Serving robots are a hit in Kenya

The capital Nairobi is home to a vibrant tech industry with many startups and innovations. The city has also positioned itself as a tech hub in East Africa, earning it the nickname the Silicone Savannah.

At Robot Cafe, the first cafe with robot waiters in East Africa, three robots join human waiters in delivering food to diners.

Robots work at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: AP

Owner Mohammed Abbas said he had experienced robot services in Asian and European countries, and decided to invest in them.

He said importing robots was expensive, but the investment paid off, as the restaurant was regularly packed with curious customers coming to experience the robot service.

Robot Claire serves customers at Robot Cafe. Photo: AP

A customer named Packson Chege held a plate of fries from the robot's tray while his friend filmed the scene from across the table.

"This restaurant is very unique in our country Kenya. I have never seen a restaurant like this so I think it is a good idea of the restaurant owner," he said.

The three robots, named Claire, R24 and Nadia, aren't programmed to have full conversations with customers, but they can say "Your food is ready" or "Welcome." The robots also require diners to press a button after picking up food from a tray.

Waiters still play a key role in the restaurant’s operations, taking orders from customers who don’t order online. They then place food on a robot tray when it’s ready.

This technology is predicted to change the future workforce globally, especially in Africa, which has a young population with an average age of 19.

But manager John Kariuki said robots cannot replace waiters because they are not capable of providing all services.

“Robots cannot do all the services in a restaurant without human intervention. In fact, we cannot afford robots because they are too expensive. So if you are still trying to save money, it is not effective if you choose to use robots,” Kariuki explained.

There is still room for robot and human service to coexist in the industry, says hospitality industry expert Edith Ojwang.

“The hospitality industry is very diverse. We have customers who prefer robotic and fully automated service, while we also have customers who prefer to be served by humans, so it’s not necessarily a threat to human labor because of the diverse nature of the hospitality customer base,” she said.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/robot-phuc-vu-gay-sot-o-kenya-post310232.html