Built By Me Podcast
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Built By Me Podcast
35% of a Server’s Job Can Be Done by Robots — Here's What That Means | Built By Me Podcast
In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, Taina and Mo sit down with Johnny Alfonso and Adriano Fiore, the innovative minds behind Reliable Robots. This Canadian company is revolutionizing how businesses handle repetitive tasks through automation, allowing staff to focus on what truly matters—human connection and customer experience.
Johnny and Adriano, friends since high school drama class, share their journey of building a robot distribution and implementation company that's changing the service industry. Rather than building robots from scratch, they've taken the innovative approach of bringing existing technology to businesses that need it most, from restaurants to hotels and healthcare facilities.
The conversation explores how their robots—which can carry heavy loads, deliver food, and even clean floors—are designed to enhance human work rather than replace it. As Johnny explains, when 35-40% of a server's day is spent walking back and forth carrying heavy loads, robots can take over these physically demanding tasks, freeing staff to focus on customer interactions and experience.
The duo also discusses the future of automation, comparing the adoption curve of service robots to that of self-service kiosks in fast food restaurants—a technology that went from novelty to ubiquitous in just a few years. With robots that can navigate elevators, call hotel rooms for deliveries, and even express emotions (their cleaning robot "cries" when put in manual mode), Reliable Robots is making automation accessible and practical for businesses of all sizes.
Whether you're a business owner curious about automation, a tech enthusiast interested in practical robotics, or simply wondering how robots and humans will work together in the future, this episode offers fascinating insights into the technology that's already transforming the service industry.
Key Topics Discussed:
How Reliable Robots started and the friendship behind the company (00:04:00)
Why you don't need to be an inventor to be an innovator (00:06:00)
How robots free up 35-40% of staff time for better customer service (00:08:30)
The balance between human touch and automation in hospitality (00:09:30)
Comparison between ChatGPT for office workers and robots for service staff (00:14:00)
The different robot models and their capabilities, including the "crying" cleaning robot (00:16:30)
How robots are trained "like walking a dog" through facilities (00:24:00)
Advanced features like elevator integration and room service delivery (00:26:00)
Addressing the "robots are stealing our jobs" concern (00:22:00)
Guest Information:
Johnny Alfonso and Adriano Fiore, Co-Founders of Reliable Robots
Website: ReliableRobots.ca
Connect with them on LinkedIn and Instagram
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