How technology is changing the way we eat and drink

Written for ETHospitalityWorld by The Economic Times

The buzzword for 2023 is #ai (artificial intelligence) as we continue to see a major impact on F&B (food and beverage) infused by technology from self-service kiosks serving ready to eat pasta to pizzas, molecular gastronomy and virtual reality dining experiences, technology is and will change the way we eat and drink.

Self Service Kiosks

Quick service restaurant (#QSR ) chains to hotels are adopting self-service kiosks as another way to eat and drink which allows customers to order, pay, and even pick their orders without having to interact with another human being, self-service kiosks are becoming increasing popular at quick service restaurants.

Virtual Reality (VR) Dining Experiences

VR is allowing customers to dine in a world of their imagination from the amazon tropical forest to the caves in Cappadocia, Turkey. Though this technology is still in early stages it has the potential to dramatically alter the way we eat and drink.

Molecular Gastronomy

Molecular gastronomy is becoming popular with restaurants specialising with this style of cuisine. This is also aiding the food industry in training chefs and developing new products such as nitrogen ice cream, this is made by freezing ice cream with liquid nitrogen, this ice cream is then served immediately which has a unique texture and flavour which is not possible in traditional ice creams, in my view this style is going to grow in the coming years.

Online Food Delivery?

The rise of Swiggy and Zomato has made food delivery more accessible than ever before connecting consumers with a wide range of restaurants and allowing them to order at the comfort of their homes, this is significantly changing the way people eat.

Wearable Devices & Food Tracking Apps

As India becomes one of the largest wearable device markets globally, wearables will change the way we eat and drink as it monitors our physical activity, heart rate and other health metrics, making us choose a healthier choice about what we eat and drink such as drinking more water.

Another example of wearables is being adopted by the hospitality industry by food tracking apps to enhance the dining experience by providing guests personalised food recommendations to create an interactive dining experience, depending on the global geography and GDPR restrictions. These apps scan barcodes, collect data about our food preferences, dietary restrictions and could create a personalised food recommendation.

Food Tech Startups

The Indian Government initiatives like #startupindia , Make In India and Digital India Programme have created a favourable regulatory environment which has resulted in the growth of various technology start-ups that are transforming the way we eat as innovations such as plant-based meat substitutes and vertical farming to address sustainability and improve food safety through AI.

Overall technology is reshaping the food and beverage industry while online food delivery brings our favourite restaurant to our doorstep, food tracking apps empower us to make informed nutritional choices. VR is creating an immersive and memorable experience. Together technology is making it more accessible, convenient, and efficient.

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