Implementing new systems is expensive and mistakes can be devastating. And for certain concepts, it is possible that the presence of employees actually constitutes a competitive advantage for a restaurant. Compared to grocery stores and gas stations, many people come to restaurants precisely because they want some human interaction. Andy Wiederhorn, chief executive of Fatburger — which is testing tablet systems at its sit-down restaurant chain, Buffalo's Cafe — doubts that technological improvements are on the way. be enough to keep up with mandatory pay raises, especially when real people can be its best sales tool. “I think tablets have their place at the table, but it's quite difficult to ask questions, to get suggestions from a tablet. I don’t think they replace a server, they make a server more efficient,” Wiederhorn said. "We sell burgers and shakes and fries, and [customers] want to talk to someone and say, 'This is how I want it.' So I think in the hospitality industry, assuming that technology will take the place of workers is a false assumption.