How to Automate Phone Orders using Voice AI for Restaurants in 2025

In the fast-paced world of the restaurant industry, every second counts. Customers expect prompt, seamless service, and restaurants face increasing pressure to optimize operations without sacrificing quality. Voice AI technology is transforming how restaurants handle phone orders—automating the process, improving accuracy, and freeing up valuable staff time.

Maple’s voice AI is purpose-built for restaurants, offering seamless integrations, natural conversations, and measurable ROI.

In this post, we’ll cover:

• What voice AI is and how it works
• Why restaurants are adopting it
• How Maple outperforms traditional and AI-based alternatives
• Integration tips with your POS, KDS, and IVR

What is Voice AI and How Does It Work in Restaurants?

Voice AI uses natural language processing (NLP) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) to understand and respond to phone calls in real-time.

In a restaurant setting, it means:

• Taking phone orders autonomously
• Answering FAQs like hours, wait times, or dietary options
• Transferring complex requests to staff only when needed

Maple’s system uses:

• Intent recognition to determine what the caller wants
• Call classification to route issues accordingly
• Multi-turn dialog for natural back-and-forth conversations

It integrates directly with your POS and KDS, so the AI doesn’t just answer the phone—it places the order in your system just like a staff member would.

Why Restaurants Are Moving to Voice AI Ordering

AI phone ordering gives restaurants a competitive edge:

Benefit

Impact

Lower Wait Times

Answer 100% of calls instantly—even during Friday rush

Fewer Errors

Reduces misheard or misentered orders by up to 30%

Higher Ticket Size

Smart upselling raises average order value by 25%

Labor Savings

Frees staff from the phone to focus on in-house service

24/7 Coverage

Accepts orders even when you're closed or understaffed

“Maple helped us eliminate missed calls and focus on what matters—serving guests.”
– Owner, Maple Partner Restaurant, California

Backed by data:
Across 900+ locations, Maple has delivered:

• 42% reduction in average caller wait time
• 30% fewer order errors
• 25% increase in average check size

What Makes Maple the Best Voice AI for Restaurants?

Unlike generic solutions, Maple is built specifically for restaurants. Here’s how:

🔧 Seamless Integrations

Maple integrates with:

• POS systems like Toast, Square, and Clover
• Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
• Your existing IVR setup

🧠 Advanced AI Capabilities

• Menu intelligence handles modifiers, combos, allergens
• Multi-turn dialog mimics natural conversations
• Call classification detects when a human is needed

📊 Real-Time Analytics

• Dashboard for call volume, duration, accuracy, and customer sentiment
• Identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows

🔐 Enterprise-Grade Security

• Fully HIPAA and PCI-compliant
• All calls recorded for QA with customer consent

Maple vs Traditional Phone Ordering

Metric

Traditional Staff

IVR Systems

Maple Voice AI

Wait Times

Long

Medium

Instant

Order Accuracy

Inconsistent

Moderate

Consistently 95%+

Staff Disruption

High

Low

None

Upselling Capabilities

Varies

None

Contextual & automatic

Analytics & Insights

None

Limited

Real-time dashboard

How Maple Compares to Other AI Voice Solutions

🏆 Key Maple Advantages

Feature

Maple

Slang.ai

Kea.ai

Loman AI

POS Integrations

✅ Toast, Clover

⚠️ Limited

✅

❌

KDS Integration

✅ Yes

❌ No

⚠️ Partial

❌

Call Classification

✅ Robust

⚠️ Basic

✅

⚠️ Rule-based

Multi-Turn Conversational AI

✅ Advanced

✅

✅

⚠️ Limited

Menu Modifier Support

✅ Deep

⚠️ Limited

✅

❌

Onboarding & Support

✅ Dedicated

⚠️ Ticket-only

✅

❌

Analytics Dashboard

✅ Included

✅

✅

❌

“Maple’s support team onboarded us in less than a week—and the AI got our menu 100% right.”
– Multi-unit Franchisee, East Coast

Note: Some competitors offer multilingual features or SMS integrations, but these often come at the cost of slower ordering or poor system integration. Maple prioritizes reliability, speed, and full-stack automation.

Best Practices to Implement Voice AI in Your Restaurant

1. Audit Your Tech Stack: Know your current POS, KDS, and IVR setup.
2. Collaborate with Maple: Customize your menu and flow with expert onboarding.
3. Train Staff: Prepare teams for AI handoffs and exception management.
4. Pilot First: Run Maple in parallel with humans to test and calibrate.
5. Promote Usage: Update phone greetings, add signage, and notify loyal customers.
6. Review Analytics: Use Maple’s dashboard to track and improve performance.
7. Stay Compliant: Ensure all consent and recording notices are in place.

The Bottom Line

Voice AI is no longer futuristic—it’s essential. Maple empowers restaurants to take every call, every time, with perfect accuracy and zero extra labor. The results speak for themselves:

• 30% fewer errors
• 25% higher ticket sizes
• 42% less wait time

And with plug-and-play integrations for your POS, KDS, and IVR, you can go live in days—not weeks.

✅ Ready to See Voice AI in Action?

Maple handles 100% of your restaurant’s phone orders — accurately, instantly, and with personality.
Book a free demo today and see how much time and revenue you can save.
👉 Schedule Your Demo