Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing automation to determine if robots can make customers’ burrito bowls and salads. This marks the second time the chain has publicly announced testing automation at its innovation center. The first experiment, known as Chippy, involved a robot that makes tortilla chips. Although automation is seen as a way to reduce labor costs and improve order consistency and speed, the high cost of robotics and artificial intelligence software means it will likely take years before it provides a return on investment for restaurants.
Nonetheless, many restaurant operators have high hopes for automation’s future. Chipotle’s current test is a partnership with startup Hyphen, in which the robot will make burrito bowls and salads for digital orders only. The technology moves the bowls underneath the digital make line to dispense the correct ingredients, allowing employees to simultaneously assemble digital orders for other items. Once the robot completes an order, it returns the bowl or salad to the surface for packaging by employees.