Restaurant technology is constantly evolving to allow operators to become more efficient and to help customers get their best experience. This year has been no exception, with innovation from automation to robotics hitting the scene to improve operations. Are you taking advantage of the technology in your restaurant? This year’s National Restaurant Association Show offered a host of technology options to help restaurants combat the labour shortage, boost guest experiences, and increase margins.
Here’s a look at some of the technology trends that are becoming more mainstream this year.
Robotics
Robotics is becoming more popular to augment service and production. Robotic arms, boasting 7 joints for maximum flexibility, 360-degree rotation, and high-speed functionality can help up the pace of operations in the kitchen.
Serving robots are also becoming more common in restaurants, featuring sensors that detect when food has been removed or added to a tray, and with 3D vision to recognize location for better service, among many other features. These can help restaurants better manage labour and allocate resources strategically.
Automation
Innovation featuring automation is one way that kitchens can become more efficient, taking advantage of technology like automatic beverage dispensers. Saving time is one benefit, but the sensor system also offers the opportunity to reduce waste and save money, as it delivers just the right amount of product.
As self-serve kiosks become more popular to speed up service, they include features like rapid setup, and strategic upselling, helping to cut down on human error, and providing a more seamless experience.
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Technology
New innovations like rotating pizza ovens are emerging, requiring loading and unloading as the only labour, saving kitchens time and money. These can also reduce gas use by up to 50 per cent, offering a considerable savings on an annual basis.
Electric heating is finding its way into delivery bags, making it easier to deliver consistently hot food to off-premise diners. According to Statista, online ordering and food delivery are expected to become a 223.7 billion dollar industry by 2027, and restaurants that get it right will be at the top of the list for off-premise dining.
Technology is constantly serving to help operators become more efficient, and while it can be a costly investment, choosing the tools that will make your team more productive and your guests happier might just be worth considering as you look to improve restaurant operations.
