Robotics in the Restaurant Industry: Solving Key Challenges

The restaurant industry is facing unprecedented challenges, from labor shortages to rising operational costs. In this blog post, we'll explore how Wavemaker Labs is revolutionizing the food service sector by deploying robotics and automation to address these critical issues. We'll delve into the benefits of automating dangerous and undesirable tasks, enabling existing brands to scale more efficiently, and examine Buck Jordan's perspective on the future of franchising. This discussion is directly inspired by our latest podcast episode, Rising and Raising Robotics | Season 7, Vol. 10: Wavemaker Labs, where Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling spoke with Buck Jordan, Founder and CEO of Wavemaker Labs, about his vision for the future of food automation. Join us as we unpack the potential of robotics to transform the restaurant landscape.

Introduction: Addressing Restaurant Challenges with Robotics

The restaurant industry is at a critical juncture. Operators are grappling with staffing shortages, high turnover rates, and the constant pressure to maintain profitability in an increasingly competitive market. Traditional solutions are often inadequate, leading to a search for innovative approaches. Robotics and automation are emerging as promising solutions, offering the potential to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve the overall dining experience. By automating repetitive and dangerous tasks, restaurants can free up human employees to focus on customer service and other value-added activities.

This shift towards automation is not just about replacing human workers with machines. It's about creating a more efficient and sustainable business model that can withstand the challenges of the modern restaurant industry. By leveraging robotics, restaurants can achieve greater consistency in food quality, reduce waste, and improve safety for their employees. The benefits are far-reaching, impacting everything from the bottom line to the overall work environment.

Wavemaker Labs: Automating the Food Supply Chain

Wavemaker Labs is at the forefront of this automation revolution. Founded with the mission to automate the food supply chain from seed to fork, Wavemaker Labs is developing innovative robotic solutions for various aspects of the restaurant industry. Buck Jordan, the CEO of Wavemaker Labs, envisions a future where robots handle the most dangerous and undesirable tasks, allowing human workers to focus on more fulfilling and customer-centric roles.

Buck Jordan's journey into automation began over 20 years ago, during his time as an armor officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Seeing unmanned armored vehicles sparked a long-term interest in automation, eventually leading him to establish Wavemaker Labs. The company concentrates on automating high-consumption food categories in the United States, aiming to produce higher-quality food at a lower cost for the general public.

Wavemaker Labs operates on two primary tracks: first, providing existing brands with automation solutions to modernize and reinvent themselves; and second, building a suite of digitally native brands that are designed from the ground up to be fully automated. This dual approach allows Wavemaker Labs to address the immediate needs of the industry while also paving the way for a more automated future.

Automated Solutions for Dangerous and Undesirable Tasks

One of the most compelling arguments for robotics in the restaurant industry is the ability to automate dangerous and undesirable tasks. Jobs like dishwashing and frying are often physically demanding, repetitive, and potentially hazardous. High employee turnover rates are often found in these types of roles. Robotics offer a solution by providing a consistent, reliable, and safe alternative.

Automated dishwashing systems, for example, can significantly reduce the risk of injuries associated with manual dishwashing, such as cuts, burns, and strains. They can also improve hygiene by ensuring that dishes are properly sanitized and free from contaminants. Similarly, automated frying systems can eliminate the risk of burns from hot oil and ensure consistent cooking times and temperatures, resulting in higher-quality food.

Beyond dishwashing and frying, Wavemaker Labs is developing robotic solutions for other kitchen tasks, such as food preparation and assembly. These robotic kitchen assistants can help restaurants streamline their operations, reduce labor costs, and improve the consistency of their food. By automating these tasks, restaurants can create a safer and more enjoyable work environment for their employees.

Enabling Existing Brands to Scale Through Automation

While building its own suite of digitally native brands, Wavemaker Labs is also focused on enabling existing brands to scale through automation. By providing restaurants with robotic solutions, Wavemaker Labs is helping them to modernize their operations and improve their efficiency. This can be particularly beneficial for franchise businesses, which often struggle to maintain consistency and quality across multiple locations.

Automation can help franchise businesses overcome these challenges by providing a standardized and reliable way to perform key tasks. For example, a robotic frying system can ensure that french fries are cooked to the same specifications at every location, regardless of who is operating the fryer. This can help to improve customer satisfaction and build brand loyalty.

In addition to improving consistency, automation can also help franchise businesses reduce costs. By automating tasks like dishwashing and food preparation, restaurants can reduce their labor costs and improve their overall profitability. This can make it easier for franchise businesses to expand and open new locations.

Buck Jordan's Perspective on the Future of Franchising

Buck Jordan's views on the future of franchising are particularly thought-provoking. He argues that the traditional franchise model is becoming obsolete in the age of automation and digitally native brands. In the podcast episode, Jordan shares his reasoning, stating, “Well, let me just walk you through the logic, right? So in the ’60s and ’70s, every QSR went 99% franchising as fast as they possibly could. Why’d they do that? Because it costs anywhere from half a million to three million to build a restaurant. And then you gotta manage dozens and dozens of people on and off a shift, and so just offload that expense and that management headache to the franchisees. That’s what the brands did.”

Jordan believes that the primary reasons for franchising in the past – the high cost of building restaurants and the management headaches associated with a large workforce – are becoming less relevant as automation reduces the need for human labor and lowers the cost of operation. If the future truly is 100% fully automated, and if the future successful brands are going to be digitally native brands with menus designed for automation, then the need for franchising diminishes.

He envisions a future where vending machines are capable of producing Michelin-level food, eliminating the need for franchisees to manage the production and delivery of meals. In this scenario, large brands can finance the cost of these machines themselves, further reducing the need for franchising. While this vision may seem radical, it highlights the potential for automation to fundamentally change the way restaurants operate.

The Rise of Digitally Native Brands and Automation

The rise of digitally native brands is closely linked to the increasing adoption of automation in the restaurant industry. Digitally native brands are those that are designed from the ground up to be fully automated, with menus and operations optimized for robotic execution. These brands are not burdened by the legacy systems and processes of traditional restaurants, allowing them to take full advantage of the benefits of automation.

Digitally native brands can offer a number of advantages over traditional restaurants, including lower operating costs, greater consistency, and improved customer experience. By automating tasks like food preparation and assembly, these brands can reduce their labor costs and improve the efficiency of their operations. They can also ensure that their food is consistently prepared to the same specifications at every location, regardless of who is operating the equipment.

Furthermore, digitally native brands can leverage data and analytics to optimize their menus and operations. By tracking customer preferences and sales data, these brands can identify which items are most popular and adjust their menus accordingly. They can also use data to optimize their staffing levels and ensure that they have the right number of employees on hand at all times.

Conclusion: The Future of Restaurants with Robotics

The restaurant industry is on the cusp of a major transformation, driven by the increasing adoption of robotics and automation. Wavemaker Labs is at the forefront of this revolution, developing innovative solutions that address the critical challenges facing restaurants today. By automating dangerous and undesirable tasks, enabling existing brands to scale more efficiently, and pioneering the development of digitally native brands, Wavemaker Labs is paving the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and customer-centric future for the restaurant industry.

Buck Jordan's vision for the future of franchising may be controversial, but it highlights the potential for automation to fundamentally change the way restaurants operate. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of robotics in the restaurant industry. If you want to hear more about Buck Jordan's vision, listen to the full conversation on the Rising and Raising Robotics | Season 7, Vol. 10: Wavemaker Labs episode of the Hospitality Hangout podcast. The future of restaurants is undoubtedly intertwined with robotics, promising exciting possibilities for operators, employees, and diners alike.