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Percy cashier Kara spoke with Planet Money host Amanda Aronchik while telecommuting to Toronto from Nicaragua.
AMANDA ALONZIK/NPR
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AMANDA ALONZIK/NPR
Percy cashier Kara spoke with Planet Money host Amanda Aronchik while telecommuting to Toronto from Nicaragua.
AMANDA ALONZIK/NPR
Earlier this year, the fast-food chain Freshii was criticized for using a virtual cashier to check out customers in Toronto. Instead of a friendly person behind the counter asking customers if everything was to their liking, a face from another country thousands of miles away appeared on the screen, asking them the same question. This made many people feel uncomfortable.
Part of this is because customers are unfamiliar with new technology, but part of it is because people have real concerns about outsourcing jobs that many people believe can only be done in person. Will these virtual employees undermine home working? Are the people on the screen paid fairly? Why aren’t Canadian cashiers being offered higher wages?
However, for the restaurant industry, new attempts such as virtual cashiers are indeed tempting. Restaurants have been hit hard during the epidemic, especially in places with strict lockdowns. People avoid going to restaurants. Business has dried up. In addition, many employers find it difficult to hire and retain employees.
On today’s show, we’ll take a look at some of the strategies restaurants are trying to reduce labor costs. We’ll visit robot baristas, pizza ATMs, and cashiers working remotely from thousands of miles away.
music: “Noisy Fashion“”Aristopus“”What we want,” and”Stylish stroll“”.
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