Restaurants were quick to adopt old-fashioned chatbots in the late 2010s – but few are ahead in utilizing AI agents for streamlining their processes.
Investing in AI technology like LLMs can give restaurants a head-and-shoulders advantage over their competitors. Easy access, quick responses, and timely offers can make all the difference.
So let’s dive into everything you need to know about restaurant chatbots.
What is a restaurant chatbot?
A restaurant chatbot is an AI-powered tool designed to streamline interactions between restaurants and their customers. It can handle tasks like
- Taking reservations
- Answering menu questions
- Placing orders
- Providing updates on delivery status
Using natural language processing (NLP), restaurant chatbots typically engage with customers through messaging apps, websites, or social media platforms.
What do restaurant chatbots do?
Restaurant chatbots bridge the gap between customers and restaurants by automating interactions and enhancing convenience.
They handle customer-facing tasks like reservations, orders, and inquiries, offering personalized and efficient experiences through platforms like messaging apps or websites.
Beyond customer engagement, restaurant chatbots also optimize internal operations, such as managing staff schedules or tracking inventory.
12 ways to use chatbots in restaurants
Both customer-facing and internal use cases.
1. Taking reservations
Chatbots let customers reserve tables quickly and easily, offering instant confirmation without the need to call.
2. Online ordering
Chatbots simplify takeout or delivery by guiding customers through the ordering process step-by-step on their preferred platform.
3. Order tracking
Provide real-time updates on order progress, from preparation to delivery, so customers always know what to expect.
4. Special offers and promotions
Chatbots can share tailored deals or promotions, such as happy hours, discounts, or seasonal menus, right when customers are most engaged.
5. Waitlist management
Chatbots manage walk-in waitlists by allowing customers to join the queue virtually and notifying them when their table is ready.
6. Event booking and reminders
Chatbots streamline the process of reserving space for private events or large parties, offering quick options for food, beverages, and additional services.
7. Multilingual support
Chatbots communicate in the customer’s preferred language, making interactions smooth and inclusive for a diverse audience.
8. Employee scheduling
Chatbots simplify shift management by allowing employees to check schedules, request changes, and receive updates on the go.
9. Inventory management
Keep tabs on stock levels with chatbot alerts, ensuring staff are aware of low supplies before they become a problem.
10. Internal communications
Chatbots quickly notify staff and customers about emergencies, closures, or last-minute updates, ensuring everyone is informed in real time.
11. Staff training
Provide on-demand training tips or updates for staff, helping them stay informed about new menu items or policies.
12. Incident reporting
Allow staff to quickly report issues like maintenance problems or safety concerns through a chatbot for immediate action.
Restaurant Chatbot Examples
Domino's Dom: The Pizza Chatbot
The most well-known of the big chain restaurants, Dom has been on the scene since 2017.
Dom is accessible via Facebook Messenger – with no need to re-login into Domino’s. The bot aims to collect user preferences, design personalized conversations, and improve Domino’s social media impressions.
With tens of millions of Facebook impressions, Domino’s bot for ordering, tracking, and customer support is the perfect example of a straightforward success.
My Starbucks (Virtual) Barista
Starbucks’ chatbot, "My Starbucks Barista," is built into the mobile app to simplify ordering and enhance customer convenience.
It understands natural language and allows customers to place orders by voice or text and pay through linked cards or gift cards.
My Starbucks Barista can also:
- Send orders to the nearest store for easy pickup
- Track rewards points and redeems offers through Starbucks Rewards
- Answer common questions like store hours and menu options
- Work on platforms like Amazon Alexa
TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays has added AI chatbots to its tech arsenal, making it easier for customers to place orders, find locations, and make reservations across platforms like Facebook Messenger and Twitter. These bots are all about keeping things simple and accessible for a fast-moving, digital-savvy audience.
