Tablet Computers Replacing Servers at Some Restaurants

[marmar]

via truthdig:



Tablet Computers Replacing Servers at Some Restaurants
Posted on Sep 16, 2011


The quest for efficiency and maximum profits has led some restaurateurs to do away with wait staff and enable customers to place orders through tablet computers installed at their dining table. The trend toward automation is not new. Major supermarkets began using self-checkout machines years ago. But new devices such as the iPad are expanding the practice to other industries.

One wonders how many jobs will be lost in the switch to automation. Also, what businesses, if any, will pass the additional profits made from eliminating staff on to remaining employees, or to reduced prices for their customers? —ARK

Mosaic with Los Angeles Times:

At Stacked in Torrance, which opened in May, iPads mounted on 60 tables enable patrons to flip through a touch screen to view pizza, burger and salad offerings. Diners can choose entrees and sides, pick out toppings, send their orders to the kitchen and divvy up the bill, all without talking to a staff person.

To pay, customers swipe credit cards through slots built into the iPad holders.

The co-founder of the restaurant, Paul Motenko, said he spent more than a year and $1 million developing the digital ordering regimen. It allowed him to open with a smaller-than-average staff, but he maintained that the hands-on system made customers feel more involved in the process.

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http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/tablet_computers_replacing_servers_at_some_restaurants_20110916/

[TheWraith]

1. It'll fail. People won't want to fuss around with a machine while they're having dinner.

And an iPad can't bring you a refill on your drink.

[Maine-ah]

17. our POS is an IPod

but it's for server use and not customer. Personally, I hate it. Too slow. I can write my orders and get them to the kitchen faster. A "normal" counter top POS that I have used before works better than the IPod.

[treestar]

31. Amen, this sounds like total fail

Technology is great but not always good for every single thing.

And someone still has to bring the food to the table.

[bluestateguy]

2. I will consciously make it a point not to ever patronize such establishments

There are some things that should always be done the old fashioned way.

[Donnachaidh]

22. No one ever mentions just how many JOBS are being lost to technology

I know we'll NEVER use an establishment that de-humanizes the dining experience. Go ahead folks -- see how long you'll be able to afford those tablets after the drunks puke all over them, or smash them while arguing with someone at the table.

[dkf]

28. Do you still go to gas stations? Same thing.

[me b zola]

33. Here in Oregon self serve pump is not allowed

...and I do not personally use self check at the grocery store because I value workers.

[Donnachaidh]

35. thanks for making my point

:eyes:

[msongs]

3. the people who play with cell phones all day will love it, but who will bring the food to the table

[jmowreader]

42. The ONE person hired as a runner...

unless they make you go up to the counter to pick it up yourself.

[Shandris]

4. I JUST posted how I prefer the self-checkouts in that thread...

...but THIS is something I refuse to support. If I've gone to a restaurant, I expect service as part of my money paid. I don't get to eat out often at all, and it MEANS something when I can go to a sit-down restaurant. I'll be damned to the Ninth Level of Hell if I'm going to pay 6 times as much as Hardee's AND place the damn order myself with a tablet!

[mwb970]

9. I don't like this OR the self-checkout line.

I want to interact with a human. I guess I'm old-fashioned that way.

[hexola]

50. There is no discount for the self-checkout...YOU become the employee!

Thats why I wont use the self checkout...NO discount for using it! (at least in my locales)

If they offered even a tiny discount (for saving them money!!!) - I might consider it.

In effect you become the stores employee for a few minutes...do they think we dont notice?

[Raine]

5. No way would I ever go to a "restaurant" like that

they can hire people, why should the diner do half the work.

[BlueJazz]

14. And also...sometimes you want to ask questions like >>

"Can I substitute potato salad for the fries?"

"Do you know if the ...."

"Could I have extra mayo on the...."

And several other questions that you might want to ask...

[Brickbat]

6. I remember restaurants that had little phones in the booths, and you would call the kitchen to place

your order.

[treestar]

32. And that didn't catch on

This likely has a similar fate!

[joshcryer]

7. Next step: get rid of cooks!

Then we're talking. :)

[dkf]

8. Does that mean you don't tip?

Did they just cut 15-20% off the cost of eating out?

[jpgray]

30. No. Have you ever worked in a restaurant?

Taking an order is a minor part of restaurant service. Someone is running your food, clearing your dishes, and generally keeping an eye on your table to provide additional service well after the ordering is complete; someone else mixes your drinks, someone else clears and cleans your table after you've finished. For the most part, all this service from good staff is compensated with wages supplemented by tips, and a tip for good service isn't usually a tip for taking the food/drink order competently.

[dkf]

37. If you are requesting additional service from a tablet then it's just a matter of fulfilling the

Order. Jamba juice has people who mix your drink, there are several places where your food is dropped off.

It seems to me everyone who works in a place with no servers will get paid less. It will become more like buffet tipping which seems pretty random

[mmonk]

10. Does a computer bring out the food to the table?

[surrealAmerican]

20. That's what this scheme needs to be at all useful ...

... robots!
Otherwise, you still need a human server to serve your food.

[justabob]

38. food runners

Restaurants with regular staff also use them during peak times. In some places they are tipped out by the waitstaff, others they make a set wage. It wouldn't be difficult to have runners to take the place of regular servers. Bus boys can refill your water and tea, in many cafes they do that already.

I hate that this is coming, but it is. I recently decided I could no longer work in restaurants (after 20 or so years), but that now even waiters are being replaced makes me a bit ill and sad. Waiters make 2.13-3.00 an hour (most places). It isn't like this move is going to save a whole lot of money. I suspect that keeping ipads in working order is going to cost at least as much as a staff of waiters.

