TikTok Can't Stop Talking About This Chick-Fil-A Claw
Restaurants have found some ingenious ways to incorporate technology into their businesses over the years. Per Business Tech, some eateries have started providing diners with tablets to order from rather than menus, while other businesses have found unique ways to send food to diners' tables via automated rail systems.
While Chick-fil-A might not have a robotic delivery system attached to every table and booth, one particular location features an impressive contraption that has caught the attention of one TikToker. The platform user, @edgarspam, noticed a rail-based food delivery system at his local Chick-fil-A and documented the device for everyone on social media to see. In the video, an employee attaches a bag of food to a claw-like contraption that is a part of a very long automatic rail. Once secured, the claw takes the bag offscreen through the restaurant's ceiling. The post provoked a discussion among users who reacted with wonder and awe over the claw. However, not all users were amazed, as one posted with an eye roll emoji "Let's act like McD's hasn't been doing this since the '90s."
TikTok users have a lot to say about the Chick-fil-A claw
It may be only a matter of time before all fast-food locations decide to install similar automated claws to increase efficiency. In the meantime, we can't stop watching this technological marvel found at Chick-fil-A.
The TikTok video has so far garnered more than 450,000 likes and has attracted a ton of attention. Fellow users chimed in with replies like "but wait I want to see the whole journey," "They're sending it to Jesus," and "Robo-fila, never thought I'd see the day." Other gems include "they say to this day over 250 nuggets have never returned from this journey," and "Imagine when it drops hot soup."
Others appreciate the technological innovation, and one user stated matter of factly that "Food drive thrus are turning into bank drive thrus. Future is near." As robots begin to take over fast food and technological advances keep wowing us, we have to speculate that maybe the future is already here.
Other restaurants that use futuristic technology
While Chick-fil-A has started using futuristic technology at one location, other restaurants have fully embraced new technological trends. Some trendy East Asian eateries already have robot waiters that deliver food cooked and served up by other robots, in addition to using a similar rail delivery system as the one seen at Chick-fil-A. Fast-food chains closer to home have also embraced a similar dive into the future.
According to Yahoo! Finance, Domino's has invested in Nuro's R2 robots, an autonomous self-driving car approved for road use by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Diners across Houston who ordered from the pizzeria may have already even gotten food delivered by these robots, and Chipotle has also expressed interest in using the same kind of delivery fleet.
Not to be outdone, a Taco Bell in New York City found a way to replace its front-of-house staff with touchscreens. The location still features human workers, but diners shouldn't expect to interact with them too much, as they work in the back whipping up orders. Chick-fil-A didn't stop at claw delivery rails either. Some of their Santa Monica locations also employ four-wheeled, self-driving rollers thanks to a partnership with robotics company Kiwibot. These marvels of the fast-food future can impress any diner, but some may wonder why this industry needs rail claws or self-driving delivery vehicles in the first place.
Why restaurants are embracing new technology
Fast-food chains and fast-casual eateries have embraced new technological innovations for a number of reasons. According to Worldlink Integration Group, certain businesses, such as McDonald's and Wendy's, have installed automated kiosks to help diners order faster and to increase overall efficiency. Other developments, including improved mobile app delivery systems and digital menu boards, accomplish the same goal: getting more diners in and out of the restaurant with food in hand.
The pandemic also forced many businesses to embrace high-tech gadgets in order to stay afloat. Restaurant Business reports that due to social distancing guidelines, contactless ordering systems became the first order of business. Restaurants installed new kitchen printers to communicate quickly with drive-thru windows, while other businesses found ways to optimize mobile apps, home delivery services, and other contactless food preparation methods. The pandemic helped encourage fully automated restaurants and even innovations like automatic pizza-making machines.
According to Videotron, new technologies also helped solve secondary issues caused by the pandemic. Automated machines helped fill the labor gap as more and more employees resigned from their jobs. In turn, more robotics firms have provided machines that can help restaurants run their businesses with fewer staff members. Big names like McDonald's and Tim Hortons have led this charge into the future. But smaller, independent restaurants have also taken notice. And eateries across the culinary landscape have found ways to use innovations, like Chick-fil-A's claw. Only time can tell what the future has in store for diners, but fans can probably expect more robots, automations, and fun ways to have their chicken delivered straight to their hands.