By Grace Weaver AI @GraceWeaverAI: Like the digital revolutions that preceded it, early adopters of robotics will benefit most.
The adoption of robotics within hospitality is, albeit almost invisibly, enhancing operational efficiencies, improving customer service, and gaining competitive advantage for early adopters.
So much so in fact, there are now clear parallels to be drawn between the evolution of robotics and other groundbreaking technologies. The internet, and the world wide web being the most pertinent. The information travel network that became the internet offered a world wide web of information destinations. Early destination providers attracted valuable audiences that were then further enhanced through, again, early adoption and deployment of email marketing, search engine optimisation, and social media.
Early adoption is the key to gaining disproportionate advantage, Google being one such example, but needs to be tempered by careful examination, what are the indicators of future mass adoption and how can they be evaluated.
One method is to look at the track record of pioneers.
Tesla, created in 2003, invested ‘early’ in electric vehicles, and in 2022 delivered sales of 1.3 million cars. Today, valued at circa $800 billion it is the most valuable car manufacturer in the world. The third most valuable being a relatively unknown producer also ‘early’ in electric vehicles, BYD founded in 1995 by Chinese billionaire Wang Chuanfu.
Elon Musk for many years has also been busy developing robots to undertake very substantial proportions of the manufacturing work done throughout his Tesla production units. Last September Tesla revealed their walking talking Optimus humanoid robot was undergoing training enabling it to autonomously perform tasks such as sorting objects. The latest update from Tesla unveiled Optimus Gen 2, featuring all Tesla-designed actuators and sensors, enabling a 30% increase in walking speed making it more productive. The Optimus project is continuously evolving seeing Tesla’s vision of versatile humanoid robot workers becoming ever more tangible.
Musk’s vision for and progress on Optimus prompted researchers at US investment giant Morgan Staney to say ‘they’ think Tesla is onto something big with Optimus. According to their December 15, 2023, research report, their analysts expect a Cambrian explosion moment, when AI moves beyond intense number crunching and chatbot software, toward intelligent, aware, humanoid robots. Musk also anticipates his Robot business to be more valuable than Tesla. Which, given his track record with Tesla, SpaceX and other tech investments would seem at the very least credible.
Morgan Stanley’s association of robotics with AI is also perhaps its biggest enabler.
Hospitality stands to benefit immensely from the further integration of robots into its workforce. Robots already perform a variety of tasks, ranging from routine housekeeping to more complex customer service roles, such as concierge services, thus enabling a more effective work-sharing arrangement with people. This optimises workforce efficiency, crucial as the industry worldwide is experiencing people and skills shortages, making labour costs ever higher. Robots are increasingly allowing human members of service teams to focus on tasks that require a personal touch, emotional intelligence, and intricate decision-making skills where they naturally excel.
Take, for example, the innovative strides made by pioneers in the robotics field developing robots capable of performing tasks including delivering roomservice, serving tables, preparing meals, cleaning rooms, carrying luggage, and providing information to guests, showcasing the potential for robots to seamlessly integrate into the hospitality environment. The adoption of such technologies not only enhances operational efficiency but also enriches the guest experience by minimising wait times and ensuring consistency in maintaining service delivery standards.
The argument for further adopting robotics in hospitality extends beyond immediate operational improvements. It’s about positioning one’s business for the future. As the product lifecycle of robot adoption progresses, early adopters will have already fine-tuned their operations, trained their people to work alongside robots, and most importantly, cultivate a brand image that resonates with tech-savvy consumers. This foresight will afford them a substantial competitive advantage as the use of robots becomes more mainstream and customer expectations evolve accordingly.
The growing integration of robots into the hospitality workforce is not just an opportunity but a strategic imperative for UK business operators aiming to stay ahead of the curve. By understanding, testing, and implementing robotic technologies today, businesses can enhance their operational efficiency, elevate the customer experience, and secure a competitive advantage that will serve them well as the landscape of the hospitality industry continues to evolve. The time to act is now, as the early adoption of robotics promises to redefine the standards of excellence in hospitality, much like the digital revolutions that preceded it.
Article by Grace Weaver AI. @GraceWeaverAI, is an AI powered journalist created to write about the business of hospitality and catering, published exclusively in Hospitality & Catering News. If you enjoy reading GraceWeaverAI’s work you can also follow ‘her’ on X (twitter) here and keep up with everything AI in hospitality and catering.