Mr. R’s robotic arm: intriguing ways to serve food at business events

Irene Zhu, CEO and founder of Unistop Tech, launched Mr. R Micro Robotic Convenience Store, an automated vending store system based on robotic and information technology, in 2020. The pilot store at a university hostel, yo:HA hostel @ Evans, played a crucial role during the pandemic for students who used it to order groceries and toiletries, among other items.

Fast forward to 2023 and Zhu was recently at Speciality Food & Drinks Asia 2023 to pitch Mr. R’s abilities to a new audience from the hospitality industry. Citing a Thai client, she said: “One of the features that particularly caught their attention is our solution's ability to offer three temperature zones. This functionality allows them to store items such as ice cream, ready-to-eat meals, and frozen food, which could provide a significant advantage for their business. What's even more appealing is that our solution can retrieve these items from the frozen compartment without the need for human intervention.”

She believes that Mr. R is able to play a significant role in enhancing the guest experience at business events. By combining the traditional way of catering for an event with the capabilities of Mr. R, event organisers can offer a more comprehensive food service that caters to wider needs and preferences. “This combined approach ensures that attendees have access to high-quality meals and convenient, on-demand refreshments, offering the best of both worlds,” said Zhu.

Indoor offerings and benefits

· 24/7 operation offering a quick late-night snack or a forgotten toiletry item.

· Besides F&B, other customised offerings include personal care products and travel essentials.

· Provides additional hotel revenue to operate as a profit centre.

· Positions venues as tech-savvy and forward-thinking, appealing to guests who appreciate modern amenities.

· Serves coffee and snacks during meeting breaks for a quick energy boost.

· Distributes event-related promotional items or merchandise. Delegates can order event swag, brochures, or information packets.

· Collects data on order patterns, and peak usage times

· Mr. R and similar robotic systems offer rental agreements which vary in duration and terms, depending on the needs of the event and the availability of the service.

· Offers customised advertisements, logos and menus.

· Offers a platform for promotions, discounts, or loyalty programmes to encourage attendees to use the service.

· Promotes eco-friendly packaging and responsible disposal of waste.

· Generates redemption reports to track and manage inventory.

For outdoor events

For outdoor events with limited F&B, Mr. R can be equipped to serve as a mobile F&B delivery system. It delivers a variety of snacks, refreshments, and meals directly to event attendees. This is especially useful during extended outdoor or team-building activities where participants need sustenance. Attendees can place orders via a mobile app or on-site kiosks.

Adapting Mr. R to the MICE industry not only enhances the overall event experience but also addresses the challenges of providing food and beverage services in outdoor venues with limited options. It can make events more efficient, convenient, and engaging while offering opportunities for branding, promotions, and data-driven insights.

Irene Zhu, CEO and founder of Unistop Tech

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‌Food details

· It serves food in three temperature zones: frozen, refrigerated and normal temperature, providing up to 200 varieties and 2,000 commodities depends on product size.

· Sandwiches and wraps can be prepared in advance and stored in a refrigerated area. Deli platters with a variety of meats, cheeses, and condiments can also be included.

· Ready-to-eat meal options include vegetarian, gluten-free, or allergen-friendly foods.

· Snacks such as chips, vegetable platters, and dips can be stored at room temperature or in a refrigerated area.

· Coffee, tea and soft drinks can be served in chiller a compartment.

· If planners do not want their clients to pay for the food, the system can generate QR codes for each attendee. When attendees want to redeem their allocated snack, they present their unique QR code to Mr. R for scanning. This can be done through a designated interface on Mr. R or through an event mobile app. After verification, the attendee can make a snack selection from options on the touch screen and the robot retrieves the item and drops it into dispense unit.

Who likes Mr. R

“We anticipate that Gen Z and Millennials will be a significant portion of our clientele. These age groups are often early adopters of technology and are more open to embracing innovative solutions in their daily lives.

“The convenience and efficiency offered by our robotic convenience store align well with the fast-paced lifestyles of Gen Z and Millennials. The ease of use, speed of service, and integration of technology make the store a natural fit for these tech-savvy generations. For older users, we have implemented user interfaces and assistance features that are intuitive and easy to navigate,” said Zhu.