What's Going on With AI in Restaurants in the UK?

When you hear the words artificial intelligence (AI), what comes to mind? Robots gone rogue? Machines with brains? Will Smith in a beanie and leather jacket?

Popular culture has done us a disservice over the years by perpetuating the idea that we cannot control our own creations and will eventually become a society that serves technology (instead of the other way around). This, in turn, has produced false expectations and fears about gadgets, robots, and artificial intelligence that are rooted in fiction, not fact.

Because AI and machine learning technologies show no signs of slowing down, we need to think critically about the implications of these advancements. Every day there seem to be new warnings that robots will replace restaurant workers as they infiltrate every facet of the food service industry. However, these claims are not only hyperbolic, they’re also impractical, grouping all restaurants under a fast-casual or fast-food umbrella.

So, what does this mean for UK restaurants? The good news is that you don’t have to choose between humans and machines. When it comes to AI for restaurants in the UK, the future of restaurant automation and technology trends is about enhancing human capabilities, not replacing them. Embracing restaurant management software and other technological advancements can lead to a more efficient and innovative dining experience.

What is AI for Restaurants?

It’s time we update the old “man versus machine” axiom to “human plus machine.” AI technology exists as a tool to help your restaurant business in the UK, not harm it. By rewriting the narrative around AI for restaurants in the UK, we can empower staff at all levels to make smarter, better-informed decisions.

Understandably, constant warnings that UK restaurants should brace for sudden, significant, and shocking changes can create anxiety for owners, managers, and staff. How can food service workers compete with technologies designed to outsmart us? Is the industry as we know it doomed?

The short answer is no. The long answer is more nuanced.

Before we delve into the specifics of how AI and machine learning have affected, may affect, and will continue to impact the restaurant industry in the UK, let’s first discuss what these terms mean. By understanding these concepts, we can better appreciate how restaurant technology in the UK, from AI-driven restaurant management software to advanced automation systems, can enhance the industry rather than disrupt it.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to intelligence that is artificially created, allowing computer systems to mimic intelligent human behaviours. Unlike natural intelligence, AI is designed to simulate human-like responses and actions. For example, your friends Siri and Alexa are forms of AI, as is Chat GPT, which is an AI-generated tool that might seem closer to taking my job as a writer than yours as a restaurateur.

Machine learning, however, takes AI a step further. This branch of computer science involves training computer systems to recognise, anticipate, and respond to data patterns through complex statistical algorithms using customer data. Machine learning enables systems like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube to listen, learn, and serve up more of what you like in real time. 

In the context of restaurant technology in the UK, these advancements can significantly enhance how restaurants operate, from customer service to operational efficiency. By leveraging AI and machine learning, restaurant management software in the UK can offer personalised dining experiences and streamline restaurant automation across the United Kingdom.

Computer scientists work tirelessly to make these highly technical pursuits accessible to the general public. We see evidence of this across a number of industries, including healthcare, finance, entertainment, and, increasingly, retail. From recommending television shows or books you might like to predicting emergency department admissions and personalising workouts for your body type, AI and machine learning are reimagining how we live, work, and play.

The restaurant industry in the UK stands to benefit significantly from these advancements. AI for restaurants in the UK can transform how businesses operate, from enhancing customer experiences to optimising back-of-house operations. By embracing restaurant technology trends and implementing advanced restaurant management software, UK eateries can stay ahead of the curve, offering unique and efficient services that cater to the modern diner's expectations.

And we’ve only just scratched the surface of what AI can do. In an article written by Forbes, it’s stated that:

• Over half of business owners use artificial intelligence for cybersecurity and fraud management.
• Almost all (97%) business owners believe ChatGPT will help their business.
• One in three businesses plan to use ChatGPT to write website content, while 44% plan to use ChatGPT to write content in other languages.
• 61% of companies use AI to optimise emails, while 55% deploy AI for personalised services, such as product recommendations.

These numbers look great for corporate businesses… but how do they apply to restaurant owners in the UK?

AI’s appeal becomes even more self-evident when considering the food service industry’s current landscape. With data showing the restaurant industry has an average churn of around 75% and ongoing struggles to recruit and retain employees, the opportunity to leverage technology to reduce some of these challenges (and costs) rightfully sounds pretty good.

The problem, it seems, is twofold.

