The benefits
of restaurant
robotics and
automation

A recent study from the National Restaurant Association shows 4 in 5 restaurant operators are currently understaffed, with 75% saying their restaurant was more than 10% below necessary staffing levels. In November 2021, 1 million of the 4.5 million Americans who quit their jobs were restaurant and hotel workers, a new record for the industry. Industry leaders and restaurant owners looking for solutions have identified restaurant robotics as a cost-effective way to help with everything from food preparation and delivery to customer service and cleaning.

But it's not just about recruitment and retention. Restaurant automation has the potential to improve employee conditions and productivity, save money for business owners, and increase service capacity, all of which can help the sector boost its post-pandemic economic recovery.

The use of restaurant automation is so advanced that one executive from a leading restaurant robotics company said, "We're not in the phase of 'we hope it works.' We know it works. We're in the growth phase. The future is here."

One of the current leading use cases of robots is in the food preparation and cooking process. Robots have been either deployed or tested by major chains and other providers to:

• Flip burgers and manage an entire fry station
• Fry chicken wings
• Make smoothies
• Prepare fresh salads

Food delivery is another use case. Robot servers are used to deliver food, water, menus, utensils, refills and other needs as necessary by restaurants and dining room services provided by retirement homes and similar services. Restaurants may choose to have the robot deliver food only from the kitchen to the dining area or have a waiter join the robot server at the time of food delivery to provide an extra layer of hospitality. Automated food delivery machines are also being used or trialed for drive-thru service in Chicago, to transport food around college campuses or to deliver pizza to select customers in Houston.

Some retailers are also piloting the "restaurant in a box" or "dark kitchen" concept, which is a fully automated mini-kitchen producing food favorites direct to consumers or for delivery. An autonomous food store in Israel can produce up to 50 pizzas an hour—including dropping toppings, baking, and boxing (though it can't make the dough). Customers order food via a touch-screen kiosk that is then prepared by robots inside the kitchen. In California, a restaurant offers customers a unique dining experience where a robot cooks 100% customizable gourmet burgers. The machine runs the whole operation, aside from needing a human to restock supplies.

According to the Global State of the Hospitality Industry Report, 87% of industry operators, owners or managers believe technology adoption has been critical for survival throughout the pandemic, with 47% of full-service operators and 37% of quick-service operators feeling new technology is crucial for their businesses.

A key benefit of restaurant robotics is to combat labor shortages in the industry, with some owners estimating one robot could perform the work of several staff members. Restaurant owners who have deployed robots have stressed they work best when enhancing the work of staff, not replacing them. They are better suited for repetitive, formulaic, and even possibly dangerous tasks that often bring on worker fatigue, such as clearing tables, frying objects in a deep fryer or working with sharp knives.

Automation also allows for a redistribution of where employees spend their time. One industry executive said wait staff working with robots went from spending 30% of their time in the kitchen to 90% of their time in the dining room, giving them more time to refill drinks, clear tables and even sell more food. This improved customer experience not only benefits diners but also the staff, with one restaurant owner reporting staff received up to 25% more in tips.