Restaurants all around the world have been struggling with a shortage of staff since the beginning of the pandemic. To address this issue, several startups have introduced automation solutions to reduce the need for a large workforce in the kitchen. One such solution is Botinkit’s Omni robot.
Botinkit, short for “(ro)Bot in Kit(chen)”, has developed the Omni robot, which has a more traditional kitchen appliance design rather than a flashy robotic arm like some other solutions. This robot, which resembles a self-service kiosk with a touchscreen, is designed to be safe for kitchen use and can be operated by a small team of human staff.
The Omni robot is capable of cooking, stir-frying, and stewing, essentially handling anything that can be cooked in a wok with minimal human involvement. According to the Shenzhen-based startup, using the Omni system can cut the human labor requirements in the kitchen by half, making it a valuable asset for restaurants facing staffing shortages.
CEO Shirley Chen, who co-founded Botinkit in 2021 while working as a strategist at KPMG and owning a restaurant, saw the need for a solution like the Omni robot due to her unique perspective on the challenges restaurants face. Investors have taken notice of Botinkit’s potential, as the company recently secured a $21 million Series A funding to expand its international presence.
Although Botinkit’s largest market is in Asia, the startup has successfully expanded into Europe and the U.S. with plans to further grow its global reach using the newly acquired funding. With the rise of automation in the restaurant industry, the Omni robot could very well be the future of commercial kitchens, revolutionizing the way food is prepared and served.