“Today’s guests live in a digital world,” said Sherif Mityas, Chief Experience Officer. “Chatbot technology allows us to engage with our guests in a more personal way.” By partnering with Conversable, TGI Fridays is extending its signature social vibe beyond restaurant walls, letting guests interact whenever and wherever they want.
6 Best Practices for Restaurant Chatbots
Integrate across channels
The best restaurant chatbots aren’t on websites – they’re accessible by WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or other commonly-used channels.
Use sentiment analysis
Incorporate sentiment analysis to understand customers’ emotional tone. A chatbot can detect frustration during an interaction (e.g., delays in delivery) and respond empathetically or escalate to a human for resolution, enhancing customer satisfaction in critical moments.
Prioritize mobile optimization
Since most customers access chatbots via smartphones, ensure the chatbot is optimized for mobile platforms, offering smooth interactions on smaller screens.
Upsell with AI-powered personalization
Train your chatbot to analyze past orders, preferences, and real-time interaction cues to suggest personalized recommendations. For example, if a customer orders pizza, the chatbot could offer a discount on a dessert they've enjoyed before or pair it with a drink that complements the meal.
Use predictive analytics for staff optimization
Leverage chatbot data to predict demand patterns, such as peak ordering times or popular items, and use it to schedule staff accordingly. This ensures the restaurant is prepared during busy hours while minimizing overstaffing during lulls.
Integrate AI-powered voice interactions
Go beyond text and enable voice-based chatbot functionality for hands-free customer interactions. For instance, customers can place orders while driving or cooking, making the chatbot more accessible and convenient in everyday scenarios. This also broadens appeal for users who prefer speaking over typing.
How to Build a Restaurant Chatbot
Building a restaurant chatbot may seem overwhelming at first, but taking small, strategic steps can simplify the process. Whether it’s for streamlining customer orders or enhancing operational efficiency, a well-built chatbot can make a big impact. Here’s how to get started:
1. Define Objectives
Decide what you want your restaurant chatbot to achieve. Will it handle to-go orders? Take reservations? Allow customers to be escalated to a human?
Your objectives will shape the chatbot’s design and functionality. Most restaurant chatbots are LLM-powered agents, making them adaptable to a wide variety of tasks, like:
- Personalized recommendations
- Handling multilingual customer interactions
A clear set of goals will also guide your choice of chatbot platform and integration strategy.
2. Choose an AI Platform
Pick a platform that aligns with your objectives and offers the flexibility to scale. Look for features like:
- Integration capabilities for linking POS systems, delivery apps, and loyalty programs
- Support for your preferred LLMs or an LLM-agnostic framework
- Customization options to adapt to your restaurant’s branding and workflows
The right platform will set the foundation for a chatbot that fits seamlessly into your operations.
3. Integrate Core Systems
To make your chatbot truly effective, integrate it with essential tools like:
- POS systems for order processing
- Delivery apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats
- Reservation software for table bookings
- Customer loyalty programs
- Analytics platforms
These integrations will ensure your chatbot becomes a valuable part of your restaurant’s digital ecosystem.
4. Test and Refine
Run thorough testing before deployment to simulate real customer interactions.
Test its ability to handle complex orders, provide accurate information, and escalate issues to human agents when necessary.
Refine its workflows and prompts based on testing results to ensure smooth performance.
5. Deploy and Monitor
Once deployed, use chatbot analytics to track performance, like order accuracy and user satisfaction. Gather insights to make iterative improvements, adding new features or optimizing existing ones as customer needs evolve.
Deploy a Restaurant Chatbot Next Month
Restaurants were a popular industry for old-fashioned chatbots. Now, restaurants are beginning to harness the power of LLM agents.
Botpress is an endlessly extensible bot-building platform built for enterprises. Our stack allows developers to build chatbots and AI agents with any capabilities you could need.
Our enhanced security suite ensures that customer data is always protected, and fully controlled by your team.
Start building today. It's free.
Or contact our sales team to learn more.
Table of Contents
Stay up to date with the latest on AI agents
Share this on:
.svg)
.webp)