First, writings about AI in restaurants tend to fixate on three things: robots, delivery bots, and chatbots. Yes, there are burger-flipping robots. The creators of this system, Aniai, view their new technology as a solution to the staffing shortage. You see, while the robot cooks the burger, a human employee assembles the bun. It’s teamwork that creates efficient restaurant operations.

Also, Dexai Robotics has developed a robotic sous chef named Albert who can adapt to kitchens straight out of the box. And over in London, we’ve even seen talk of pizzas being delivered by robots. But these are exceptions—not the rule.

The second problem is one of assumptions: the average restaurateur has the resources and interest to delve deep into AI or machine learning. The above examples might save money and create value in the long run—although the ROI is still largely undefined—but the short-term costs remain unattainable for the vast majority of restaurateurs until such technologies become part of the standard restaurant model.

However, this doesn’t mean AI for restaurants in the UK is entirely out of reach. There are still ways to make AI and machine learning work for your restaurant. For example, there are back-of-house automation tools that control what portions are being used. This results in less food waste and over-pours, and adds inventory management counts to notify chefs when they’re low on certain ingredients.

How to Leverage AI For Restaurants

1. Get listed

Where once on-demand ordering was considered cutting edge, today, customer service is being automated and streamlined even further.

Halla is a great example of an application that challenges what is now the norm. The recommendation engine amalgamates a number of food delivery applications to present relevant cafes and eateries based on a user’s location and predetermined “taste profile.” Ensuring your restaurant is available via these services optimises your chances of making the cut as a “restaurant you might like.” This showcases the potential of AI restaurant technology trends in the UK to enhance visibility and customer engagement.

2. Keep up with your customers

Popmenu enables you to keep up with your guests and give a great customer experience, even when your staff is busy. They offer an AI answering solution because a missed call is a missed transaction. This AI answering system captures all data your customers ask about without disturbing your staff. Using AI technology is a practical way to make busy phone lines work for you, not against you. This is restaurant technology that even a small restaurant can implement, with a low cost per hour. 

Popmenu also offers dynamic menu item technology that can make recommendations based on customers’ past orders. Or, say a customer liked a special. When your restaurant brings that item back on the menu the guest can receive a notification, telling them that the item they liked is back in stock.

Millennials and especially Gen Zers are much more inclined to open their wallets if they feel they are part of a two-way conversation; making use of tools that keep the conversation lines open not only fosters affinity and loyalty but also contributes to increased foot traffic and revenue.

3. Go big for big data

You may not realise it, but some of the software solutions you’re currently using – like your employee scheduling software or point of sale system (pos) – contain a goldmine of information that can help you run your restaurant like a well-oiled machine. Your POS system can keep track of past takeout orders and suggest the same order going forward. This makes for a quicker food ordering process, resulting in a better guest experience.

These systems effortlessly manage and monitor high volumes of data on the daily; some even predict things like labour needs customer behaviours, food quality, and inventory counts, taking the guesswork out of what to do when.

In the near future, these same applications will be able to use the data your restaurant generates to do things like create labour-optimal employee schedules, or use your sales data to predict which items to sell and increase your profits.

4. Get on board with voice search

Many in the UK use voice ordering and voice assistant features daily, and nearly 40% of consumers prefer voice devices over smartphones when seeking information about a restaurant. So, if there’s one AI-powered movement to get behind, it’s voice commerce.

Restaurants can easily create “skills” for tools like Amazon Alexa that can help people instantly order without ever having to lift a finger. Grubhub, for example, has enabled this online ordering technology to allow its users to place fast, hands-free orders.

The Future of AI for Restaurants

The bottom line for the vast majority of today’s restaurateurs in the UK regarding AI is this: don’t sweat it, but don’t forget it. If anything, look at it as a helpful tool. Not an enemy.

You should keep a watchful eye on AI and machine learning trends and breakthroughs, but don’t add unnecessary stress to your plate trying to squirrel away cash to afford a fleet of self-serve kiosks like McDonalds. Let the early adopters do the dirty work, but remain vigilant of which technologies might serve you, your staff, and your customers in the future.

For now, you’ll find the greatest success in focusing your energies on learning from your in-store data and applying what you’ve learned to the ways you and your team work.

Related Resources

• Best Android POS System in the UK: 5 Must-Have Restaurant Point of Sale Features
• 60 Restaurant Industry Statistics and Trends for the UK 
• 15 Promotion Ideas for Restaurants in the UK