Automation Steps In to Fill Hospitality Service Staff Shortages
The pandemic had a massive ripple effect on jobs throughout the hospitality industry. Travel restrictions and social distancing brought business and recreational travel to a standstill. The industry has been slow to recover, partly due to Zoom and other teleconferencing services supplanting many forms of business travel. Hotels laid off and furloughed employees in record numbers to cut costs during the pandemic. Now 97% of hotels report
The pandemic had a massive ripple effect on jobs throughout the hospitality industry. Travel restrictions and social distancing brought business and recreational travel to a standstill. The industry has been slow to recover, partly due to Zoom and other teleconferencing services supplanting many forms of business travel. Hotels laid off and furloughed employees in record numbers to cut costs during the pandemic. Now 97% of hotels report labor shortages as travel picks up, and restaurants are in the same boat.
Automation could alleviate labor shortages by augmenting or replacing key hospitality roles. Human resources and workforce management are some of the most common areas ripe for automation. Reducing the need for human employees in these positions can assist in hiring in other departments. Restaurants, in particular, can reap significant benefits from automation technology. Chains such as Chipotle, Buffalo Wild Wings and Panera Bread are experimenting with automation for tasks including ordering, drive-thru management and food preparation.
The “Hospitality Tracker®” examines how automation technologies can help the hospitality industry mitigate staffing shortages.