BurgerFi Deploys Tableside Robot as Part of Technology Innovations
December 16, 2021
BurgerFi, a premium fast-casual restaurant chain, has announced it is testing and expanding five new technologies and creative strategies to stay ahead of evolving consumer preferences and to combat restaurant labor shortages. One of these tests is Patty the Robot, a food delivery robot that brings food to customers at the company’s Jupiter, Fla. location.
The BurgerFi Indiantown Road location in Jupiter interacts with customers, serves meals directly to tables, and returns used trays to the kitchen. The company said Patty is programmed to know the restaurant layout and can interact with guests to ensure it gets the job done. The restaurant chain said the innovation supports employees, enhances efficiencies and lets restaurants provide quality guest service.
“Patty may be the answer to employee shortages across the hospitality industry,” said Karl Goodhew, chief technology officer at BurgerFi. “By integrating automation with human operations, we give our employees the support they need and our guests the experience they crave. Our employees will always be the most important part of the guest experience, and robots allow them to continue to focus on great hospitality.”
The chain also plans to be the first restaurant to launch in-car ordering in the new generation of 5G interactive cars, starting in summer 2022. Through a partnership with Mavi.io – an in-car retail marketplace that brings curated shopping to the dashboard of consumers’ cars – guests can order BurgerFi food, including burgers, fries and custard shakes, from their vehicle by using their voice or their car’s interactive dashboard. The system notifies the restaurant when a customer arrives, so a fresh order can be delivered curbside.
The company is also testing QR code table ordering alongside traditional counter ordering, as well as self-ordering kiosks that give guests a convenient way to order. Finally, BurgerFi opened a hybrid food hall with both dine-in options and a commissary for delivery at Epic Kitchen in Chicago, as well as an international ghost kitchen in Dubai, as a way to expand reach in new markets and provide delivery options.
“While the entire restaurant industry faces macro headwinds, BurgerFie is determined to be resilient and forward-thinking,” said Goodhew. “Leveraging technology is a key factor in delivering guest and employee happiness.”
Visit the BurgerFi website to learn more or to find a location.
