Automation the ‘only answer’ to labor shortage problem, CEO says
Restaurants use self-order kiosks to get the job done amid worker shortage
As Covid-19 variants continue to devastate restaurants across the country, GRUBBRR wants to help by giving away free employees in the form of kiosks. The 2021 November JOLTS report revealed that a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November, one million of those in the restaurant and hotel industries.
Recently, GRUBBRR CEO Sam Zietz was featured on Fox Business Morning with Maria to discuss how restaurants are working to stay open amid employees quitting at record levels. “These workers aren’t going to be coming back,” says Zietz, “the only answer [for restaurants] is automation.”
To combat this labor shortage, GRUBBRR is committed to providing free employees in the form of the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR to all qualified restaurant operators looking to keep their doors open. By providing this free kiosk employee, GRUBBRR is enabling restaurants to deploy a dynamic labor solution that is more efficient than traditional employees and is proven to decrease operating costs, increase revenue, and improve the customer experience.
“What GRUBBRR and Samsung have done is we have created a solution that disrupts this [industry] and makes it accessible,” says Zietz. These kiosks help increase revenue by increasing average ticket size and reduce overall operational costs (one kiosk costs $2500 + $200/month for software vs. employees that cost, on average $6000/month).
These kiosks have also made major impacts within the employment space, as the great resignation continues, and restaurants struggle to find employees. “The advantage to a kiosk is first that it solves the labor problem. Right now, at least in our local area and I see it even worse outside of it, restaurants are closed. Our employees are calling up their favorite restaurants and they’re closed just because there’s no workers.”
Kiosks have two main advantages for understaffed restaurants: they ensure restaurants are able to take orders and open their doors, and they’re cheaper than hiring cashiers as wages rise in the industry. GRUBBRR is working to implement its self-order kiosks at nationwide chains such as Del Taco, Bento and The Chicken Shack.
“The biggest thing that we’re solving is we’re allowing restaurant owners to stay open. After that, we are saving them on op ex by saving on labor,” Zietz explains. “The hidden benefit that they are seeing that is even more material is we are increasing revenue because people buy significantly more from the kiosk than they do at the cashier.”
“You wind up spending a great deal more money, I’ve witnessed that myself” agreed correspondent Dagen McDowell. Through high resolution images and algorithmically calculated upsells, consumers are more likely to order more at kiosks than at a cashier. Self-ordering kiosks minimize human contact, eliminate ordering errors, and allow businesses to implement integrations, such as loyalty programs and discount codes that reward consumers. In addition, deploying kiosks allows operators to shift staff resources to improve other functions of the restaurant.
By providing restaurants with this kiosk employee, GRUBBRR is ensuring that restaurant operators can not only survive, but thrive amid the labor shortage. To qualify for the promotion, operators must have 10 or more open locations within the quick service, fast casual, or retail industries. Those that qualify will receive the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR, which includes hardware and software, for a complimentary 60-day no obligation trial. To apply for a kiosk or to learn more, visit http://www.grubbrr.com/free.
