The Expected Impact of AI on the Restaurant Industry

Artificial Intelligence is here and will remain. Today, AI has changed many industries, and the restaurant industry is one of them. AI in restaurant marketing has been a real game changer. Even a published Forrester survey says 69% of QSRs are reducing operation costs with AI using chatbots and automation. 

A QSR, or Quick-Service Restaurant, is typically characterized by fast food or minimal table service. It features streamlined menus, rapid service, drive-through options, and tablet-based ordering systems.

AI in the Food Industry 

AI in restaurants is improving the overall customer and management experience from procurement and supply chain. All the big food chains like McDonalds, Subway, and Domino are using AI in their overall operations. 

According to a 2021 survey by Lightspeed involving 2,000 restaurant operators, approximately 50% of hospitality operators in the United States and 51% in Canada expressed plans to adopt automation technology.

Following are the best three ways QSR can use AI in their restaurant business.

• It makes every restaurant visit more predictable and gives your customers a sense of consistency in your food brand.
• Order accuracy plays a vital role in the overall customer experience.
• AI in the restaurant industry reduces human interaction and allows experts and experienced people out there to focus on other tasks.

Voice Commands in Payment

Convenient voice kiosks can eliminate the need for long menu scrolling which actually saves a lot of time and effort. Some voice-operated systems go even a step further with payment through voice. 

These systems allow the user to make payments using their voice making the overall process simple and straightforward but this may raise some concerns. We need to look at how the software companies can tackle the issue of using someone’s recorded voice which can cause a problem.

Live Tracking with AI

We have already mentioned the benefits of AI and how it can reduce labor costs for restaurants. AI can use the feature of live tracking for contactless interaction in drive thru.

Predictive Analysis with Customer Voice

Voice can tell a lot about your customer’s demographics and current mood. This will help restaurants to analyze the age group and suggest meals according to the mood and are popular in the same age group. 

Sales Analysis

Restaurants can analyze staffing and sales data to identify trends or patterns during peak hours, enabling them to make more informed strategic decisions.

Forecast the inventory Beforehand

AI can predict inventory needs and customer demand, assisting teams in pricing items and stocking them appropriately to minimize waste and reduce unnecessary expenses.

Prevent Fraudulent Transaction

AI models, powered by specialized algorithms, can detect fraudulent or inconsistent transactions. This capability is particularly valuable, as a significant portion of losses often result from internal employee theft.

Employee Performance

Utilize AI clustering and combine employee interaction and assist in analyzing their performance. This will create healthy competition among your staff. 

Conclusion

The potential for AI in the food industry is limitless, and restaurant owners aiming to stay competitive and excel in the market should leverage the advantages of AI.