Introduction
In the fast-paced world of running a restaurant, every chance to improve the guest experience or make a process more efficient and effective, like streamlining the ordering process, can have a big impact. It’s no wonder many restaurant operators are pleased with the benefits they’re already getting from automation and artificial intelligence. AI features like chatbots and voice ordering are whipping up excitement about how AI is making its way into the software they rely on to run their businesses.
To find out how restaurants are already using AI and automation and the role they will play in the future, Square and Studio ID’s Restaurant Dive surveyed 305 mostly table-service restaurants.
(56%) of respondents said they are very or extremely excited about the future of AI in their businesses.
Another 29% bring a little skepticism to the table, saying they’re moderately excited.
“For many small and mid-sized restaurant owners like myself, the big question around AI and automation is, ‘How can this benefit my business?’ Any operator will tell you that it’s critical for the advantages of a new technology to outweigh the risk of it causing problems for staff and customers. “Early experiences make a strong case that AI more than meets that standard, Huh adds. “I see promise across all aspects of the business.”
Huh is not alone. Several restaurants are already seeing a real impact from both automation and early applications of AI, the survey found. These early experiences are stirring up excitement about what the future will bring, particularly as AI makes its way into their restaurant software. They’re matching that interest with significant AI spending plans.