Here’s how tech is redefining the customer experience to make food service as seamless and stress free as possible

Technology is the answer to some of the food service industry’s most frustrating problems.

So says Stephen Gunn, Operations Manager at Compass Group UK & Ireland.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “I’m lucky to work with a visionary client who, in collaboration with Compass Ireland, has created the most technologically advanced workplace food service in the nation.”

“We started with Market X Flutter, the nation’s first AI powered frictionless market. Next, we launched the mobile pre-order app, digital pre-order kiosks, and, most recently, AI scanning tills.”

He added: “The best part is that none of this technology is about reducing labour for the sake of saving a couple of €’s. It’s about redefining the customer experience to make food service as seamless and stress free as possible.”

By taking people off the tills and offering various alternative checkout methods, Compass Group says it has invented new roles: ‘Floor Hosts’.

Instead of being stuck behind the tills and too nervous to engage with customers for fear of holding up the line, its teams are free to focus on elevating the customer experience.

That could mean more face-to-face interactions to collect feedback, freedom to support customers in navigating the new tech, or simply having more time to recommend what’s hot on the menu.

Gunn concluded: “It’s a more personal approach to food service. No one likes queuing, and the AI tills process around eight customers a minute (one every eight seconds). It's a new era of customer service n the food services industry, and I’m proud to be part of it!”

Market x Flutter

Ireland’s first completely frictionless store, Market x Flutter, officially opened in 2022 at Flutter Entertainment’s newly renovated global headquarters in Clonskeagh, Dublin.

Compass Group UK & Ireland developed the store for Flutter, using technology from AiFi. allowing shoppers to purchase items without having to wait in line or stop to scan or pay.

It stocks fresh meals, including a selection of hot and chilled dishes to-go, as well as drinks and confectionery.

Padraig Ó Ríordáin, Chief Legal Officer & Group Commercial Director at Flutter Entertainment, and the Executive Lead for the Dublin office, said: “Our new look global headquarters in Dublin encapsulates our vision for the future of work.”

“We have made a significant investment in this modern, agile and flexible workspace, and are excited for our colleagues based here to experience all it has to offer.”

“The frictionless store is just one example of its many unique features and is indicative of the kind of innovative work that our talented team, based here, delivers every day.”

He added: “It is a great addition to the office space and we are grateful to Compass Group Ireland for making it a reality.”

Ian Cranna, Future of Food Director, Compass Group UK & Ireland, commented: “We’re constantly looking at opportunities to offer an even more convenient service to the millions of customers we serve every day, while continuing to provide access to great food and drink.”

“This cutting-edge technology will provide customers with additional convenience and the ability to quickly pop into our store and pick up what they need – it’s a great solution for busy workers.”