{"id":32080,"date":"2023-11-14T11:26:56","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T16:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/?p=32080"},"modified":"2025-12-23T13:10:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:10:26","slug":"artificial-intelligence-changing-the-way-foodservice-operators-find-success-and-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/ideas\/artificial-intelligence-changing-the-way-foodservice-operators-find-success-and-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Artificial Intelligence Changing the Way Foodservice Operators’ Find Success and Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine this futuristic scenario: It\u2019s 7 a.m. and a foodservice operator starts their day with real-time data on inventory levels, sales trends and customer feedback on an AI-powered dashboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operator takes that data and adjusts menu offerings and updates specials. Hours later, the system manages incoming reservations. At closing time it spits out a comprehensive performance report for the day and \u2013  voil\u00e0! \u2013 operators have data gold at their fingertips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a new reality for foodservice operators everywhere, many struggling with the same industry issues. From easing tight labour market woes to improving efficiency, AI can be used in a myriad of ways. Ultimately an operator can view AI as an \u201cextension of a foodservice operator\u2019s team,\u201d said <\/strong>Gordon Food Service\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong> Full Stack Conversation Designer Amber Prause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany uses currently fall under the bucket of analyzing data. For restaurants, that can look like collecting data on customers and having AI analyze behaviour to be able to personalize ads or emails or even menu suggestions based on personal preferences,\u201d Prause said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why analysts say one of the main benefits of using AI in the restaurant industry is that it can help ease the tight hiring market for operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operators Easing Into AI One Step at a Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gordon Food Service Business Solutions Specialist Billy Nichols said the capabilities of AI can seem overwhelming. But using chatbots is a great place to start, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile chatbots aren\u2019t necessarily new, they are getting more advanced and can help with less-personalized jobs, like taking reservations,\u201d Nichols said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s good to keep in mind that it\u2019s called \u201cartificial\u201d intelligence for a reason: AI can\u2019t replace the human aspect of customer service, though ideal for technical tasks, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not meant for interaction with customers. It\u2019s more about how they will work in operations, like how they forecast costs or pull in more intuitive algorithms. It seems really valuable,\u201d Nichols said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way AI is useful is for eliminating on-call shifts by predicting business from weekend to weekend, Nichols said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt can pull weather information, for example, and try to determine the number of guests that will walk through the door on a Friday night. It allows an operator to know how to staff that specific weekend,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operators can add AI into leveraging that data it analyzes to optimize their supply chain operations and ensure they have the right ingredients, products and equipment available when and where they are needed, according to Smartbrief.<\/a> This not only improves efficiency and reduces waste, but also helps businesses better manage their inventory and cash flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prause said AI can also be used in food design to create innovative recipes and dishes that meet specific dietary requirements or preferences, expanding culinary possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Save AI for the Technical Stuff, Leave ‘Hospitality’ to Humans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While AI is transforming efficiencies for operators, it can\u2019t replace the impact a thoughtful server or gifted chef brings to a dining experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHospitality has yet to be perfected by robots,\u201d Nichols said. \u201cHuman experience could be lost in subtle, but impactful ways.\u201d He points out that people dine out for \u201cthe experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a difference between hospitality-driven and product-driven restaurants,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, AI can help create a recipe, but bringing it to that next level cannot be replicated by a machine. For example, a server may recommend a perfect bottle of wine because they have tasted it, going beyond what AI suggests based on data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s something operators must remember as AI progresses, Nichols said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cHow do we keep a spark of humanity with those interactions?\u201d he said. \u201cNo matter what it is, there is an art that is lost when you outsource it to a robot.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Imagine this futuristic scenario: It\u2019s 7 a.m. and a foodservice operator starts their day with real-time data on inventory levels, sales trends and customer feedback on an AI-powered dashboard.  The operator takes that data and adjusts menu offerings and updates specials. Hours later, the system manages incoming reservations. At closing time it spits out a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":32082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,123,81,112,69,111,113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-catering-small-business","category-hotels-hospitality","category-newsroom","category-restaurant-bars","category-running-your-business","category-healthcare","category-university"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nArtificial Intelligence Changing the Way Foodservice Operators' Find Success and Solutions | Gordon Food Service<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how artificial intelligence in foodservice drives operational success. 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