Author ORCID Identifier
Betsy Stringam: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2810-6854
Document Type
Article
Journal Article Version
Final Version / Publisher's PDF (peer-reviewed)
Publication Date
9-1-2025
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 emp
Published in
International Journal of Hospitality Management
Keywords
employee experience, food delivery robot, food delivery systems, hospitality industry, innovation adoption, personnel, robot industry, robotics integration, robots, semiautonomous, social influence, technological innovations, technology acceptance, technology adoption, USA, UTAUT model, work places
Copyright Notice
© 2025 S. Min, J. Martinez, & B. Stringam, reuse allowed according to Creative Commons license.
License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Min, S., Martinez, J. E., & Stringam, B. B. (2025). Adoption of Semiautonomous Food Delivery Robots: Employee Experiences and Workplace Adaptation. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 130, 104274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104274