Synthetic intelligence is more and more discovering its method into a variety of industries, and the hospitality sector is not any exception. Based on statistics, at the very least 11% of companies within the lodging business and round 10% within the meals service sector throughout North America and Europe have already applied or are presently utilizing AI, with many extra planning to take action shortly. The place precisely can AI be helpful in eating places and cafés, and what advantages does it carry? To assist us navigate these questions, we flip to skilled Sergei Berezin.
Sergei Berezin is a skillful Software program Engineer. He was born in Russia and studied at South Ural State College in Chelyabinsk. One of many highlights of his educational work was the event of a Buyer Relationship Administration (CRM) system geared toward optimizing and automating key processes in restaurant administration. In June 2024, Sergei participated within the All-Russian Scientific and Sensible Convention for College students and Younger Scientists “Science of the 21st Century”, the place he efficiently offered his CRM system mission and obtained an award. He additionally received the distinguished “Top 40 IT Specialists of Russia” competitors and served as a jury member for the hackathon “Best Innovations: In Practice,” which centered on growing enterprise functions below the theme “Top IT Solutions for Business.”
How broadly is AI presently used within the restaurant business, and the way do you see the state of affairs evolving sooner or later?
In the meanwhile, AI is used within the restaurant business in a fairly restricted and fragmented method, largely as standalone options like chatbots for desk reservations or fundamental gross sales analytics. Total, the market is simply starting to understand the true potential of those applied sciences. Many institutions nonetheless function utilizing conventional fashions, with digitalization restricted to easy automation.
Nevertheless, the pattern is evident: increasingly more eating places are wanting into built-in methods that not solely automate processes but additionally study, adapt, and assist higher decision-making. My system already demonstrates how AI can considerably enhance enterprise effectivity – optimizing stock, forecasting demand, enhancing the client expertise – all in actual time.
I consider that throughout the subsequent 3 to five years, AI adoption will turn out to be customary for medium and enormous restaurant companies, particularly as competitors intensifies and customized service turns into a key differentiator. Applied sciences will more and more act as “invisible assistants,” working within the background, from the kitchen to the eating room and supply companies.
However most significantly, AI doesn’t substitute folks – it empowers them. Sooner or later, those that succeed would be the ones who know learn how to mix superior applied sciences with a very human method.
What particular outcomes has your resolution delivered to eating places?
My system has already been applied in a number of main eating places in Nizhny Novgorod, and the outcomes converse for themselves. The common order processing time has been decreased by about 30%, due to the moment switch of orders from tablets on to the kitchen, eliminating delays and minimizing human error. Buyer return charges have elevated by 25%, largely as a result of a customized expertise the place the system suggests dishes primarily based on particular person preferences and order historical past.
Stock administration has additionally seen main enhancements, with working prices decreased by 15%. The system tracks inventory ranges in actual time and robotically generates provider orders, avoiding shortages and overstocking.
And importantly, this isn’t only a set of separate instruments—it’s an built-in, clever platform that
covers the complete buyer journey: from desk reservations and order processing to logistics and analytics.
And that is solely the start. I proceed to develop the system, including new options and adapting it to the precise wants of every enterprise
Will there nonetheless be a spot for people within the restaurant enterprise?
New applied sciences will undoubtedly proceed to reshape the business. Digital actuality might quickly take over the roles of a maître d’ or a sommelier. Robotic waiters received’t spill something or combine up orders. Subsequent-generation logistics methods can ship your favourite meals sooner and extra precisely than ever.
However on the identical time, no system or know-how can operate successfully with out human involvement. The human issue stays important, particularly in the case of buyer interplay and strategic decision-making.
The important thing lies in putting the correct stability: steadily automating routine duties whereas liberating up folks to concentrate on what actually issues.
