Your dream has come true, HR professionals. Your next “employee” may take no leave or vacation, need no benefits or discipline, do a perfect job every time—and make a perfect cup of coffee, too.
Yes, new on-site “coffee kiosks” are manned, pardon the term, by robot baristas, reports NPR. Hot and cold beverages are ordered via a swipe screen—or by mobile device interface.
Personal preferences to each drink are welcomed because the robot clerk can alter water temperature, strength, add-ins, and other variables—and the kiosks remember them for your next order via passwords.
And the kiosks would be a boon to productivity. Employees get a text message when their beverage is ready, so waiting around is eliminated.
So far, Briggo, the manufacturer of the kiosks, is testing them around the country on college campuses. Also in the works, according to media reports, is a partnership between Seattle’s Best and Redbox.
Source: www.gizmag.com
It’ll be interesting to see how employees react to these machines. I could see some being upset to lose their de facto “coffee-making” break.
What about the recently much touted advantages to information sharing around the water cooler or coffee maker? Hevn’t we been hearing that even companies such as Google are calling in their employees from their home offices so that they reintegrate with others and develop company culture?
How awful, not to have anybody to talk to at tea break (or coffee break or lunch-time or at the end of the day or at the start of the day). What an insane idea. I go out in order to interact with the waiters and other staff. Lunch-breaks and tea-breaks are ther in order to interect with people, or go for a walk (with people), or work out (with people), and eat (with people). I won’t even go to a fast-food cafetaria that does not offer sit-down hospitality and service. Sorry, but the high-caffeine drink in a paper cup and a high-fat or high-carb, low-taste fast snack, just does not cut it for my repast at any time of day. Then take away the person who serves me, and I would rather just save the mony and make my own nutritous snack (and drink).