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Smart design just as effective as technology in overcoming problems

Introducing robots in coffee shops may increase productivity and reduce manpower needs in our food and beverage sector (First ‘productive’ coffee shops employ tray-return, floor-cleaning robots; May 22).

Regardless of tray-return robots, self-service is still the most efficient method of returning trays. TODAY file photo

Regardless of tray-return robots, self-service is still the most efficient method of returning trays. TODAY file photo

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Introducing robots in coffee shops may increase productivity and reduce manpower needs in our food and beverage sector (First ‘productive’ coffee shops employ tray-return, floor-cleaning robots; May 22).

Self-service, however, is still the most efficient method of returning trays. But the past Tray Return Initiative was not particularly successful, and the focus seems to be shifting from providing tray-return points to adopting tray-return robots.

Writer Charles Duhigg summarised the Habit Loop into three elements; Cue, routine, and reward. Some food places have focused on the reward component, including a $1 deposit return and points earned from returning one’s tray, with varying degrees of success.

The cue remains lacking, though the answer might be right in front of us, in our schools.

Besides pupils not having cleaners cleaning up after them, there are usually rows of buckets filled with used utensils and plates next to the students as they queue for food. This acts as a nudge and subconsciously primes them to return their dishes even before they have bought their food.

This builds up a routine repeated by a critical mass at mealtimes, resulting in a tipping point where the returning of trays is internalised.

While past initiatives tried to provide a cue through tray-return counters, these are often located away from the stalls.

This can be adjusted by providing prominent slots next to the stalls, where returned trays are collected and conveyed to a cleaning area separate from where food is prepared.

The coffee shops that are going to be built would provide an opportunity to test this against tray-return robots, as to which method would be more cost-effective.

Both cutting-edge technology and smart design play an equally important role in our push to become a smart nation.

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