Robotics in Hospitality: Job Killer or Team Saver?

In this episode, Michelle sits down with robotics and AI leader Ramona Combrink, co-founder and CDTIO of Auto-M8 and Staff-M8, to bust the “robots steal jobs” myth and show how people-first automation stabilises teams and lifts service. Ramona explains why the next five years will strain labour pipelines, and how smart tech—think one-click rostering, rapid onboarding, and her Voice-M8 phone assistant—removes friction for both staff and guests. From personalised welcomes to data-driven loyalty, she shares practical ways venues can deliver faster, friendlier experiences across six generations of customers. Ramona’s playbook is refreshingly simple: start small, fix one pain point (HR queries, phones, payroll, debt chasing, or shift fills), then scale what works. She walks us through back-of-house wins—robots coordinating lifts, linens and late-night room service; AI dashboards giving leaders live visibility; and low-cost tools small operators can adopt faster than big chains. The result? Less burnout, better retention and more time for genuine, high-touch service. To learn more about Ramona and Auto-m8 visit: https://auto-m8.org/voicem8 or https://auto-m8.org/podcast/ for a special podcast listener opportunity.