HOME
PRODUCTS
ABOUT US
EVENTS
BLOGS
CAREER
Contact Us
Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Food Serving Robots - A New Helper in the Post-Covid-19 World
After the Covid-19 pandemic, the world has experienced many impacts and changes. One important change is the behavior of consumers and the increased emphasis on hygiene. In the restaurant business, these changes are particularly evident. The need for social distancing has led to significant growth in food delivery services. Additionally, restaurants have had to adapt to survive the crisis. One common adaptation is the use of food serving robots as a new helper in the restaurant industry. So, what exactly are these food serving robots that we see frequently in restaurants today? What are their advantages, disadvantages, and relevance in the current business world? Let’s find out.
Where Do Food Serving Robots Come From?
Today, food serving robots are commonly seen in well-known restaurants such as MK Restaurant, Suki Tee Noi, Barbecue and many other brands. Many restaurants are increasingly adopting food serving robots, which come from various importing companies. For example, IDIO TECH Co., Ltd., a provider of digital solutions, Sun Robotics and AI Co., Ltd., a company specializing in robotics and artificial intelligence, RAS POL Co., Ltd., which provides robots for factories, office buildings, and restaurants, and Fortune Mechanic and Supply Co., Ltd., which specializes in robot installation and system integration. These companies are just distributors and do not manufacture robots themselves.
Advantages of Food Serving Robots
The first advantage of food serving robots for business operators is that they can help reduce labor costs. Employing serving staff every day comes with limitations regarding working hours and hourly wages. Additionally, using food serving robots reduces expenses related to employee benefits, bonuses, or other work-related costs. Investing in robots can save more on these expenses, as they are a one-time purchase, capable of working multiple shifts continuously, addressing issues of shift management more effectively.
Another advantage not to be overlooked is the lack of emotions in food serving robots. This is a benefit for both business owners and consumers, as the robots only have a friendly voice according to preset commands. This can help resolve issues of employee moodiness or fatigue, which may affect service quality and image.
Disadvantages of Food Serving Robots
Although food serving robots have their advantages, they also have disadvantages. While these robots address labor shortages, they cannot fully replace humans. For instance, they cannot lift and place food on customers' tables, organize dishes on tables, or check orders on their own. Moreover, they might lack the service mindset usually found in humans.
Will Food Serving Robots Replace Human Staff?
Despite the growing role of food serving robots in the food industry and their ability to reduce labor costs, the trend is more likely to be that robots will assist and support human staff rather than fully replace them. Although robots can work continuously, they still lack the human touch and cannot fully replace all human functions. Therefore, the trend is towards more widespread use of robots in restaurants, with human staff still providing support.
Food Serving Robots and Their Functions Designed to Meet Usage Needs
Many models of food serving robots are designed with comprehensive functions. This includes designs that suit navigation within restaurants, such as narrow aisles, touch screen displays allowing customers to order or interact with the robot, multi-tier trays for serving more food in fewer trips, and sensors or radar systems to avoid obstacles. Additionally, some robots have voice systems that respond to customer behavior, such as giving warnings if a customer picks up the wrong food.
Clearly, food serving robots are a globally utilized innovation that plays an important role in the food industry. Therefore, it is important for business owners and consumers to understand the advantages, disadvantages, and impacts of this technology to use it most effectively.