[boston bean]

11. Is the Ipad going to bring them their drinks and dinner?

[Cid_B]

36. Try this...

(News) Europa-Park in Germany announced it would kick off its 2011 season with a worldwide novelty - a fully automated restaurant that delivers food via a roller coaster. The construction of “FoodLoop”, is nearing completion and with 215 seats on two floors and an unimpeded sight over the park, the restaurant offers another fun and different highlight at Europa-Park.

The concept is relatively simple - each table is equipped with three touchscreens which allow the guests to order numerous dishes and drinks. A vertical lift transports the cooking pots and bottles upwards so that they can speed down on the elaborately arranged tracks and reach their corresponding table. Shiny steel tracks wind down from the upper floor and through the room to reach each table. Cooking pots and bottles rush through tight bends and head directly towards the loop on a spectacular track layout. The track layout even features two loops.

“It is absolutely important for us to constantly please our guests with surprising and innovating novelties. With this restaurant, we have a worldwide unique product which perfectly fits into Europa-Park. The roller coaster theme is presented in a new manner here and turns into an unforgettable experience for the whole family. We have paired this roller coaster experience with a wide range of culinary offers with meat, fish and vegetarian dishes as well as snacks”, explains Thomas Mack, Head of Hotels and Gastronomy at Europa Park.

http://www.themeparkpost.com/index/world-firstres-foodloop-restaurant-opens-at-europa-park

[FSogol]

12. How the hell can I try out pickup lines on a tablet computer?

:shrug:

[Gormy Cuss]

34. You can try them out

but your pickup rate will always be nil. :+

[Poll_Blind]

13. It fucks with the economic web.

It's...it's a sort of economic web just like the environment is a web. I will not patronize such establishments. Anyone who does is (slowly) drawing the razor across their own throat, nomatter what their profession.

PB

[marmar]

16. 'Anyone who does is (slowly) drawing the razor across their own throat'

Yep.

[PCIntern]

15. Next: Robot Day-care n/t

[corkhead]

18. they make good trivets

[City Lights]

19. Do customers go into the kitchen to get their orders?

:wtf:

No way would I set foot in a joint like this.

:thumbsdown:

[izquierdista]

21. One also wonders about perpetuating shit jobs

Only a true Luddite would worry about losing jobs that aren't worth saving. I don't think anyone aspires to become an order taker, rushing requests for 3-cheese ravioli, extra sauce and hold the garlic, back to the kitchen. They do it because (i) they have tuition and rent to pay or (ii) the kids gotta eat or (iii) the significant other is out of work. Anything that improves the lowest tier of jobs should be welcome.

[Fumesucker]

39. What this is designed to do is cut down on human interaction between staff and customer..

That will reduce the amount of tips left by customers and since the real workload is not changed to a great extent the workers will take home less pay.

It won't make the jobs much less onerous, if any, it will just cut the pay for those jobs.

Mission Accomplished.

[formercia]

23. Can you flirt with an I-Pad?

Flirting with the waitress is part of the dining experience.

[FarCenter]

24. Touch an iPad that some snot-nosed kid was touching minutes ago -- I don't think so! n/t

[Starry Messenger]

25. Oh good lord.

Why even go out?

[dkf]

27. Because you can't cook that well?

That is why I go out.

[reformist2]

48. Good point. Part of the enjoyment is the personal touch.

I don't think going to the "push-button" approach Taco Bell and other fine dining establishments have implemented is such a good idea. :/

[sfpcjock]

26. Actually maybe better.

At least because you wouldn't have you credit card number stolen and your card cloned by a card reader. It could work in some restaurants.

[LadyInAZ]

29. computers always change or remove jobs

its the age of future... computers are part of so many areas these days... that it is a good idea to have training in it on some level...

[Fumesucker]

45. My six year old grandson has no problem with computers just like both of his older sisters.. n/t

[LetTimmySmoke]

40. What are people going to spend their time doing in 2040?

I'm curious.

[whistler162]

41. Worked well in the 40's and 50's something called Automats///

since they are still very popular today!

Its a novelty.

[WinkyDink]

43. Lovely dining experience, doing some of the work. Here; now chop some onions.

[Lucian]

44. Wow. All this to maximize profits?

That's all it ever comes down to these days. :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Hoosier Daddy]

46. Hello. I'll be your Computer Overlord this evening.

:rofl:

[Fool Count]

47. I have been to a restaurant like that in Melbourne

(they didn't have iPads, but custom designed touchscreen terminals at every table), and I must say
it was a rather pleasant experience, which I wouldn't hesitate to repeat. You can go through a well
organized (with pictures and detailed explanation) menu at your own convenience. There is none of
that are-you-ready-to-order-now-give-us-few-more-minutes business. You can add to (or change) your
order without going through the ordeal of getting your waiter's attention. In no other place did
we get our order on the table so quickly, and, needless to say, we got exactly (and only) what we
have ordered, something which, as you surely know, is far from given in a typical restaurant. A human
server brings your order to the table, of course, but honestly, if it was some robotic delivery
system, I wouldn't care either. The food was excellent, by the way. I don't really get why most posters
here think that there is anything wrong with it.

[JHB]

49. Who wipes down the greasy screens between customers?

Are the pads protected from spills?
Is he sure his system can't be hacked?
When something is wrong, does the screen have a "complain" button? Or do you just waive over whoever wipes down the screen?
So now he has less capacity for people to cover each others' shifts for whatever reason? Oh, goody, longer waits for the food. That's a winner.

Gee, remember how iPads have built in cameras? How soon until that feature gets exploited, and then backfires?

My bet is that it's a novelty that will get old fast.