HOW 3D ROBOTS CAN AID HOTELS AMID LABOR SHORTAGES OPINION / TECHNOLOGY BY DAVID CHEN - ORBBEC | AUGUST 23, 2021 SHARE The pandemic upended many sectors with mass layoffs at the beginning of COVID-19 and ended with record labor shortages. The hospitality sector in particular was deeply hit with massive unemployment gaps that ran well above the national unemployment rate during the pandemic. While other industries have started on the road to recovery, the hospitality industry is still 2.8 million jobs shy of where it was in February 2020. With more than 60% of Americans willing to travel again, 55% of U.S. companies planning to resume business travel within the next three months and more than a third of current hospitality workers planning to exit the industry, the hotel industry is in a bind. Long-term labor solutions in the area are needed to meet the rising demand for travel and seismic shifts in the hospitality workforce. This is where 3D camera-equipped robots can play a role. Robots are some of the most impactful forms of hospitality technology hoteliers can invest in to maintain efficiency, serve guests and aid understaffed operations. Solving staffing shortages From retail stores to the hospitality realm, customer-facing industries are already solving staffing short- ages and improving operations through robots equipped with 3D imaging sensors. For example, restau- rants have added self-navigating robots for food delivery and table bussing while grocery chains have discov- ered that robots can assist in cleaning, providing stock management alerts and checkout duties. These tasks are typically limited in their customer-facing duties but are repetitive and time-consuming activi- ties that are easily programmed into digital sidekicks. This makes robots an ideal solution to the staffing short- ages many hotel properties are experiencing. Properties of all sizes are starting to realize the practical uses for service robots - or “co-bots,” which work alongside humans to extend and improve performance, taking the burden off human workers so they can handle more demanding responsibilities. Versatile functionality A popular function behind the implementation of 3D camera-embedded robots is the ability to increase self-service functionality, increase convenience and improve customer experiences for guests. Mobile robots can perform navigation tasks that include guiding guests to their rooms and delivering commonly requested room service items such as pillows, blankets, towels and toiletries. They can even operate as roving security guards throughout the property.
continued on p. 84
P16 November 202 1 / HOSPITALITY NEWS
Powered by FlippingBook