2020 was the most challenging and daunting year globally. The pandemic hit hard and challenged our ways of life in every aspect. The fast-paced world came to an absolute pause for a long time. The travel and food industries suffered a major blow during the pandemic. Some food sectors permanently shut down due to prolonged lockdown and revenue issues. The bright side of all this was the food owners and businesses that did not give up and shone in the bright light of technology. Today, we will talk about some trending technologies that assisted food companies and restaurants to feed the public, even the closed doors.
- NEW EMERGING RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the owners to rethink their business model and services. To sustain the business, one had to find novel ways and adapt to the technological changes. Some major changes in the food sector during and post-COVID has made things simpler and easier for the customers and business owners.
- SAFETY COMES FIRST
Health and safety issues were a major concern throughout the pandemic. With the virus still co-evolving with humans, the restaurant staff takes extra precautions during the food preparation, serving, and cleanliness. Most food dining places have implemented the use of antimicrobial screens and devices to protect their place. COVID-19 outbreak was believed to be transferred from animal meat to humans. Therefore, clean technologies are used to ensure meat safety that is healthy for consumption. Thermal screening is mandatory for the staff and customers in most restaurants.
- THE SURGING ONLINE FOOD DELIVERIES
The online food delivery system boomed during the pandemic. Since online food delivery is convenient and easy, people still prefer it, post-pandemic. The restaurants that provide online deliveries will flourish due to the public ratings and reviews seen on the app. The online food delivery system will remain a staple for years to come. People, who are anxious to eat in crowded places after the COVID-19 outbreak, will be extra cautious and prefer ordering food via online delivery services.
- NOVEL DELIVERY SYSTEMS
Apart from people delivering food packages at your doorstep, technology is aimed at faster, convenient, and safe practices. In some countries, drones and robots are used to deliver food, medicines, and other essential supplies quickly. Technological companies are evolving rapidly and it is only a matter of time before restaurants pick up the autonomous vehicles technology for food deliveries.
- CONTACT-LESS DINING AND PAYMENTS
The most crucial aspect of the COVID-19 outbreak was social distancing. Post-pandemic, the restaurants also decided to practice the no human contact rule as much as possible. Today, most food dining places have scan-menu instead of manual ones (the dirtiest thing in a restaurant). Contact-less would also mean digital cash payments via various payment gateways for the customers. They also practice contact-less food package deliveries.
- TRENDING CLOUD KITCHEN
With the pandemic restricting dining services, cloud kitchen technology surged. The concept is perfect for takeaways and online deliveries only. With the restaurants registered under online services, they can cook and sell healthy meals without the fear of the crowd and human contact. If the owner or customer is still cautious of COVID-19 and crowded places, the cloud kitchen concept is the best option and a win-win situation for both.
- SAFETY APPLICATIONS
To track the pandemic episode, many researchers, entrepreneurs, and students started working on technology apps to track the safety practices and sanitization in various places of restaurants. Some apps could also notify you regarding the people around you who could be infected, but only with accurate data feeding. There are numerous apps available on Play Store and App Store.
If you are a culinary art student, studying in the best Culinary Institutes or Hotel Management Institutes in India, it is crucial to keep yourself updated about the technical knowledge concerning the food sector. The restaurants are moving towards a new cautious, technological world that caters to the health, safety, and hunger needs of the public.
References:
- https://www.restolabs.com/blog/what-will-restaurant-technology-look-post-covid-19
- https://www.nutanix.com/theforecastbynutanix/industry/new-restaurant-technology-trends-during-covid-and-beyond
- https://hellonimbly.com/4-ways-on-how-technology-is-used-in-restaurants-post-covid/
- https://hospitalitytech.com/restaurant-technology-post-covid-19-world
