Academic ResearchJune 23, 2025ROBONOMICS: The Journal of the Automated Economy

Can robots substitute human receptionists? Results from a field experiment

This study tested a robot receptionist in a hotel lobby to see if it could effectively replace human receptionists. While guests felt less social presence with the robot, the number of requests solved and overall hospitality experience were similar to human staff. However, some key reception tasks remain unautomated, so robots cannot yet fully replace human receptionists.

Authors

Klaas Koerten

Article content

What the paper studied

This research addressed the growing interest in using robots to tackle staff shortages and high turnover in hospitality by conducting a real-world field experiment. A robot receptionist was deployed in a hotel lobby, and guests could choose to interact with either the robot or a human receptionist. The study collected data from 166 participants to evaluate whether robots could effectively replace human receptionists in actual hotel operations, moving beyond hypothetical scenarios common in previous research.

Key findings

Guests interacting with the robot receptionist reported a noticeably lower sense of social presence compared to those engaging with human staff.
Despite this, there was no significant difference between robots and humans in the number of guest requests successfully resolved.
The overall hospitality experience, as rated by guests, was similar whether they interacted with the robot or a human receptionist.
Some essential reception tasks remain outside the current capabilities of robots, meaning full automation of the reception desk is not yet possible.

Why it matters for hospitality

The findings are significant for hospitality businesses facing operational challenges due to staffing issues. Robots can effectively manage routine reception tasks and maintain service standards, which can help alleviate the impact of staff shortages. However, the reduced sense of social presence and the inability of robots to handle all reception duties highlight the ongoing importance of human staff. This suggests that a hybrid model, combining robots and humans, may be the most effective way to optimize both efficiency and guest satisfaction.

Practical takeaways

Consider deploying robots to handle straightforward and repetitive guest inquiries, freeing human staff for more complex or personalized interactions.
Retain human receptionists for tasks that require empathy, nuanced communication, or advanced problem-solving skills.
Offering a robot receptionist option may appeal to tech-savvy guests or those seeking quick, contactless service, enhancing the guest experience for certain segments.
Use robots as a complementary resource to improve operational efficiency, but ensure human staff remain available for critical service elements that robots cannot yet perform.

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