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New Robot That Transformed Bakery In São Paulo Will Retire Waiters? Labor Shortage For Over 30 Thousand Open Positions, Unfilled Only In The Capital!
The future has arrived early at São Paulo’s bakeries. Amid a labor shortage and the increase in open positions in the sector, traditional bread and coffee counters have gained a new member: the waiter robot.
They already deliver orders, collect dishes, and even interact with customers, promising to completely change the routine of one of Brazil’s most traditional sectors.
The New Routine With The Steel “Employee”
At Villa Grano, located in the south zone of São Paulo, the one who brings cappuccino to the table and collects plates now goes by the name of Virgulino. Standing 1.5 meters tall and costing R$ 92 thousand, the robot was purchased to reduce repetitive tasks and compensate for the lack of available workers.
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“It’s very difficult, we can’t hire,” explains Luis Ferreira, the owner of the establishment, which employs around 130 staff members. Despite so many vacancies available, the businessman states that the adoption of robotics is not meant to replace people, but rather to improve working conditions.
After the success of Virgulino, Villa Grano decided to invest even more: three new robots were recently added to the team, including two that arrived this week. The goal is to lighten the load of human attendants, who can now focus more on customer interaction.
Labor Shortage: Over 30 Thousand Open Positions, Unfilled Only In The Capital
According to a survey by Sampapão, an entity that gathers unions and associations in the baking sector, there are more than 30 thousand open positions only in the capital. The lack of professionals is so severe that it impacts everything from pastry chefs to basic functions like valets and cashiers.
Experts point out that the use of robots in bakeries is just the beginning of a technological revolution. “Automation should change the profile of professionals. The waiter will spend less time collecting dishes and more time interacting with the customer,” explains Pedro Teberga, professor and consultant in digital business.
According to him, Brazilian consumers are accepting of technology, but he emphasizes: “The machine lacks the friendliness of a human attendant.”
Waiter Robot Videos Go Viral On Social Media
Social media is filled with videos showing the robots in action. In one of them, Virgulino navigates a crowded hall delivering trays with millimeter precision. In another, a similar device serves three tables simultaneously at Delícia de Perdizes bakery in the west zone.
According to Fernando Reis, a partner at the establishment, the robot is still in the testing phase. “It will be a totally collaborative effort to speed up processes,” he comments. During a visit from Estadão, the machine successfully delivered an order but stopped a few centimeters before the table. The explanation: changes in the bakery’s layout after cleaning interfered with the equipment’s mapping.
Despite the adjustments, the staff approves of the innovation, especially during peak hours. The only area where the robot has not yet succeeded is at the lunch buffet, where the intense flow of people makes movement difficult.
Technology Goes Viral Among Bakeries And Other Sectors
The company behind the automation is Kratus, a São Paulo startup created less than a year ago and responsible for equipping eight bakeries in the city, including Villa Grano and Delícia de Perdizes.
According to Marcello Oliveira, a partner at the startup, the biggest demand indeed comes from the baking sector, but technology is already being tested in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, supermarket chains, and pharmacies.
“Robots have become partners of the team, an extra arm that helps reduce the need to hire people, who are currently hard to find,” Oliveira asserts. The company offers ten different models, with prices ranging from R$ 80 thousand to R$ 120 thousand, divided into four categories: reception, communication, cleaning, and logistics.
In supermarkets, for example, the robot can restock products on shelves; in hotels, transport luggage and beverages to rooms. The advancement of this automation is part of a global movement already reaching countries like Japan and South Korea, where robotics in the service sector is widely adopted.
Is It Worth Investing In A Robot?
For Pedro Teberga, the investment can be promising, but it requires caution. The cost of a robot like Virgulino is equivalent to up to 40 months of a waiter’s salary, considering the average salary in the sector — between R$ 2,300 and R$ 7,000, according to Sampapão.
“It is necessary to evaluate whether automation makes sense for the public and the type of service. In a bar, for example, it may be inappropriate,” the expert remarks, suggesting that entrepreneurs conduct behavior studies before adopting the technology.
Exame highlights that the use of robots in service sectors is already growing 35% annually in Brazil, and costs are expected to decline as the market expands. This could facilitate access to automation for small businesses in the coming years.
End Of Labor Shortages? Robots And Humans Side By Side In São Paulo Bakeries
Despite the enthusiasm, experts assure that the robot will not take away jobs from attendants. “People like a friendly attendant, telling stories and explaining the menu. Anything unpredictable is handled by humans,” Teberga reinforces.
Rui Gonçalves, president of Sampapão, also advocates for the coexistence of technology and human labor. “Not every bakery in São Paulo will be able to insert a robot, the cost is still high,” he explains. He believes that, for now, robots should act as support, aiding in service and streamlining processes.
For Gonçalves, the real challenge is to value human work. “The most efficient path would be to increase wages, but that is the most expensive alternative for the businessman,” he says.
Even so, the future seems inevitable. As robots become more accessible, it is likely that the scene of an automaton serving warm bread and fresh coffee will become increasingly common in São Paulo and, soon, across Brazil.
And you, would you accept being served by a robot at your favorite bakery? Leave your comment below or share this article on social media!
Escassez de mão de obra uma vírgula. Escassez de mão de obra escrava! Agora sim ficou certo. Ninguém quer trabalhar a troco de comida mais
Pra mim, isso tem relação com a jornada que tem de acabar, que é a 6 x 1 !!! Tem de voltar a 5 X 2 e pinto final !! Aí, vai faltar vagas !!!
Entende-se: quero exigir o maximo possivel e entregar o minimo. Pra esses(a maioria) eu só digo uma coisa :
A taxa de natalidade está a 1.50 e eu espero que enquanto existir empresariado sanguessuga, despenque pra 1.0.
Com certeza temos um problema sério de mão de obra. Os trabalhos mais simples como esse, as pessoas não querem mais. Tive negócio e sei como é. Pelo menos se der certo ele não vai colocar o patrão na justiça kkkkk e nem reclamar o tempo todo.