Ms. Maier, what kitchen technology is currently needed in commercial kitchens and what provides relief and support in daily work, especially now?
What is needed now are modular and mobile solutions that react flexibly to new and changing requirements on a daily basis and can be combined quickly and used anywhere. At the same time, they should be energy-saving and demand-oriented and require neither heavy current nor structural measures (such as fixed water connections or exhaust air, etc.) for use. Furthermore, with regard to the aspect of sustainability, reusable systems with simple traceability are not only forward-looking solutions, but also serve to avoid disposables.
What kitchen technology trends and developments in the catering industry can you identify and observe?
The main drivers in the industry are currently sustainability, automation, and digitalization. These are devices that ensure greater efficiency of products and applications in terms of energy and time savings, greater transparency and organization of processes, higher quality and less bureaucracy and documentation in the production process. Using standards, such as the GN containers commonly used in the industry, the food supply in reusable small and large containers can be automatically guaranteed digitally via appropriate hardware and software solutions.
What role does digitization play in kitchen technology? Where can digitization provide support, and do digital technologies really help to cushion the effects of the shortage of skilled workers?
Digital technology provides support above all in ensuring consistent food quality. It is also a positive factor in operator safety and supports in service and after-sales issues. Intelligent and digital solutions enable processes to be handled completely contactless, independent of location and time, even without trained specialist personnel, as digital solutions intuitively guide operators correctly. Especially for topics such as analog HACCP documentation, digitalization can save immense amounts of time, paper, and folders.
