Artificial intelligence (AI) is making its mark in the restaurant industry, promising substantial changes in the way restaurants operate and how customers experience dining out. One significant development in this domain was announced by Domino’s earlier this month when the pizza giant revealed its partnership with Microsoft to integrate advanced AI into its operations.
This collaboration aims to enhance various aspects of the restaurant business, including streamlining pizza preparation, improving quality control, managing inventory, and simplifying the ordering process. As more prominent fast-food chains follow suit in adopting AI technologies, the implications for the future of restaurants are substantial.Â
Bhavin Asher, the founder and CTO of GRUBBRR, a commerce automation company specializing in self-ordering technologies for restaurants, believes that AI is poised to revolutionize the industry. According to Asher, AI will soon be seamlessly integrated across all restaurant operations, playing a pivotal role both in front-of-house and back-of-house activities. Additionally, a recent study was published on Artificial intelligence improves the mental health of 911 operators.Â
In the front of the house, AI is expected to make ordering and payment processes more efficient. Customers can anticipate noticeable changes in the way they place orders, as AI can be a game-changer in understanding customer preferences, dietary restrictions, and ordering habits. This enhanced understanding can lead to personalized experiences, with AI recommending dishes based on a customer’s previous choices, dietary preferences, or current trends.
Additionally, the introduction of voice AI ordering promises to redefine the way customers interact with systems, offering a hands-free ordering process. On the back end of restaurant operations, AI is poised to provide numerous benefits. Asher highlights that AI can facilitate accurate forecasting, helping restaurants tackle food waste by predicting usage patterns. Furthermore, AI can streamline employee management and scheduling, ensuring that staffing levels are optimized to meet customer demand.Â
One significant advantage of integrating AI into restaurant operations is the ability to anticipate customer demand fluctuations. By analysing data, AI can identify peak times and customer surges. This data-driven approach enables restaurants to adjust staffing levels, accordingly, ensuring faster service and improved resource utilization. In essence, AI can help in providing a more efficient and pleasant dining experience for customers.Â
Despite the growing adoption of AI in the restaurant industry, one significant concern is the impact on restaurant labour. The industry is already grappling with a shortage of workers, and the rise of AI could raise questions about the future of human employment in restaurants. Asher acknowledges that AI will undoubtedly influence restaurant labour but emphasizes that it should be viewed as a re-allocation of tasks rather than a complete replacement of human employees.Â
He underlines the irreplaceable role that human workers play in creating a welcoming and comforting atmosphere in a restaurant, something that machines are unable to replicate. In this perspective, AI complements human skills, and the evolving landscape signifies a partnership between technology and human expertise, with each aspect amplifying the other.Â
AI is on the verge of transforming the restaurant industry, impacting both the front and back of house operations. It promises to enhance the dining experience for customers by personalizing recommendations, streamlining the ordering process, and optimizing operations to reduce wait times.
While the rise of AI may influence restaurant labour, it doesn’t signal the end of human involvement but rather signifies an evolution in the industry, with technology and human skills working in tandem to enhance the overall restaurant experience.Â
Reference Â
Fox News, “AI set to transform the restaurant industry” https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/ai-transform-restaurant-industry. Â
