Voice Ordering Solution 2025: How to Boost Restaurant Sales by 37% in 90 Days [Step-by-Step Guide]

Restaurants using Voice AI have increased phone order revenue by up to 37% in under three months. In 2025, that kind of lift isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Labor shortages are reaching critical levels, guests expect Amazon-level convenience, and most phone lines are still stuck in 2005. That’s why operators are turning to Voice AI—not as a novelty, but as a dependable sous-chef that never misses a call.

Maple’s Voice Ordering Solution gives restaurants the power to handle every phone order with precision, 24/7, while freeing up staff for what they do best: hospitality.

In this post, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step roadmap to automate your phone ordering system, sync it with your POS, and start seeing results in just 90 days.

What Is a Voice Ordering Solution?

A Voice Ordering Solution is an AI-powered system that lets guests place orders through a phone call or voice assistant. It uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand what callers say and automatically routes those requests into your POS system—no humans, no wait time.

Why Restaurants Need It Now

• Missed calls = missed revenue

• Drive-thru delays hurt throughput

• Staffing gaps create service friction

The global market for restaurant Voice AI is projected to reach $26.8 billion by 2028. And with over 1,000 restaurants already using Maple’s platform, the results speak for themselves.

Core Components of Voice AI

1. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP converts speech into structured data. It gets smarter over time, learning your menu items, guest phrasing, and even regional accents.

2. POS Integration

Seamless syncing means every order goes straight to your kitchen—no retyping, no mistakes. Maple supports direct POS integrations with Toast, Olo, and others.

3. Analytics Dashboard

Track:

• Call capture rate

• Average ticket size

• Upsell conversion

FeatureWithout AnalyticsWith Maple Voice AIMissed call dataUnavailableCaptured in real timeUpsell trackingManualAutomated & loggedPerformance alertsNoneBuilt-in

How Voice Ordering Differs From Traditional Phone Systems

Traditional phone lines require staff to pick up, manually enter orders, and remember upsells—while juggling dine-in guests.

Voice AI, by contrast:

• Operates 24/7

• Suggests add-ons automatically

• Records every call for QA and analytics

Taco Bell processed over 2 million voice orders in 2023, proving this tech is ready for prime time.

And now, it’s your turn.

Why Voice Ordering Increases Restaurant Revenue

Voice AI drives top-line growth across four fronts:

• Speed: Answer every call instantly, even during peak rush.

• Accuracy: Eliminate re-entry errors with direct POS injection.

• Upselling: Consistently offer sides, drinks, and combos.

• Labor: Offload routine calls so staff can focus on service.

Maple’s Voice AI handles both reservations and takeout orders—and integrates with your existing tools in under a week.

Higher Order Accuracy and Faster Throughput

Voice AI delivers 95%+ order accuracy, compared to the 89% average for humans—especially during high-stress periods.

Throughput—the number of orders processed per hour—increases when every phone call is answered in under two seconds, with no hold time or manual bottlenecks.

Automated Upselling That Grows Average Check Size

Machine learning tailors upsell prompts to guest history:

• “Would you like to add fries?”

• “We have a new seasonal smoothie—should I include one?”

Toast reports a 6–30% increase in average ticket size from AI-driven suggestive selling.

Labor Cost Savings and Reallocation of Staff Time

Let’s say your restaurant handles 50 calls/day, each taking 2.5 minutes.

50 × 2.5 mins = 125 minutes/day = ~14.5 hours/week

Multiply by $15/hr = $218/week in savings.

That’s time your team can spend on plating, guest check-ins, or curbside coordination—not manning the phones.

90-Day Implementation Plan to Lift Sales by 37%

Here’s the blueprint Maple uses to help restaurants go from zero to fully automated phone ordering in 90 days:

Step 1 – Audit Current Ordering Channels and KPIs

Measure your baseline:

• Call volume

• Order accuracy

• Average ticket size

• Abandonment rate

Use call-tracking software or request Maple’s free Voice Ordering Assessment Worksheet.

KPI: A measurable value that tracks progress toward business goals.

Step 2 – Select a Voice AI Partner and Integrate With POS

Your checklist:

• ✅ POS compatibility (Toast, Olo, etc.)

• ✅ Fast setup (<1 week)

• ✅ Month-to-month contracts

• ✅ 24/7 live support

• ✅ PCI-DSS compliance

PlatformPOS IntegrationContractSupportTwilioManualAnnualSelf-serveSmith.aiPartialAnnualOffice hoursMaple✅ Full✅ Monthly✅ 24/7

Step 3 – Train Staff and Launch a Pilot Location

• Run a 1-hour training on guest handoffs and edge-case handling.

• Set up fallback: guests can press "0" anytime for a live rep.

• Print signage or include on-hold prompts:

  “Our new Voice AI assistant will take your order—ask for a team member anytime.”

Step 4 – Expand Rollout and Optimize Upsell Prompts

• Roll out 5 new sites per week.

• A/B test phrasing:

  “Would you like a drink?” vs. “Add a strawberry lemonade today?”

• Use Maple’s analytics to identify underperforming locations.

Tracking Results and Optimizing Performance

What gets measured gets improved.

Essential Metrics to Monitor

• Conversion rate: % of calls that become paid orders

• Call capture rate: % of total calls answered by Voice AI (target: 85–95%)

• Average ticket size: Total sales ÷ number of orders

Track these daily, with a deeper review weekly.

Using Data Insights to Refine Menus and Promotions

• Use call logs to identify frequently requested add-ons or modifiers.

• Launch seasonal promos triggered by guest keywords (e.g., “pumpkin,” “BBQ”).

• Case in point: A Maple client added a limited-edition dipping sauce after repeated requests—and saw 8% lift in order value.

Scaling Across Multiple Locations Without Disruption

• Use centralized templates for scripts, menus, and reporting.

• Allow local overrides for pricing or item availability.

• Maple guarantees 99.9% uptime—meaning your system is live and operational 99.9% of the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to common Voice AI adoption questions.

How Long Does Setup Take?

Example Answer: Most restaurants go live in as little as one week because Maple’s Voice AI plugs directly into major POS systems without custom coding.

What Hardware Do I Need?

Example Answer: A standard internet connection and your existing phone line are enough; Maple routes calls through the cloud, so no new on-site servers are required.

How Does Voice AI Handle Accents or Noisy Environments?

Example Answer: Maple’s NLP engine is trained on millions of hospitality-specific voice samples and applies noise-cancellation algorithms to maintain 95% order accuracy.

Can Guests Opt to Speak With a Human?

Example Answer: Yes—callers can press “0” or say “operator” at any time, instantly transferring to in-house staff for personal assistance.

What Does a Typical Pricing Model Look Like?

Example Answer: Maple offers a flat monthly subscription based on call volume tiers, so costs stay predictable and scale with usage.

Are Long-Term Contracts Required?

Example Answer: No, Maple provides flexible month-to-month agreements, giving restaurants the freedom to cancel or expand without penalties.

Ready to capture more orders, reduce staff stress, and grow your revenue in just 90 days?

→ [Book a Maple Voice AI Demo Today]