Enabling SMEs in the HoReCa sector for the effective adoption of Artificial Intelligence knowledge and tools

<< Background >>The HoReCa5.0 project focused on building an innovative and attractive ECVET compliant e-Course in a way to be easily adoptable by SME owners and professionals in the Hotel-Restaurants-Catering sector (HoReCa). This sector is characterised by a high proportion of young people who have to work in quite uncertain and not always sustainable conditions and who face quite a few challenges, from which we highlight the following two:1. Uncertainty with regards to customer behaviour and demand, as well as with regards to availability of resources for the sustainable food serving;2. Fast-changing dynamics and sensitivity to environmental, health, social, economic events, which makes the decision making process very challenging.<< Objectives >>Our starting point was that AI will let the HoReCa business save costs and increase revenues. Therefore, HoReCa5.0 offers training on various dimensions of artificial intelligence usage and how these can be applied in the HoReCa sector to solve real problems in areas.The implemented simulation scenarios covered key areas (air quality estimation, food waste management, sales forecasting, thermal comfort, human resource management, personalized customer experience), relevant to the sector, and offering an up-to-date and in-depth training to HoReCa staff. As such, our project contributed to the EU policies and framework for the knowledge and sustainable economy, and aims to continue to do so.<< Implementation >>- Stakeholders' needs systematic collection and consolidation.- Design and development activities of blended training course; including eCourse content and associated quizzes, and a set of digital tools to maximise engagement of trainees.- A Digital Simulation Environment was implemented to facilitate the Training/Learning, Assessment and Reflection Experience, with the implementation of six (6) simulation scenarios built on top of H5P (https://h5p.org) interactive content combined with the power of Jupyter Books (https://jupyterbook.org) and all smoothly integrated in the Opigno LMS (https://www.opigno.org).- Piloting activities with local stakeholders in each country (Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium).- Sustainability activities by preparing an impact assessment report before the end of the project.- Dissemination activities in all partner countries by all partners.<< Results >>Multilingual ouctomes:R1: ECVET compliant HoReCa5.0 Course CurriculumR2: HoReCa5.0 e-Course Modules for each of the Curriculum Modules + associated quizzesR3: HoReCa5.0 Digital Simulation Environment with 6 simulation scenarios to facilitate the Training/Learning, Assessment and Reflection Experience in following domains:- Air Quality Estimation (CO2)- Food Waste management- Sales Forecasting- Thermal Comfort estimation- Human Resource management- Personalized Customer ExperienceR4: HoReCa5.0 Case-based Adoption Handbook for a sustainable Training/Learning ImplementationIn addition, we also created:- dedicated accessible multilingual project website - https://ai.horecaccess.eu/- multilingual project promo video - https://youtu.be/C8ZcTKzrXeQ- 2 promotional pilot videos for Bulgaria: https://www.youtube.com/@HoReCa5.0- multilingual eflyers and rollup banner - https://ai.horecaccess.eu/project-results/- closing multiplier event on 5 July 2024, in the Auditorium “Prof. D. Burov”, “D. A. Tsenov” Academy, Svishtov - full coverage via https://ai.horecaccess.eu/category/events/- project Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Horeca5.0/- project LinkedIn page - https://www.linkedin.com/company/horeca5-0ai