Adoption of semiautonomous food delivery robots: Employee experiences and workplace adaptation

IF 9.9 1区管理学 Q1 HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM

International Journal of Hospitality Management Pub Date : 2025-05-13 DOI:10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104274

Somang Min , Jennifer E. Martinez , Betsy Bender Stringam

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The integration of robotics in the hospitality industry is growing. Yet little attention has been given to the changes robots bring to employees' experiences and work environments. Clear guidance on best practices for implementation is also lacking. This study used semi-structured interviews with foodservice workers to assess the integration of semiautonomous food delivery robots. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study examined key adoption factors. Additional factors such as job fulfillment, autonomy, and communication emerged as critical influences on employee adaptation and acceptance of the robots. These factors complement the UTAUT2 factors, such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence by highlighting unique workplace dynamics in the hospitality sector. Our findings introduce a new model: the UTAUT model for Robotics in the Service Industry (UTAUT-RS), offering a more tailored framework for understanding employee acceptance of robotics in hospitality and service contexts.

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采用半自动送餐机器人：员工体验和工作场所适应

机器人技术在酒店业的应用越来越广泛。然而，很少有人关注机器人给员工体验和工作环境带来的变化。也缺乏关于最佳实施做法的明确指导。本研究采用对餐饮服务人员的半结构化访谈来评估半自动送餐机器人的集成。根据技术接受和使用统一理论（UTAUT），该研究审查了关键的采用因素。其他因素，如工作成就感、自主性和沟通，成为影响员工适应和接受机器人的关键因素。这些因素通过突出酒店业独特的工作场所动态来补充UTAUT2因素，如绩效预期、努力预期和社会影响。我们的研究结果引入了一个新的模型：服务行业机器人技术的UTAUT模型（UTAUT- rs），为了解员工在酒店和服务环境中接受机器人技术提供了一个更定制的框架。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Hospitality Management HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM-

CiteScore

21.20

自引率

9.40%

发文量

218

审稿时长

85 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Hospitality Management serves as a platform for discussing significant trends and advancements in various disciplines related to the hospitality industry. The publication covers a wide range of topics, including human resources management, consumer behavior and marketing, business forecasting and applied economics, operational management, strategic management, financial management, planning and design, information technology and e-commerce, training and development, technological developments, and national and international legislation. In addition to covering these topics, the journal features research papers, state-of-the-art reviews, and analyses of business practices within the hospitality industry. It aims to provide readers with valuable insights and knowledge in order to advance research and improve practices in the field. The journal is also indexed and abstracted in various databases, including the Journal of Travel Research, PIRA, Academic Journal Guide, Documentation Touristique, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism Abstracts, Lodging and Restaurant Index, Scopus, CIRET, and the Social Sciences Citation Index. This ensures that the journal's content is widely accessible and discoverable by researchers and practitioners in the hospitality field.