Pilot Projects Show Food Service Robots May Not Threaten Jobs
(States⁘Newsroom) Though food service workers and economists have long worried about the impact technology would have on the restaurant labor force, pilot programs in several fast-casual restaurants over the last few years have shown it may not have the negative impact they feared, a labor economist says.
Technology plays several roles in food service, but the industry has seen the adoption of⁘ touch screens ,⁘ AI-powered ordering ⁘and food prep machines over the last few years. And even more recently, it⁘s become more likely that a robot is playing a part in your food preparation or delivery.
They may take shape⁘ as your bartender, ⁘ your server ⁘or⁘ your food delivery driver , but many are like the ⁘collaborative⁘ robots just rolled out in some Chipotle restaurants in California.
The company is testing the Autocado, which splits and prepares avocados to be turned into guacamole by a kitchen crew member, and the Augmented Makeline, which builds bowls and salads autonomously underneath the food line while employees construct burritos, tacos and quesadillas on top. Chipotle said 65% of its mobile orders are for salads or bowls, and the Augmented Makeline⁘s aim is improving efficiency and digital order accuracy.
The company said it invested in robotics company Vebu and worked with them on the design for the Autocado, and it invested in food service platform Hyphen, which custom made the Augmented Makeline for Chipotle.
⁘Optimizing our use of these systems and incorporating crew and customer feedback are the next steps in the stage-gate process before determining their broader pilot plans,⁘ Curt Garner, Chipotle⁘s chief customer and technology officer said in a statement.
Robots have also been shown to make businesses more efficient and profitable, Zipperer siad, which creates an ⁘offsetting demand factor.⁘ That increased demand and profitability can actually help keep the cost of food for customers more affordable, he added.
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