Trend Based on Future Implications of Robotics: Global Trends Within Hospitality Industry Assessment 1 Answer

GLOBAL INNOVATIONS AND TRENDS 

(Chosen trend- Robotics)

Introduction

In the modern era of digitalization of business, it is an obvious fact that technology has brought a revolution in tourism. At present, incorporation of robotics is the global trend in the tourism and hospitality industry. It has been observed that this trend is growing to support customers' interests as well as making connections between different business functions in the travel and tourism industry in a profound manner. The key driving factors to utilize robotics in tourism and hospitality sectors are based on developing speed of service and maintaining authenticity. Lack of effective medium of communication and luxurious customer service methods are hampering business processes of international and global travel agencies. In order to mitigate such issues, most of the tourism and hospitality organizations have focused on adopting robotics.

This essay revolves around the fact that the development of robotics has come forward to help the travel companies as well as their customers in terms of developing service efficiency. Thus, it tries to prove that in future the incorporation of robotics may be effective to make global businesses of tourism and hospitality stronger and more stable. This essay has involved criticism of the trend based on future implications of robotics in three specific fields of tourism and hospitality sector.

History of the trend 

During 1948, Norbert Wiener discovered the principles of cybernetics which has become the base of robotics. Fully autonomous robots were developed in the second half of the 20th century through extensive laboratory research. As mentioned by Spaeth (2018), the development of robots and its successful implementation was not easy as it was too delicate to involve successfully in business. During 420 BC, a wooden pigeon was developed by Archytas of Tarentum. Later in 1495, humanoid robots were designed by Leonardo da Vinci. After that in 1898, Nikola Tesla developed the first radio-controlled vessel. As described by Daim et al., (2018), development and successful utilization of robotics were not easy as the primitive era of technological development did not have the plenty of scopes to use modern technology in different fields. At the end of 1930, Westinghouse Electric Corporation invented the first humanoid robot named Elektro. Thereafter, in 1956, the commercial robot was developed by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger. The period from 1967-1972 was a golden period when Waseda University invented robots which were securely controlled by the android system. As per the report of humanoid Robotics Institute (2020), the limbs of WABOT 1 were properly developed for making it able to walk as well as it was able to grip objects with hands. Not only this, but tactile sensors were also introduced, so that this robot was able to measure distances and directions with the help of external receptors, artificial eyes and ears. 

Apart from this, the history of the invention of robots is so prominent that throughout the time being a number of scientists has worked to develop its features and usability as well. In 1973, the KUKA robot group discovered an advanced type of industrial robot which had six axes and they were controlled by electromechanical power and named as Famulus. After one year in 1974, ABB robot group developed IRB 6 which was operated by a microcomputer system. Then in mid of 1975, Victor David Scheinman developed PUMA (Programmable Universal Manipulation Arm). As explained by Boesl & Liepert (2016), It was the first Unimation product in the field of robotics. Thereafter 3 years of the time gap, during 1978, Ann Patricia Fothergill and Robin John Popplestone invented a programming language which is adjustable to operate robots with five objectives. These robots were effective to differentiate between varieties of functions as well as identifying the differences between objects’ positions, shape as well as activities of sensors. Finally, in the year of 1983, Stevo Bozinovski and Mihail Sestakov discovered a multitasking language system for controlling functions of robots. The language was Event Driven Language which became helpful for both inter-process communication as well as maintenance of robots' functions at a constant level.

Predictions for future impacts of the trend in hospitality

Based on the growth of robotics in the tourism and hospitality industry, it can be mentioned that in some days it may occupy a large portion of the tourism and hospitality service system globally. The following part of the discussion has involved three key areas for using robotics in tourism and hospitality as well as predictions based on its future implications.

The first area for using robotics

Involvement of robots as hotel staffs is one of the key areas for using robotics. For evidence, Henn-na Hotel in Japan has introduced robotics in each of their business activities such as obtaining customers on the front desk and analysis of customers’ authenticity through AI (Revfine, 2020). 

Thus, it can be predicted that in the near future the hospitality and tourism industry may use robotics to interact with customers on-boarding. Frequent mode of customers' interactions will be effective to broaden the scope for flourishing business in an advanced way. As opined by Kurfess (2018), at present, robotics has become a necessary tool in the tourism and hospitality industry that is helping the authority enhance customers' experience level. The future growth of this industry is prominently based on robotics.

