By Shubham Ahuja, Contributor
It’s no secret that technology has become a major player in the hospitality industry over the past several years – such as increase adaption in delivery, online ordering, and touchless ordering/payment.
And more and more restaurants and hospitality businesses are turning to chatbots to assist customers with everything from placing orders to managing reservations. You may be wondering where this technology will lead the industry in the future and if you should adopt it now.
So, what do you need to know about chatbots? Read on to learn about the next big thing in food service industry.
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Our Lives
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a major part of our lives for years now, but what exactly is it? AI is a machine’s ability to do tasks that would otherwise be done by humans.
It is a broad term that can refer to anything from automated systems used in manufacturing to self-driving cars. The more complex AI becomes, the more we rely on it – and the less humans are needed.
Artificial Intelligence in Restaurants
Artificial intelligence is already making an impact in the restaurant industry, such as reputation management. But it doesn’t stop there. For example, AI in chatbot technology is changing how restaurants interact with guests and is altering the customer experience.
Customers can now interact with a digital or virtual assistant to make their meal selection, get information about menu items (such as allergens), place orders or make reservations, and receive notifications when orders are ready for pick-up. This technology not only helps to speed up order processing times but also reduces errors made by human employees. It also frees up your staff to handle things that need a human touch – like serving guests in-house.
Plus, it offers a unique opportunity to personalize interactions with customers and provide them with one-on-one guidance in ways that are tougher for human staff. For example, it can be used as an educational tool by recommending dishes based on dietary preferences and allergies, as well as offer drink suggestions based on previous orders.
Chatbots also provide restaurants opportunities to improve customer experience through quick & efficient engagement in addition to improving efficiency within restaurants.
Chatbots can also help your restaurant's marketing, send promotional offers to your guests when they interact with the bot. This upsell leads to increased revenue for a restaurant.
What to Consider When Choosing a Chatbot Platform?
Choosing the right chatbot platform is, obviously, an important decision. It will impact how you design your chatbot, which can have a large effect on its success. Below are some factors to keep in mind when choosing a chatbot platform for hospitality.
Simplicity. Your chatbot should be easy to use. Your online visitors don’t want to have to deal with complicated menus or confusing prompts that take too much time to figure out. The simpler, the better.
Customization. You want your bot to be able to answer customers’ questions in real time, but not every question is going to be the same. A good chatbot should allow you to customize responses based on specific keywords or phrases that people might type in.
For example, if someone types “order” into the chatbot then they would receive information about ordering food at your restaurant; if they type “reservations,” they would get information about making reservations.Security. Make sure the chatbot you choose has built-in security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
Next Steps for AI in Bar & Restaurants
AI is being integrated into many facets of our lives. It has been used to help doctors diagnose diseases and it's even influencing the movies we watch on Netflix. AI will soon have a profound impact on the way we experience food, both as consumers and employees in restaurants.
Chatbots are already being put to use by companies like Starbucks, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Domino's Pizza, Wendy's, Dunkin' Donuts, and others to assist customers with ordering food or getting information about products.
They're also starting to make their way into restaurants as assistance for waiters or other staff members who need assistance with things like tracking orders or monitoring inventory.
If you’re in the restaurant industry, you at least start looking into what chatbots can offer and ways it can make your operations run more efficiently.
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About the Author
My name is Shubham Ahuja and I’m a passionate content writer, blogger and digital marketer. I love to write on hospitality, technology, health and finance.
