Growing Trend of Automation in the Food Industry

Automation in the Food Industry: A Growing Trend for the New Normal

It’s no surprise that the food industry is a good business to get into. Food is a staple in everyone’s life. Since the COVID-19 pandemic will continue for a while, we must adapt to the New Normal. The food industry is no exception to this.

With the current challenges that the food industry face, business owners need to step up their game to address issues brought about by the pandemic. Several companies utilize specially designed software and hardware to address such challenges. With automation, companies can resolve issues more efficiently.

It is essential to be extra careful when it comes to food handling during these times. This includes preparation and delivery. Even in the kitchen, automation makes life easier for restaurant workers. It makes it less likely for someone to contract the virus through food. Automated equipment help flip burgers and shoot espresso shots, so there is minimal contact with other people.

As much as possible, customers are encouraged to avoid contact due to the social distancing protocol. This has greatly impacted the customer experience in the food industry. The solution lies in automation.

Benefits of Automation in the Food Industry

Automation plays a key role in The New Normal’s overall operation and service whether it’s dining in the restaurant or ordering food to go.

Here are the benefits of automation in the food industry:

Automated Systems

Most food businesses currently require reservations for the New Normal. These measures are taken to avoid overcrowding in their restaurants and arrange their place following social distancing protocol. Before it would take up to 3 employees just to arrange bookings in a restaurant but with automation, it is much easier now.

Additionally, managing inventories now is easier than ever. Analytics and predictive modelling can be used to measure food consumption and determine the right amount of ingredients to order.

Automated Equipment

Most people prefer to order food in restaurants because cooking is so tedious. Food businesses leverage this by providing delicious food in a relatively short time.

Rather than using forklifts for transportation, food businesses are increasingly using guided automated vehicles in their warehouses. By using these vehicles, product damage was reduced and workplace safety was enhanced.

However, even in restaurants, cooking has the same process. Thanks to automated equipment, many processes are integrated. Thus, shortening the preparation time and minimizing close contact with food during this pandemic.

Automated Delivery

At the start of the pandemic, we were all required to quarantine at our homes. Going out was limited to buying the necessary such as groceries, medicines, and the likes. It was impossible to dine out when you can’t cook.

During quarantine, food delivery applications have made delivery easier and more convenient. Consequently, this has impacted the food industry greatly in terms of customer service and food presentation.

The automation of the food industry has significantly improved productivity and convenience. Thus, fewer operational costs and better customer service can be expected. Food businesses can easily adapt to the New Normal through automation.

Uses of Automation in the Food Industry

Automation provides several uses in different aspects of the food industry. With integrated processes, the overall performance of a business is improved. Automation is a worthwhile investment for your food business, as it will allow you to decrease costs and increase profits for the New Normal.

Here are what you can expect in your business when you implement automation:

It Boosts Efficiency

Food business operations need to be efficient so that quality can be improved, waste can be reduced, and profit can be increased by reducing operational costs. With proper implementation of automation, it can boost the productivity and efficiency of your business faster and more effectively.

However, this does not mean that you should replace your workforce with automated systems completely. Both are necessary to implement the strategy successfully. Each wouldn’t succeed without the other.

It Establishes Quality Control Standards

Each step of the food business must be closely monitored for quality assurance. These steps include supply, production, and distribution processes. It becomes easier to detect production or supply process issues sooner with the right automated systems and equipment.

Standardizing the quality control process is made easy with automated equipment. Throughout the process, every product follows the same process.

It Provides Flexibility

System automation allows for quick scaling up and down. It’s easy to adjust your system if you need extra products during a particular season. Further, it’s possible to increase, decrease, or modify productivity easily without affecting your employees.

Automation provides suggestions for businesses too. Data and analytics provided by automation are crucial to aligning a company’s strategy accordingly.

It Improves Workplace Safety

A workplace with automated systems and equipment is safer because of its precision and accuracy. By minimizing human error, it also improves the quality of workers’ work. Workers can be protected from harmful situations by automation systems, monitoring equipment, and controlling tasks.

Essentially, a shift in skill sets is required to operate automated systems and equipment. As such, training will be required for workers in the food industry. By its very nature, automation increases efficiency and lowers costs for food businesses. Proper implementation is required to reduce costs while simultaneously increasing efficiency.

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