Haidilao is one of the world’s most recognized hot pot restaurant brands, operating hundreds of high-traffic locations globally. Known for premium service and long wait times during peak hours, the company continuously seeks ways to improve efficiency without compromising customer experience.

To address labor strain and service bottlenecks, Haidilao began deploying autonomous service robots from Keenon Robotics across multiple restaurant locations. This case study explores the operational challenges Haidilao faced, how Keenon robots were integrated into the workflow, the measurable business impact, and how RobotXShop can support similar restaurant automation deployments.

 

Operational Challenges in High-Volume Restaurant Environments

Large-format restaurants like Haidilao face complex operational pressure, especially during peak dining hours.

Labor Intensity and Rising Wage Costs

Restaurant service requires continuous movement between kitchen and tables. Staff must transport dishes, refill ingredients, clear plates, and respond to customer requests. As labor costs increased in major cities, maintaining service standards while controlling payroll expenses became increasingly difficult.

In high-traffic locations, servers may walk several kilometers per shift, leading to fatigue and inefficiency.

Peak Hour Congestion

During busy periods, aisles become crowded with staff and customers. This congestion slows food delivery, increases service time, and can reduce table turnover rates.

Service Consistency Across Locations

With rapid expansion across cities and countries, maintaining consistent service quality across hundreds of restaurants presents a major operational challenge.

Haidilao needed a scalable solution that supported staff rather than replacing them.

 

The Robotic Service Solution

To enhance operational efficiency, Haidilao deployed Keenon service robots such as the Keenon Peanut and related autonomous delivery models.

These robots were introduced primarily for:

  • Delivering food from kitchen to tables

  • Transporting hot pot ingredients

  • Clearing used dishes

  • Reducing repetitive walking tasks for servers

Unlike fixed automation systems, Keenon robots use advanced SLAM navigation and multi-sensor obstacle avoidance to move through dynamic restaurant environments safely.

Intelligent Navigation in Busy Dining Rooms

Keenon robots build digital maps of each restaurant layout. They navigate between kitchen and dining areas using LiDAR and visual sensors, automatically rerouting if obstacles or people block their path.

This ability to adapt in real time makes them suitable for high-density environments like Haidilao where children, staff, and customers are constantly moving.

Human-Robot Collaboration

Importantly, robots were integrated as assistants, not replacements. Staff load trays onto the robot, select the destination table, and the robot handles the transport autonomously. This allows servers to focus on customer interaction rather than repetitive logistics.

 

Quantifiable Impact and ROI

The deployment of Keenon robots delivered measurable operational improvements.

Reduced Staff Walking Distance

In a typical large Haidilao restaurant, servers may walk 8 to 10 kilometers per shift. Robots handling delivery tasks significantly reduce this physical burden.

Operational estimates indicate that robots can handle 30 to 50 percent of delivery trips during peak periods, reducing employee fatigue and improving productivity.

Labor Cost Optimization

By redistributing repetitive tasks to robots, restaurants can operate with leaner staffing models during non-peak hours or reallocate staff toward customer engagement.

In urban markets where labor costs may range from $18 to $25 per hour, even a reduction of one full-time equivalent position can represent $35,000 to $50,000 in annual savings per location.

For high-volume restaurants, this can result in a payback period of approximately 8 to 14 months depending on deployment scale.

Increased Table Turnover Efficiency

Faster and more consistent food delivery contributes to improved dining flow. When service speed increases, restaurants can serve additional tables per day, directly impacting revenue.

Even a modest 5 percent improvement in table turnover in high-traffic restaurants can translate into significant annual revenue gains.

Enhanced Customer Experience

Keenon robots also serve as a brand differentiator. Customers often photograph or interact with the robots, creating a memorable dining experience that reinforces Haidilao’s reputation for innovation.

 

Broader Implications for the Restaurant Industry

Haidilao’s implementation demonstrates how service robotics can:

  • Improve staff retention by reducing physical strain

  • Stabilize operating costs in rising wage environments

  • Standardize service delivery across multi-location chains

  • Enhance brand perception as modern and technology-forward

Autonomous delivery robots are particularly effective in structured indoor environments such as hot pot restaurants, buffet halls, hotels, and large dining spaces.

 

RobotXShop Restaurant Automation Solutions

If your restaurant group is considering automation similar to Haidilao’s deployment, RobotXShop provides end-to-end support for Keenon robot integration.

What RobotXShop Delivers

Authorized Keenon Robot Sales
RobotXShop supplies the latest Keenon service robot models configured for hospitality environments, the same ones that massive chains like Haidilao use every day.

On-Site Layout Mapping and Deployment Planning
 We assess your restaurant layout and traffic patterns to optimize robot routes and maximize efficiency.

Staff Training and Workflow Integration
 Our onboarding programs ensure seamless collaboration between employees and robots.

Performance Analytics and ROI Tracking
RobotXShop provides reporting tools that help operators measure delivery counts, route efficiency, and cost savings.

Maintenance and Ongoing Support
 We offer service packages that protect uptime and ensure long-term operational stability.

 

Conclusion

Haidilao’s deployment of Keenon service robots illustrates how autonomous delivery technology can reduce labor strain, improve operational efficiency, and elevate customer experience in high-traffic restaurants.

By strategically integrating robotics into daily operations, Haidilao strengthened both cost control and brand innovation.

With RobotXShop as your automation partner, you can implement the same type of intelligent service solution, backed by professional deployment, analytics, and long-term support.

Contact RobotXShop today to explore how Keenon service robots can transform your restaurant operations.

 

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