaction and be deterred by robotic service.
- Technical Challenges – There can be malfunctions or technical issues, slowing and altering service.
- Lack of Personal Touch – Robots fall short of human employees when it comes to providing emotional connection or personalized services.
- Skill Gap – Technical training may be required for some staff to operate and maintain the robots, consuming time and increasing cost.
- Staff Resistance – Some employees may be reluctant to the idea of robots due to job security concerns or changes in workflow and culture.
VIGOR’S VIEW
There are chain and local restaurants and bars who have successfully utilized robots in their front-of-house operations like Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar, U & Me’s Peanut, and many more. Consider these examples, weigh the pros and cons, and keep an open mind about the opportunities robots can bring to your restaurant.
If you’re struggling with filling jobs or retention, robots can be a potential solution to your problems. There are plenty of robots with varying capabilities on the market to choose from – look around and see if any fit your front-of-house needs.
Keep an eye out for the second part of this series – Robots in Restaurants: Back of House – to learn more about robots in the kitchen.
