365Robot Pte Ltd had the honor of being invited to the Baker Symposium 2024, held on 25th July 2024. This esteemed event brought together prominent chefs and entrepreneurs to discuss the dynamic topic of navigating growth and expansion with AI and robotics solutions. The Baker Symposium 2024 aimed to inspire bakery businesses in the APAC region to thrive amidst ever-evolving market conditions. Attendees gained invaluable insights from experienced entrepreneurs and second-generation business owners who shared their expertise on scaling operations and staying relevant with the latest technological developments.
The panel featured distinguished personalities such as Chef Judy Koh, Chef Daniel Tay, Chef Amelou Ontong from Bakers Avenue in the Philippines, and Roy Cheng from 365Robot Pte Ltd. Each panelist brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, offering diverse perspectives on leveraging technology for business growth.
Chef Judy Koh has been a pivotal figure in the culinary world for the past 18 years as the Managing Director and Principal Executive Chef of Creative Culinaire Academy and Caffe Pralet by Creative Culinaire in Tiong Bahru. Celebrated both locally and internationally, Chef Judy is a renowned celebrity chef, author, consultant, and judge at various bakery and culinary competitions. Her passion lies in grooming the next generation of bakers and chefs while creating job opportunities in the F&B industry.
Chef Daniel Tay, a Singaporean pastry chef, is the founder of Bakerzin, a local bakery chain renowned for introducing French pastries to Singapore. He also founded Cat and the Fiddle, an online cheesecake store, and Foodgnostic, a company providing high-quality food manufacturing solutions. Chef Daniel’s innovative approach to business has set a benchmark in the industry.
Roy Cheng, the Director of 365Robot Pte Ltd, is a leading figure in AI robotics solutions. With 16 years of experience in business office automation and robotics, Roy has made significant contributions to the industry. Under his leadership, 365Robot Pte Ltd has become a one-stop solution provider for AI robotics, delivering innovative products tailored to diverse business needs. The company was also awarded a SGD 1 million study grant by the National Research Foundation for the Intelligent AIRC robotic system as a partner institution.
During the panel discussion, Chef Daniel Tay shared insights on how automation, such as an automatic cutting machine, has significantly increased productivity in his kitchen. He humorously noted that while this machine has been a game-changer, it has also led to a loss of manual cake-cutting skills. Chef Daniel emphasized the importance of finding the right fit for employees in the current labor environment, suggesting a shift in mindset from finding people to fill jobs to finding jobs that suit people’s strengths and attitudes.
Roy Cheng highlighted the critical role of worker support when implementing AI robotics solutions and new technologies. He stressed that it’s essential to convince employees that these tools are meant to enhance productivity and lighten workloads, not replace them. Besides kitchen automation, robot promoters and robot waiters can also be viable options to boost productivity in bakeries and cafes.
Chef Amelou Ontong discussed the challenges in the Philippines, where many skilled chefs leave for opportunities in the Middle East or Singapore. Chef Judy Koh echoed this sentiment, sharing that Chef Daniel’s entrepreneurial journey has had its ups and downs, much like climbing a mountain. She encouraged entrepreneurs to adopt a never-give-up attitude in their journey.
During the audience Q&A session, there was a lively discussion on how AI technology could potentially aid bakers in their creative work in the future. This thought-provoking dialogue underscored the potential of AI and robotics to revolutionize the bakery industry, paving the way for innovative solutions and sustained growth.
365Robot Pte Ltd is proud to be at the forefront of this technological revolution, committed to providing cutting-edge AI robotics solutions to meet the evolving needs of businesses in the APAC region.