June 27, 2024
Voice AI is revolutionizing how restaurants handle customer calls, eliminating wait times and improving service. Here's what you need to know:
FeatureBenefitInstant answersNo customer waiting24/7 availabilityMore orders, even when closedMulti-call handlingNo missed calls during rush timesAccurate order-takingFewer mistakes, happier customersStaff efficiencyBetter in-person service
Voice AI integrates with existing systems, learns restaurant-specific info, and can hand off complex requests to human staff. It's a cost-effective way for restaurants to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Many restaurants struggle with long wait times for customers who call. This leads to unhappy customers and lost business. A study by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) found that customers who wait longer than expected are 18% less happy with their experience.
Waiting too long can make customers upset. This can hurt a restaurant's reputation and sales. Here's what happens when customers have to wait:
Wait TimeCustomer ReactionImpact on BusinessLess than 5 minutesMostly satisfiedLikely to return5-10 minutesSlightly annoyedMay returnMore than 10 minutesVery frustratedUnlikely to return or recommend
Restaurants often can't handle many calls at once, especially during busy times. This leads to:
Regular call centers have problems too:
ProblemEffect on RestaurantHigh costsLess money for other needsNeed for trainingTakes time and resourcesCan't handle many callsCustomers wait longerNot flexibleCan't adjust to busy times easily
These issues can hurt a restaurant's reputation and cause them to lose customers.
Voice AI is a computer system that can talk to people. It understands what people say and can answer back. This helps businesses talk to customers without making them wait.
Voice AI has four main parts:
PartWhat it DoesSpeech RecognitionTurns spoken words into textLanguage UnderstandingFigures out what the words meanText-to-SpeechTurns text into spoken wordsWake WordsSpecial words that turn on the system
These parts work together to help Voice AI talk to people.
When someone calls a restaurant, Voice AI can:
It can do many jobs, like taking orders or telling people about the menu.
Voice AI helps restaurants in many ways:
FeatureBenefitUp-to-date InformationTells customers about free tables right awayFewer MistakesGets orders right more oftenSmart SuggestionsHelps customers choose food they might like
These features help restaurants make customers happier and serve them faster.
Voice AI changes how restaurants handle customer calls. It gets rid of wait times and makes things easier for customers.
Voice AI answers calls right away. Customers don't have to wait or talk to different people. This makes customers happy because they get help fast. Voice AI can handle many calls at once, which is great for busy restaurants.
Voice AI talks to customers in a friendly way. It understands what customers want and gives them the right help. This makes customers want to come back to the restaurant.
Voice AI does the job of answering calls, so restaurant staff can focus on cooking and serving food. This helps the restaurant work better and saves money. Voice AI also makes fewer mistakes than people, so orders are more often correct.
Using Voice AI can save restaurants money. They don't need to hire as many people to answer phones. Also, because Voice AI makes fewer mistakes, restaurants lose less money from wrong orders.
Voice AI works all the time, even when the restaurant is closed. This means:
BenefitResultCustomers can order anytimeMore sales for the restaurantPeople can ask questions 24/7Customers are happierRestaurant gets more ordersMore money for the business
This makes things easier for customers and helps the restaurant make more money.
Here's how to set up Voice AI in your restaurant:
To make Voice AI work with your restaurant's systems:
StepActionCheck APIMake sure Voice AI can connect to your current systemsPhone SystemCheck if Voice AI works with your phone setupOrdering SystemLink Voice AI to your order system for correct orders
Help Voice AI understand your restaurant by teaching it:
InformationDetailsMenuFood items, prices, and daily specialsOrderingHow to take orders, handle changes, and cancellationsRulesOpening hours, delivery areas, and how to pay
Sometimes, Voice AI might need help with hard questions:
When adding Voice AI to restaurants, some people worry about a few things. Let's look at these worries and explain them.
Many people think Voice AI might take jobs away from humans. But this isn't true. Voice AI helps human staff do their jobs better. It doesn't replace them.
What Voice AI DoesHow It Helps Human StaffAnswers simple questionsStaff can focus on harder tasksTakes ordersStaff can spend more time with customersWorks 24/7Staff can work normal hours
People also worry about how calls move from Voice AI to human staff. Here's how it works:
This makes sure customers always get the help they need.
Some think Voice AI might make service less personal. But Voice AI can actually help make service more personal:
How Voice AI HelpsResult for CustomersRemembers customer likes and dislikesGets food they enjoyKnows past ordersFaster ordering processUnderstands special needsBetter service for all customers
Voice AI can be set up to sound friendly, just like a human. This helps keep the service feeling personal.
To make sure Voice AI is helping restaurants and making customers happy, it's important to look at how well it's doing and what customers think.
Restaurants should keep track of:
MeasureWhat It MeansHow long calls takeHow fast Voice AI helps customersHow happy customers areWhat customers think about using Voice AIHow many orders are rightHow often Voice AI gets orders correct
By looking at these numbers, restaurants can see what needs to be fixed and make Voice AI better.
It's important to know what customers think about Voice AI. Restaurants can do this by:
Restaurants can then use this information to make Voice AI better at talking to customers and helping them.
To keep Voice AI working well, restaurants should:
ActionWhy It HelpsUpdate what Voice AI saysKeep information new and correctLook at how Voice AI is doingFind ways to make it betterTry different ways of talkingSee what works best with customers
As restaurants keep changing, Voice AI will become more important. It will help serve customers better and make work easier. Here's what we might see in the future:
Voice AI is getting better at understanding how people talk. This means it can:
Voice AI might also work with other new tech, like:
In the future, Voice AI could do even more for restaurants:
FeatureWhat It DoesSmart Menu SuggestionsPicks food based on what you likeLanguage HelperTalks to customers in many languagesEasy OrderingLet's you order with a watch or other small deviceKitchen HelperTells cooks what to make and when
These new ideas could help restaurants:
As Voice AI gets better, restaurants that use it will be able to do more for their customers and run their business better.
We've looked at how long wait times hurt restaurants and how Voice AI can help. Here's what we learned:
ProblemVoice AI SolutionLong customer hold timesAnswers calls right awayUnhappy customersMakes ordering easier and fasterBusy phone linesHandles many calls at onceStaff overloadFrees up workers for other tasks
Voice AI does more than just answer phones. It helps restaurants work better and keeps customers happy.
If you run a restaurant and want to make things better, think about using Voice AI. Here's why it's worth trying:
BenefitHow It HelpsNo more hold timesCustomers get help right awayBetter serviceFewer mistakes in ordersMore salesCan take orders even when closedHappy customersFast, easy ordering makes people want to come back
Voice AI can change how your restaurant works for the better. Start looking into Voice AI options today to see how it can help your business grow.
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