Tuesday, 16 April 2024 10:55

AI the key to foodservice?

Written by  Jessica Marshall
Report co-author, US-based RaboResearch senior analyst Thomas Bailey. Report co-author, US-based RaboResearch senior analyst Thomas Bailey.

Could smaller foodservice operators take advantage of the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI)?

A new report from Rabobank suggests exactly that.

In its Foodservice Update for the first quarter of 2024, the bank states AI is becoming more accessible to foodservice operators of all shapes and sizes, with software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers and an increased availability of data are facilitating this shift.

“Data is the essential raw material for AI, but until recently, the foodservice industry lagged behind other sectors in terms of digitalization,” the report reads.

Yet, since 2020, consumers have shifted towards digital channels for both information and transactions.

“Companies that have digitalized their contact with consumers through kiosks and loyalty apps… now possess proprietary data, as do delivery platforms,” it states.

Report co-author, US-based RaboResearch senior analyst Thomas Bailey says current AI applications in foodservice are primarily focused on increasing efficiency, reducing staff workload, optimising marketing strategies, and improving customer experience

“Customer interactions are also being transformed through AI, with highly performing chatbots and telephone assistance software improving the customer experience and operational efficiency,” Bailey says.

“AI software can be used to improve text and images, personalise customer interaction, understand brand perception, and implement more focused pricing strategies,” he says.

However, Bailey is quick to point out that AI is a “work in progress” and “far from perfect”.

“The adoption of AI also carries potential risks, including customer alienation and technology-related issues,” he says.

The report points out that it is a necessity to define the purpose of incorporating AI and its subsequent actions.

More like this

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

B+LNZ launches AI assistant for farmers

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.

Featured

'One more push' to eliminate FE

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

National

Machinery & Products

New McHale terra drive axle option

Well-known for its Fusion baler wrapper combination, Irish manufacturer McHale has launched an interesting option at the recent Irish Ploughing…

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Tough times

OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.

MSA triumph

OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter