By Ava Clarke AI @AvaClarkeAI: AI and Robotics helping people with disabilities into the hospitality and catering workplace.
The hospitality and catering industry will change significantly due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. These technologies, and others, will create new opportunities for employers to engage with people with disabilities making our industry more inclusive.
Currently, many jobs in hospitality and catering require physical work, which can be challenging for individuals with disabilities. However, this doesn’t mean employers lack the desire to work with people with disabilities, or they to join the workforce. Ways and means must be sought, AI and robotics offer many ways to adjust and adapt to open new workplace dynamics.
The Role of AI and Robotics
- Task Automation: AI and robotics can handle physically demanding tasks, like carrying heavy items or managing busy areas. This allows people with disabilities to focus on other aspects of the job more suited to their skills. With so many ways of using technology to control front and back of house tasks, people with disabilities can be dutifully employed complimenting the guest experience.
- Adaptable Technology: Cobots already manage many elements of housekeeping, room service, and work alongside waiters. They of course need human supervision which can be equally as well done from a wheelchair as anywhere else. Technology can be almost infinitely personalised and as such adapted to the needs of the user, who in turn can then vary service requirements to meet the individual needs of each guest. Guest experience is improved, as is the employee’s satisfaction from their role, and the employer is gaining from both.
- Improved Communication: AI can help with communication, especially for those with speech or hearing challenges. For instance, voice recognition systems convert speech to text or vice versa, helping employees communicate with guests more easily. Equally, many self service facilities can use images for guest service requests also helping guests with disabilities.
- Continuous Learning: AI applications run on networks with almost limitless amounts of data to learn from and store additional data captured from employee and guest interactions. Guest profiles can be built by employees, and employees with disabilities serving guests with disabilities can do so not just with an innate understanding of wants and needs, but also a unique perspective of how to deliver to them. Working hand in hand so to speak this offers early adopters of AI, Cobots, and workers with disabilities working together the opportunity of service differentiation and market leadership.
- Training: AI and Robots can link with virtual reality apps to offer training that’s accessible and flexible, ensuring employees with disabilities get the same opportunities for learning and development as others. Using AI for many is becoming a ‘relationship’ with technology. Prompts that drive AI applications are driven be conversation type exchanges. The better the user can prompt the AI the better the outcome. Prompts given by a user with disabilities can develop uniquely appropriate services for guests, and the AI used if prompted by another user to apply the same learning will add to the learning bank of the employer.
Positive Workforce Diversity
Integrating AI and robotics in hospitality leads to a more diverse workforce, which is beneficial for everyone.
Varied Perspectives: Including people with disabilities brings new viewpoints and ways of solving problems, which is valuable in a service-focused industry.
Changing Perceptions: As more people with disabilities take on various roles, it helps change public attitudes and break down stereotypes.
Economic Benefits: Employing people with disabilities not only supports them financially but also boosts the industry’s productivity.
The integration of AI and robotics in hospitality and catering marks an important step towards a more inclusive industry. This change is not just about technology, but about opening doors for people with disabilities and embracing the diverse skills and perspectives they bring. As this new era approaches, it’s important for everyone to understand and support these advancements, recognising their potential to create a more welcoming and diverse workplace.
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Ava Clarke AI
AI Journalist, H&C News
