AI is fast becoming a game-changer in hospitality and the opportunities to use this technology within our sector are huge. Here at Eat PR & Marketing we have been keeping a close eye on the developments of AI within the industry and have pulled together five examples of how we can already see the technology benefiting chefs and operators within their day to day roles.
At a time when hospitality businesses are finding themselves more financially stretched than ever, taking time to consider all the tools available to them to help drive efficiencies makes great business sense. According to a recent report by CGA powered by Niq in collaboration with Sona, work management software experts, this is exactly what many in our industry are doing. The study revealed that the majority of hospitality business leaders are in fact in favour of implementing AI across the sector, with more than a third believing it will have a ‘transformational’ impact on their businesses and organisations.
This research took the pulse of dozens of C-Suite executives from a wide range of hospitality companies, spanning restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, and more. It found that more than three quarters of respondents (76%) accept that hospitality is lagging behind other consumer-facing sectors when it comes to embracing AI, which reflects why the majority of business leaders (86%) are open to receiving third-party support and education on how AI can best be implemented into their day-to-day operations.
The data also revealed that:
- More than half of business leaders (59%) are curious about the prospects of AI, but admit to needing more education and information on how it will play out
- 100% of operators think AI will be valuable to the running of their business, with 38% seeing it as extremely valuable and 62% as somewhat valuable
- Only 17% of those polled claimed to be fully aware of how best to use it for their business, indicating there is a vast knowledge gap
So, there it is, in black and white. Hospitality operators want and need AI in their businesses. The next question is, how can they really benefit from the technology? Here are some examples of how AI can add efficiency and insight into everyday life within hospitality businesses.
Automates tasks
AI technology can be used to automate a lot of simple and repetitive tasks. For example, it can help take reservations and consistently monitor phone lines and provide tailored responses to simple questions about daily specials, reservation availability, and whether or not dogs are welcome, for example. A chatbot or a kiosk, for instance, can help answer all of these types of questions and instead, allow staff to use their time more effectively and engage with customers in other ways to help elevate and personalise the overall experience. This always-on customer service approach can also reduce the amount of time a customer is waiting for, again helping to improve the overall experience for them. It can also improve the work-life balance for employees and boost their morale, resulting in improved productivity and workplace satisfaction.
Better stock management
AI-powered systems can help hospitality businesses plan, forecast and control their stock levels better. The technology can analyse what products are selling well and respond to consumer demand for a specific product, allowing operators to better manage stock. This can all help minimise the possibility of overstocking or understocking which as a result, can reduce food waste and ensure that kitchens are always running as smoothly and efficiently as possible – without the need for staff members to be overseeing the process.
Frees up chefs
By automating technical tasks in the kitchen, such as ingredient and recipe measurement as well as cooking time control, AI has the potential to free up chefs for more creative, innovative roles. Whether a chef is looking to add a twist to one of their favourite recipes or is searching for complementary pairings, AI can help with all these requests. Once a recipe has been found, AI can then automatically scale it based on the number of servings. This can help to offer consistency, not only in terms of quality but also portion control. This all allows chefs to focus on what they are best at, along with spending time looking at new menu development, new ways to interact with their customers and other ways to enhance the overall dining experience.
Reduces energy usage
AI can optimise energy usage in hospitality outlets in several ways, including analysing real-time data on energy consumption from various appliances, predicting demand fluctuations and identifying peak usage periods. The technology can also automatically adjust settings like lighting levels, thermostat temperatures and equipment power based on occupancy levels. AI can also look at global trends within the energy market, geopolitical events, and even weather patterns. All of these measures could help reduce the site’s carbon footprint as well as maximise efficiency, whilst also allowing employees to focus more on customer service and sustainability gains.
Tracks staffing
AI driven software can help restaurants and other hospitality businesses to track staffing and sales data. This information can be used to focus on any trends or patterns during busy or less busy periods of service times. The management team can then staff the business accordingly for the traffic and sales that are expected during each shift. AI can also send reminders to staff member’s smartphones to alert them to any upcoming shift changes, for example. This can all help hospitality businesses to reduce unnecessary labour costs, and can also lead to a much more efficient dining experience overall.
For those hospitality businesses who aren’t yet using AI, but are considering it, here are some questions to get you thinking about;
- Is AI useful and usable within my business?
- Is AI going to make my life easier?
- Can I trust the technology?
- What is the purpose of AI?
- Is AI going to add value to my business or create friction?
- Will AI deliver what it is saying it will?
- How can I justify the cost of AI?
- Is AI worth the risk?
AI is more than a trend. It is here to stay, there is no doubt about that. The technology is reshaping our guest’s experience and day-to-day operations. It is elevating hospitality to brand new heights. It is an exciting time for our industry. Just think, if AI can achieve all of the above, plus much more when it’s in its infancy within hospitality, where will we be in say 10 years time? AI makes so many things achievable, however, it’s about getting humans and technology to work together. It is about collaboration, innovation and education. These three factors must go hand in hand in order for AI and hospitality to thrive together going forward.
