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Minor Miracle: Robots are slowly becoming waitstaff in eateries, and they will soon be cooking food as well.
Alphadroid, a robotics firm from India, is attempting to incorporate robotics into the Indian hospitality industry, including hotels and upscale restaurants. What are the obstacles that a Robotics as a Service (RaaS) business encounters in India? Sanjeev Kumar, the creator of Alphadroid, elaborates.
Customers at Indian restaurants are particularly difficult to satisfy. They seek more than just delicious and aesthetically pleasing meals; they crave originality. Above all, the outing itself needs to meet incredibly high standards. This is where the use of robots in the food service and hospitality sectors comes into play.
If you find yourself dining at a fancy, unfamiliar restaurant in India, don't be shocked if a robot approaches to take your order or possibly even serve as your waiter. It's likely that they were installed by an Indian firm, Alphadroid.
While 2023 was dominated by artificial intelligence, 2024 is predicted to be the year of robots. With the humanoid robot Figure 01 from Figures, Tesla's Optimus, and virtually all of Boston Dynamics' creations, robots are indeed becoming increasingly thrilling and arguably, commonplace. NVIDIA also intends to join the fray, announcing a platform to develop robots with its software and tools.
Numerous startups in India are diligently striving to create a fully homegrown robot. In contrast, companies like Alphadroid are innovating to incorporate existing robotic technologies into our everyday life. Alphadroid, a Robotics as a Service (RaaS) company, aspires to significantly shake up the hospitality and healthcare sectors through their collection of mobility-oriented robots.
We had a brief discussion with Sanjeev Kumar, the creator of Alphadroid, to gain insights into operating a robotics firm in India, to understand the regulatory challenges faced by robotics startups, and to speculate whether our food will be entirely made and served by robot chefs in the next ten years or so. Here are some key takeaways:
What are the difficulties of establishing a robotics enterprise in India, particularly one that incorporates a service such as food and dining? The broader sector we're working in encompasses hospitality and front office management, whether it's in restaurants, hotels, or hospitals. These areas are barely integrated with digital technology and hence present abundant opportunities. We aim to introduce technology to enhance productivity and improve the customer experience.
This is how we initiated Alphadroid and our self-governing mobility effort in these areas. Currently, our main goal is to enhance understanding and inform restaurants and similar businesses in these sectors about the potential benefits that can be obtained through robotics and AI.
When it comes to addressing matters related to food and dining, there aren't many legal or regulatory obstacles. We must adhere to a set of standard rules, which are common in most tech companies. I believe the primary difficulty lies in demonstrating to the government and hospitality industry the potential roles and capabilities of robotics in this field. Another hurdle is to educate employees and alleviate any concerns that robots will take over human jobs. These are the most crucial issues.
What sort of rules must a RaaS service provider in India adhere to? Are they faced with any difficulties? The government has launched many programs aimed at this. Not long ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled multiple efforts during a gathering in Lucknow. The Prime Minister is particularly well-informed and proactive regarding robotics and AI.
Indian policies and regulations are currently not equipped to handle the emerging advanced technologies. There are numerous ambiguities that need addressing and various areas that require improvement. Nonetheless, numerous medium, small and micro enterprises, along with other groups, are closely collaborating with the government on issues like data, human-machine interface, safety, insurance, and more.
As startups, our responsibility is to incorporate fundamental elements in our initial phase. The concept is to handle certain areas and standardize them before the government implements regulations. Areas such as human safety, health and cleanliness, along with issues like data privacy, are prime examples.
At present, Alphadroid is solely focusing on the front end of service sectors. Are there any intentions to expand further? Are there any other sectors or business models under consideration? This is merely the beginning. We are specifically interested in remaining in the service sector, particularly in areas like hospitality or healthcare and other related fields. Therefore, there are two primary elements of robotics aside from AI.
The initial aspect is maneuverability, enabling your device to navigate, while the second is the arm function, which permits you to grasp items, tug or hoist objects, and perform all other tasks.
We began by focusing on the mobility element, creating our self-operating mobile robot. This was followed by the development of an upper structure, specifically designed for use in restaurants, hotels, and comparable environments. We're currently working on additional structures for versions that will adapt our robots for use in retail stores and hospitals. Our goal is to continue progressing in this field of robotics. Ultimately, we aspire to achieve a level where the combination of mobility and arms can provide comprehensive automation.
