No industry is immune to the advances of artificial intelligence, even as we witness the applications of AI in the food tech industry. Restaurants and hotels receive hundreds or thousands of orders every day. AI simplifies their work and helps them scale up their efforts. From customer service to food delivery, AI is transforming the food industry. In this blog post, you will see the applications of data analytics in food and beverage industry, and also about food and beverage innovation.
Here are ten trends in the food and beverage industry as AI works its way into the vibrant sector.
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Automated Phone Answering
You already know about chatbots. They run on AI and can answer simple user queries. Automated phone answering works the same way and helps restaurants cut costs. Customers want immediate responses to their phone calls. If the response takes a long time, they will go to a competitor. AI helps restaurants answer customers promptly. In addition, AI phone answering technology allows them to make reservations, add customers to waitlists and answer commonly answered questions without a sales representative. Thus, you can see the applications of data analytics in the food and beverage industry. Also, food and beverage innovation is possible because of the automation of routine tasks.
3D Printed Vegetable Meats
Veganism is a growing movement worldwide as people want to prevent slaughtering animals for food. Yet it is hard to convince people who are addicted to the taste of steak and pork. But with the arrival of plant-based meats and cattle milk alternatives, vegans seem to be winning the day. Some companies are working with top chefs worldwide to create 3D-printed vegetable-based meats that give the same experience as eating real meat.
These companies try to approximate animal meats based on four factors: appearance, texture, taste, and nutritional makeup. People eating these plant-based meats will have a hard time telling the difference between real meat and 3D printed vegetable meats. So, watch out for 3D-printed vegetable meats, even as you try to adapt to the trends in food and beverage industry.
Automated Kitchen
AI-powered robots have also entered the kitchen. They help in reducing the workload and making the tasks easier for chefs. They can do many things like cutting vegetables and also cooking them. The robots work according to the chef’s directions and help to carry out his plan.
Ghost Kitchens
They became popular during the pandemic when health officials emphasized social distancing. The goal is to facilitate contactless food services. There are no waiters, no dining rooms, no food delivery, or even public space. Brands offering these services operate online and partner with food delivery services to serve their customers. AI helps people contact these brands through their app and provides personalized suggestions.
Self-serving Technology
Self-serving technology has grown popular today as customers can choose the experience they want. They give customers more options to control and customize their food and dining experiences. People can order from kiosks, or even from tablets and smartphones. The self-serving systems give customers detailed information about the ingredients used and even allow them to add flavors based on their preferences.
AI in Developing New Recipes
Traditionally companies had to do surveys and tests to find customer preferences. But AI helps them collect large amounts of customer data today. By studying the data, manufacturers can spot trends and develop new products. They can predict which flavor combinations people prefer today. So, with AI, they can make food faster and reduce their spending.
AI in Staffing and Scheduling
Restaurants and food outlets are busy places full of people going in and out. It will be hard for managers to determine the staff needed to meet the demand. But AI-powered software allows them to spot ongoing food trends and patterns and make recommendations for staffing. With AI, managers can now plan and employ staff according to the traffic received.
AI in Food Sorting
Vegetables differ in size, color, taste, and nutrient composition. Even if you compare two potatoes or carrots, there are differences. Some types of potatoes are suitable for potato chips. Others are more suitable for french fries. People have to manually sort out each vegetable. It consumes time and requires much manpower. AI helps you to save money and speed up your processes. Cameras and lasers help identify the color, shape, texture of every food item. In this way, AI helps in sorting out food products.
AI in Hygiene
Customers today care much about hygiene and food safety. Public regulators have guidelines and rules that every restaurant and food manufacturer must follow. But many times restaurants don’t abide by the rules. But AI helps in evaluating the standard of quality in food processing. Facial recognition technology allows you to see whether they wear hats and masks.
AI for Farmers
AI helps farmers improve their crop yields by giving recommendations. They can find out the ideal conditions for their crops. Drones and monitoring systems enable them to track the temperature, salinity, and other factors to know which crops to plant. Moreover, AI can detect and warn farmers about pests, diseases, and rodents that damage crops.
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