Contextual Innovation: How restaurants have adapted to prioritise health
Illustrations that underpin the significance of restaurant tech
Although it may have come to seem to many that this pandemic is a never-ending sequence of unfortunate occurrences, there is the forgotten inevitability that one day things will return to ‘normal’. Restaurants are investing thousands of dollars in these financially perilous times in technology that ensures minimal contact and maximum security. It is an imperative expense to ensure that the customer’s most pressing concern—health & hygiene—is adequately pacified. But is it worth it in the long run, when a vaccine is found and administered, and terms like ‘social distancing’ start to fade from our everyday vocabulary?
In our opinion: Yes. It is worth it. The last time an event of this magnitude took place, the established framework of activities was completely altered. And we believe it will happen again. While masks, gloves and protective shields will perhaps be cast aside by the majority, sanitisation, hygienic practices and the emphasis on wellbeing are not concepts that will disappear. They are here to stay.
As we’ve iterated in articles like The Big Picture, innovation is most accelerated when the demand for a specific solution is significantly amplified. In the early 1900s, virulent flus, Influenza, Pneumonia and Tuberculosis were rampant. Inventiveness back then gave birth to the automat—a fast food restaurant where simple foods and drinks are served by vending machines. It required no human contact.
Today, with technology already deeply integrated with the functioning of society itself, unprecedented innovation was inevitable. For an increasingly health-conscious public, and the establishments that want to serve them to the best of their ability, here are some of the most creative solutions we’ve come across:
P.S. Look out for our personal favourite right at the end!
GrubGuard
A technology company founded in 2019 in Wyandanch, New York, that has developed a patent-pending hardware and software solution, which aids in the protection of consumer food deliveries by reducing the risk of contamination and package tampering.
“We are aware that there are blind spots in the current food delivery service model. Simply put, GrubGuard is the champion for restaurants and guardian for consumers. We protect food deliveries with our tamper-proof technology that offers layers of security, allowing consumers to be notified if there is package tampering during the transit of their takeout,” said Shaunta Jones, GrubGuard co-founder.
—Quote via enewschannels.com
Zero Hour Health
A company that helps restaurants manage food safety and health incidents, offers one solution: an app-based wellness check for employees to take before they come to work. If they fail the check, they’re immediately connected with a clinical team for a further assessment.
Not only does the automated check help exclude sick employees before they even get to the restaurant, but it also relieves managers from having to make difficult staffing decisions, said Roslyn Stone, COO of Zero Hour.
“When you put your restaurant manager in the decision-making role of deciding whether or not this employee should be included today, you’re asking them to make a clinical judgement, and it’s very subjective to them,” she said.
More than 50 restaurants representing thousands of locations have used Zero Hour’s app to administer millions of wellness checks. Stone said 1.2% of employees fail the initial check, and about 40% of those are ultimately cleared to work.
—Excerpt via restaurantbusinessonline.com
R-Zero Systems
The R-Zero Arc is a hospital-grade surface and air disinfection thanks to the proven power of UV-C. Creates safer everyday spaces from up to 5,000 ft2 Lightweight, nimble and intuitive design makes it ideal for any business, including coffee shops, restaurants, schools and hotels.
Minnow
Founded in 2017, Minnow is on a mission to create a better food delivery and pickup experience with its contact-free Pickup Pods, which keep food secure and people safe. Pickup Pods can be used anywhere that food is delivered or picked up. It’s touch-less interface, insulated, temperature controlled and timing-configurable cubbies are individually locked and provide a seamless and safe delivery experience.
MARSES Robotic Solutions
Currently implemented in Cairo, Egypt, Mozo by MARSES Robotic Solutions is a contactless delivery robot, which autonomously delivers meals from the kitchen to your guests. Check out the video by NowThis News below.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop
Finally, our personal favourite!
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop will bring the Automat of yesteryear into the 21st century in Manhattan's East Village this December. The QSR will have a Dumpling Lab in the front window with the restaurant's dumpling making machine for all to see. Guests will be able to place an order on their phone or via one of the restaurant's touch-less POS kiosks.
In the soon-to-open shop, the customer will receive a text notification to get their delivery from a marked locker, which will open automatically once the customer scans their barcode. Lockers storing hot food will be red lit indicating it's 100 degrees, chilled lockers will be blue lit and 28 degrees and auburn lit lockers will indicate one's at room temperature. This will provide an experience that is zero human interaction.
—Excerpt via vendingtimes.com
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Please reach out to aman@dashin.in for any feedback or clarifications regarding the content of this article.