The second area of using robotics

Another aspect of using robotics in the tourism and hospitality industry is based on the use of chatbots. At present, it is widely used for making internal communication within the hospitality industry and providing facilities to travellers in terms of booking of hotels or tickets.

It can be predicted that using chatbots will be effective for this industry to adjust to the flow of revolution. It has been highlighted by McGloin (2020) that in some years chatbots can be helpful to be a constant guide for travellers for helping them to solve their queries related to the service system of the tourism and hospitality sector. Moreover, it can be advantageous to enhance the brand presence of tourism and hospitality companies in targeted market ranges. 

The third area of using robotics

Another field of using robotics in the tourism and hospitality industry is based on assisting guests and international travellers in airports as well as maintaining their security. For example, it can be mentioned that Knightscope Robots are now widely used in some airports for detecting the presence of weapons and different non-permissible items while travelling on flights (Revfine, 2020).

Hence, it can be predicted that in the coming future, robotics will be constant support of travellers. It will be helpful for developing the business process of the tourism and hospitality industry to develop the mode of service along with gaining customers’ trusts. Besides, it will be beneficial in terms of maintaining user and service process security in a genuine manner. 

Criticism and concerns for the trend 

In the area of hospitality and tourism, use of Robotics technology has become a trend. However, robotics technology is gaining popularity due to its immense advantages in the area of hospitality and tourism industry. On the other hand, there are few drawbacks that also exist in the adaptation of robotics technology.  Below a criticism of the Robotics technology is presented:

Criticism 1

On the other side, as per the view of McClure, (2018), because of the robotics technology, the unemployment rate in the hospitality industry is continuously increasing.  It is obvious that Robots are the 'assets' for hospitality organizations in order to achieve long term benefits by improving productivity. However, uses of robotics technology have become a prominent issue for the employees of the hospitality industry that is why this criticism is valid. Along with that, employees may become overly dependent on technology because of the robots. Therefore, there is a possibility of the reduction of skilful employees in the hospitality industry. Apart from this, the wrong application of robots may destroy the business of hospitality organizations.

Criticism 2

It has been observed also as the maintenance cost of the robots are immensely high. Along with that with the improvement of technology, the maintenance costs are increasing as well as it is needed to update the software systems of the robot’s daily basis. Therefore, the profit margin of the organizations is reducing which is another drawback of this technology and shows the validity of the criticism. Most of the data and information are stored in the robots by the hospitality organization. Therefore, it is a high chance to lose all the important data at once because of any technical glitch in robots.

Concern 3

One of the major reasons for the trend of using Robotics technology is to eliminate human error. Robots can peak the hospitality works with the utmost efficiency with any exhaustion. Therefore, it is highly possible to eliminate the errors which are raised due to a tight work schedule in the case of the human workforce. As mentioned by Yang et al., (2020), Robotics technology has improved the productivity of the hospitality organization and at the same time by eliminating separate departments of the hospitality organization, it has reduced the wages of the industry. Through the proper uses of Robotics, technology organizations can achieve high profitability which is not possible with the only human workforce.

The concern is valid because digitization has impacted highly on the hospitality and tourism industry. That is why the use of robotics technology has increased from before. As stated by Kuo et al., (2017), Robotics technology has saved time, cost, wages and others, therefore, hospitality organizations need to adopt robotics in order to increase their profitability and gain a competitive advantage as well.

Conclusion

The entire discussion is based on the latest trend of the hospitality and tourism industry which uses Robotics technology. It has been observed that from the past century, Robotics technology is developed in the area of technology. Although in recent business practice of the hospitality industry, the use of robots in the business operation has increased. There are a number of benefits of using robots to improve productivity, to avoid human errors, to fasten up the workforce and others. However, besides the advantages, Robotics technology has produced a number of issues also. The unemployment rate has increased due to the adaptation of technology and due to the high maintenance cost, the profit margin has reduced. However, still, the robotics trend has impacted global hospitality and tourism in many ways. The report has evaluated this trend properly in order to assess its viability and application value in the professional work environment.