Council Post: Should Your Next Restaurant Employee Be A Robot?

Angela Diffly is co-founder of the Restaurant Technology Network, a membership community from Hospitality Technology. But before you think humans are being replaced, check out how the restaurant industry is rolling them in, and rolling them out, just right. In a November 2021 survey fielded by the National Restaurant Association, 77% of restaurant operators said their restaurant did not have enough employees to support existing customer demand. And as a result of being understaffed, 65% say their restaurant cut hours of operation on days that it is open for business. Big brands like Buffalo Wild Wings, White Castle, Chili's, Chipotle and El Pollo Loco are making bold moves, blending shiny new robotic objects into everyday operations like a secret sauce, creating magic from kitchen to counter, and beyond.