Robots have already taken over the roles of waitstaff and cleaners in eateries, and in some cases, even bartenders. Could they also take over the roles of chefs or kitchen staff in the future? Many of the examples we see on the internet are well-crafted prototypes and not the final product. The market is currently in a state of transition. These shifts will clarify the extent of the part that robotics can play in such an environment and how much responsibility we can delegate to them.
Will robots immediately take over the roles of chefs? Or will they aid individuals in some crucial tasks? I believe in certain areas, they will.
Considering cloud kitchens, or any establishment with a consistent menu and precise recipes, machines are expected to perform similar tasks to line chefs and cooks. In these situations, it's quite likely that a cloud kitchen could be largely operated by robots.
In the context of busy kitchens, it will require a few additional years. It's unlikely that we'll see this transition happening for another seven to ten years. However, it's worth noting that robots won't fully take over human roles. Instead, they will serve as an auxiliary support to humans.
What role do Alphadroid's robots play in enhancing the dining experience in eateries? Have you noticed any alteration in customer behavior? We conducted a comprehensive study that included everything from a customer making a booking or just walking in, to the process of ordering food and receiving their meals.
Certain aspects have been identified that require restaurant patrons to engage with human staff, particularly in a country such as India. The majority of individuals are not fond of using QR codes to make an order unless it concerns very simple, standard items or beverages.
Additionally, Indian customers have specific tastes and usually request modifications to the heat level of their meals. They typically prefer to communicate these preferences to a person. Yet, once their orders are placed, they expect fast service in terms of food delivery and bill presentation. They also perceive robots as more hygienic. Hence, for these aspects, they think a robotic server would be more efficient.
Another consideration is the matter of feedback. We've observed that patrons who are somewhat reluctant to provide sincere feedback to personnel, find it less uncomfortable to do so with a robot, as it prevents the situation from becoming awkward.
What has been the reaction from the restaurant employees where Alphadroid has been introduced? Our testing phase began last year when we launched the robot in October. Throughout this test period, we were keen to observe the behavior of the restaurant workers, administration, and patrons.
Surprisingly, the initial reaction from every employee was one of apprehension. They felt uneasy and were averse to the thought of incorporating this type of technology into the company. But, this feeling was short-lived. Once we began the test run, involved them and guided them to handle the robots, they grasped the concept in about half an hour and started utilizing it.
We observed a significant change from reluctance in embracing the technology to an understanding that these technologies aren't going to displace them. The pilot test helped them understand that robots would assist them in concentrating on their primary duties. So, despite the initial challenges, the overall feedback was encouraging.
What was the reaction of the customers? More often than not, in the field of robotics, products are frequently overhyped, and the performance doesn't match up. When people think of robots, they often imagine those they've seen in films. They typically believe that robots will revolutionize the restaurant industry. This isn't our aim, we aren't trying to alter how the restaurant operates. We're merely introducing technology that works well within the current business structure and begins to offer value in a more effective way.
Naturally, their initial encounter with the robot leaves them a bit spellbound. They find it fascinating when the robot serves food at their table and begin to capture this experience on their mobile devices. Their curiosity about engaging with the robot spikes. However, this novelty soon fades and things start to feel routine, just as they should. After the initial excitement of having a robot serve their food, they become at ease and gain more confidence in handling the robot.
After the robot delivers the food, the patrons help themselves, as most individuals understand the concepts of self-service and automation, as well as the part it plays. In general, the feedback has been encouraging, even with the short period of adjustment.
India has a plentiful workforce. How has Alphadroid been accepted in this context? When I discuss with Quick Service Restaurants or second or third tier restaurants, their initial concern typically revolves around finances – how much it will set them back, the upfront costs, and if these robots will be less expensive than their existing staff. This is to help them appreciate the worth of robotics and efficiency as elements of digitalisation, in a context they can easily relate to.
As soon as I initiate conversations with these premium or high-end properties, they swiftly understand that they'll benefit from enhanced productivity and client satisfaction, in addition to health benefits for their staff.
The majority of individuals employed in the hospitality industry, specifically hotels and restaurants, are not entirely satisfied and often face difficulties, causing these establishments to also experience hardships. Furthermore, these employees often encounter significant health issues due to the physically demanding aspects of their jobs, such as lifting large containers and constant movement.
They are striving to maintain equilibrium. Their aim is to introduce automation, leading to a significant transformation among various categories.
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