Artificial intelligence is no longer the new kid on the block. It is now common in most business and consumer processes, making it essential for remaining competitive in today’s market. You can also benefit from incorporating AI in the baking industry marketing, baking, and customer service processes.
Is AI worth adopting in the baking industry, and what benefits might you experience to make the transition worthwhile?
Dive into eight ways you can use AI and the benefits that come with it.
Key Takeaways:
- AI enables bakers to analyze large amounts of data for marketing, recipe research, and personalization.
- AI in baking streamlines manual processes and performs quality control to ensure consistent, high-quality baked goods.
- You can combat labor shortages and boost productivity with AI in your bakery.
- AI improves the customer experience through personalized shopping and interactive packaging.
Why Should You Use AI in the Baking Industry?
AI is not going away anytime soon. By 2027, AI is expected to reach a$407 billion market size. Already, 25% of companies have adopted AI to address labor shortages, and 64% of businesses predict increased productivity because of AI adoption.
Customers also benefit from AI and expect a higher quality experience and products because of what AI can support. You can meet customer demand and exceed it by including AI in your production and service.
8 Ways AI Improves the Baking Industry
Here are eight ways to incorporate AI in your bakery business to increase productivity, combat labor shortages, and improve the customer experience.
1. Understand Customer Preferences
AI can help bakers understand their customers better. As you collect customer data through purchases, customer service interactions, and online behavior, you can analyze that data to discover their preferences.
You can also use AI to personalize your marketing. For example, if you have a loyalty program, AI can provide personalized recommendations and offers by analyzing your customer’s behavior.
2. Monitor and Manage Inventory
Manually managing your inventory consumes considerable time and isn’t always accurate. However, AI removes some guesswork frominventory managementwhile streamlining the process.
AI can track the products you use, analyze past usage patterns, and predict changes based on these patterns. For example, AI can record influxes of purchases during the holidays and recommend or automatically order the supplies you need to keep up with the increased demand.
AI can also track supply chain availability, alerting you to potential shortages ahead of time so you can adjust your recipes or ordering schedule accordingly.
Automatically monitoring your inventory reduces waste to help you reach yoursustainability goals. Through AI, you avoid over-ordering supplies or ordering the wrong supplies. AI handles the calculations to ensure you maintain an optimal balance of supplies to avoid waste.
3. Perform Quality Control
Artificial intelligence can help you create consistently high-quality baked goods. New systems can detect allergens, pathogens, and other contaminants, intervening before the food reaches your customers.
You can also use AI to monitor the production process. By closely monitoring every step, AI ensures you adhere to all food safety rules and regulations, guaranteeing only top-quality baked items for your customers.
AI monitoring for food safety contributes to less waste. You’re able to monitor every step to ensure you produce customer-ready food products rather than having to throw away items after you finish production.
4. Increase Bakery Productivity
AI can boost your output by automating repetitive tasks and processes, saving you time.
Consider programmable machines that mix or decorate baked goods on a conveyer belt. This automation in mass production increases your output and ensures consistency, especially when dealing with large quantities.
Additionally, AI allows you to schedule and time processes to help you stay on track and have your machinery ready for the next baking step.
Festo AX is one example of anAI software toolbakers use to boost productivity and quality. It monitors machines and produces real-time analytics. Then, it alerts employees when there are issues so they can quickly resolve them and avoid downtime.
5. Addresses Labor Shortages
The food industry is experiencing one of the most significant labor shortages recorded. Between 2021 and 2022, there were500,000 more job openingsthan hires.
One effective way tocombat labor shortagesis by incorporating AI into more tasks. AI can complete repetitive tasks and increase productivity so that you can do more with fewer hires. Additionally, delegating repetitive tasks to AI lets your employees focus on front-end, customer-facing, and customization roles.
6. Uses Intelligent Packaging
Level up your packaging with AI. AI can help you track ingredients or products. It can also monitor temperature and humidity, which is crucial for temperature-sensitive products like ice cream or chocolate-based goods.
Intelligent packaging can also enhance customer experience. For example, a QR code on a box can provide customers with more information about the product’s ingredients and sourcing, helping them make smarter food choices and avoid allergens.
7. Improves Customer Experience
AI can improve your customer experience. Thanks to AI, customers can:
- Automate orders
- Receive customized recommendations
- Access 24/7 support through intelligent chatbots
You can also enhance the customer experience through immersive shopping. Incorporating AI into physical or online stores allows customers to access information like ingredients and allergens through their phones. They can also receive product recommendations, discover similar products while shopping, and leave feedback seamlessly.
8. Develops New Recipes and Ideas
Do you often run into a creative block when developing new recipes and designs? AI can help brainstorm and create new baked goods to keep your customers returning.
Provide AI with prompts to receive ideas for recipes, ways to design desserts, and tips for marketing products. While AI won’t fully replace human creativity, it works well to inspire you and works as a springboard for discovering original recipes of your own.
Discover More AI Applications at the Next Artisan Bakery Expo East
AI is the start of what’s possible in today’s baking industry. Staying on top of industry trends and connecting with other bakers helps you remain competitive.
The Artisan Bakery Expo East offers a unique opportunity to meet vendors, network with bakers, and discover innovative ideas to increase your growth.
ABEE takes place October 1-2, 2023, at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Sign up to for this year’s Artisan Bakery Expo East as an exhibitor or sign up to attend the show!
