By Francine L. Shaw, Co-founder, My Food Source - 6.23.2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making its way into numerous industries, and restaurants are no exception. In fact, the use of AI in the food industry has been increasing at an unprecedented rate, offering multiple benefits to restaurant owners and consumers alike.
The following are just some of these benefits:
Optimizing supply chain management. For starters, AI has made a huge mark on supply chain management in the restaurant industry. AI-powered systems can help restaurant operators monitor their inventory levels and track the movement of their supplies from the manufacturer to the restaurant. This helps reduce waste and make inventory management more efficient by enabling more accurate predictions of demand, which means that operators can order supplies in just the right amount.
Increasing transparency. Another area where AI can be beneficial is transparency. By integrating AI solutions, restaurant operators can access essential data that they can use to increase transparency and the credibility of all foods distributed. For instance, with AI already in place, products are traceable, allowing restaurants (and their customers) to accurately know the source of their meals. For example, a customer concerned about the environment may want to know if the seafood used in their dish is sustainably sourced. Utilizing AI lets restaurants give customers a clear picture of the journey of the ingredients, from production to plate. AI algorithms can also allow restaurant operators to check the quality of ingredients suppliers deliver and identify any discrepancies in the orders or products. This level of transparency allows restaurant operators to ensure their suppliers deliver the products and quantities ordered, thus saving time, money, and energy when dealing with returns or faulty products.
Improving validation and verification. AI is also an incredibly helpful tool in validating and verifying food orders and inventory. Using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms, AI-powered platforms can process and verify orders efficiently, thus reducing human error and delivering faster turnaround times. This saves time and money, boosts efficiency, and can lead to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, AI can flag suspicious orders as a fraud alert, which helps prevent scams before they occur or stop them in their early stages.
Providing personalized service. AI has the potential to transform the restaurant industry in multiple ways, such as providing more personalized service for restaurant guests. For instance, AI can help provide personalized recommendations based on a customer’s preferences. AI programs can use data collected from a customer’s purchase history and social media profiles to understand them better, then make customized menu and promotional recommendations based on their online history. Having personalized menu and incentive options is advantageous because it offers customers a more unique food experience compared to the standard “one-size-fits-all” approach of providing the same menu to everyone. A more personalized approach has proven to be beneficial for restaurant owners, as customers are more likely to return if they feel valued, appreciated, and like they received “special attention”.
Building trust. Another way AI is transforming the restaurant industry is by driving trust among customers. Customers want to know that the restaurants they visit are buying quality food prepared and served to the highest standards. AI systems can significantly increase trust between restaurants and customers by providing accurate information about food and ingredients. This includes information about how the food was grown or sourced, and regular updates on any potential contamination of the food or equipment. For example, AI can be used to detect and notify restaurant owners of potential food safety issues or equipment faults (e.g., a malfunctioning fridge), preventing customers from ever coming into contact with potentially contaminated food. This level of transparency goes a long way in building (and reinforcing) consumer trust and loyalty.
Strengthening communication. AI can also help improve communication between restaurant operators and their customers. AI-powered messaging channels can provide 24/7 customer service through chatbots and virtual assistants. AI can also monitor social media channels and respond to customer inquiries quickly. By being readily available to answer customer queries, restaurant owners can build trust and remain helpful, making their customers feel valued and appreciated.
As technology continues to evolve in the food industry, AI has become a vital tool for restaurant owners, elevating supply chain management, transparency, validation and verification of food orders, personalization of service, building trust, and enhancing communication. AI has revolutionized the restaurant industry by allowing restaurant owners to optimize their operations and provide excellent customer service. By utilizing AI in their establishments, restaurant owners can remain competitive and keep up with changing customer needs in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Over the last decade, affordable AI has drastically improved how restaurants operate, transforming the restaurant sector into a more efficient, transparent, and trustworthy space.
Francine L. Shaw, food safety specialist, podcaster, and co-founder of My Food Source, is a successful entrepreneur, author, and speaker who spent 20+ years working in the foodservice industry. Her career has included performing services (operating partner, corporate/private trainer, health inspector, 3rd party inspector, adjunct professor) in various sectors of the foodservice industry. She has written hundreds of articles for national trade magazines and appeared on Dr. Oz, the BBC World Series Radio, and iHeart Radio as a food safety expert.
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