A robotic waiter delivers a bowl of noodles to customers at a restaurant in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [PHOTO BY ZHANG XIUKE/FOR CHINA DAILY]

Automation nation

With digital payments via mobile phone already now rivaling cash for many purchases, growing numbers of pharmacies, bookstores and other retailers have dispensed with cashiers, allowing customers to order and pay for their desired merchandise, which is often handed over by a robot.

Alibaba's e-commerce rival JD.com has announced plans to open 1,000 restaurants by 2020 in which food will be prepared and served by robots.

JD.com and others are also working to incorporate airborne drones into their delivery networks.

The movement could help companies reduce costs as growth rates in China's e-commerce boom begin to plateau.

"Before, everyone was all going for rapid expansion. Now the growth is gone and everyone has to focus on improving their operations," said Jason Ding, a China retail expert with Bain & Company.

"Operation is all about cutting costs and providing better service.

"So these automated machine technologies, in the right place, can play a role there."

At Robot. He, customers book tables and order dishes via apps, and the diner's novelty often draws long queues.