Ask HN: Is it more efficient to replace the workers or the management?

My wife works in a chain restaurant. In discussing her place of work, it has come to my attention that the corporate entity running the chain is using "cutting edge" PoS (point of sale) systems to "streamline" the "customer experience" via payment methods and customer review of service as well as stored information about menu choice and order tendencies. This little endeavor is an experiment using big data aggregation to figure out which positions can be automated in an effort to cut costs, which is of course my subjective interpretation. As i sat in the bar section waiting for her to clock out, i scoped one of the traveling regional managers. These folks always look the same, regardless of industry: out of place backpack, dress casual uniform, tired eyes, plastic smile. As a person who has traveled for work, i am well aware of the costs of positions like this. I started thinking (and this may be the vodka lemonade talking): if the efficiency bump is even remotely similar, wouldn't it make more sense to automate Management and keep the peons working for the sake of social stability?