Renrenxiang Simplifies Food Ordering by Replacing Waiters with Phones
Laura McQuarrie — January 8, 2016 — Tech
References: kmov
The concept of waiterless restaurants is far from new, but Renrenxiang is an eatery in China that approaches food ordering from a unique perspective—rather than having robotic staff, it simply has diners employ their phones to order food. In order to keep the ordering process as simple as possible, diner's aren't required to download any new apps, provided that they are already using We Chat, China's most-used messaging app.
Through We Chat, patrons at Renrenxiang are able to preview the menu and place an order. From there, diners are given a number that will be called out on restaurant speakers. Renrenxiang's founder Liu Zheng notes that: "There will be four ‘no’s’ in the restaurant - that is, no waitress, no cashier, no merchandiser and no chef," which all factor into cutting overhead costs and satisfying the consumer desire to make processes easier with technology.
Through We Chat, patrons at Renrenxiang are able to preview the menu and place an order. From there, diners are given a number that will be called out on restaurant speakers. Renrenxiang's founder Liu Zheng notes that: "There will be four ‘no’s’ in the restaurant - that is, no waitress, no cashier, no merchandiser and no chef," which all factor into cutting overhead costs and satisfying the consumer desire to make processes easier with technology.
Trend Themes
1. Waiterless Restaurants - Restaurants are exploring ways to eliminate waiters and streamline their ordering process, offering room for innovation in the automation and optimization of processes.
2. Mobile-based Ordering - The use of mobile applications and messaging platforms to order food has emerged as a trend in the food and beverage industry, providing opportunities for businesses to leverage technology and boost efficiency.
3. Simplified Customer Experience - The trend of simplifying food ordering experiences through technology, including eliminating staff and creating more seamless order processes, could improve customer satisfaction and retention.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry can use technology to automate and streamline the ordering process, reduce costs, and enhance customer experiences.
2. Hospitality - Waiterless restaurants and mobile-based ordering can enhance the hospitality industry’s performances by increasing process efficiency, service speed, and improving guest experiences through technological advancements.
3. Technology - The integration of technology in the food and beverage and hospitality sectors offers opportunities for technological advancements and innovation in automation, software, and hardware to improve ordering, customer service, and satisfaction.
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