Increase Average Ticket Size with AI Upselling Voicebots

Introduction: Why Upselling Matters

Upselling is one of the easiest ways to grow restaurant revenue — but it’s often overlooked during busy hours. Staff are focused on speed, not on suggesting extra items. As a result, restaurants lose thousands of dollars in missed upsell opportunities every month.

AI voice ordering systems change that. By integrating directly with your POS (like Square) and using smart recommendation logic, voicebots can upsell automatically on every order, 24/7, with no staff involvement.

Why Staff Struggle to Upsell Consistently

Even well-trained staff miss upsells during peak rush periods. Common challenges include:

• Lack of time during busy shifts

• Forgetting to mention promotions

• Inconsistent training across locations

• Anxiety about sounding “pushy” to customers

AI solves these challenges with automation — making upselling consistent, seamless, and non-intrusive.

How AI Voicebots Upsell Automatically

1 — Personalized Suggestions Based on Order Context

The voicebot uses real-time order data to offer relevant add-ons.
Example:

• Customer: “I’ll have a cheeseburger combo.”

• Voicebot: “Would you like to add a chocolate shake to go with your combo?”

This increases acceptance rates because suggestions are contextual, not random.

2 — Timed Offers at the Right Moment

The upsell happens after the main order is locked in, reducing customer resistance.
Example:

• “Your pizza will be ready in 15 minutes. Would you like to add a side of garlic knots for $3?”

3 — Dynamic Promotions from POS

Voicebots can pull daily specials or overstock items directly from your Square POS to promote them. This helps move inventory and reduce waste.

4 — No Staff Effort Required

Every call gets a consistent upsell attempt — without burdening your team.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up an AI Upselling Voicebot

Step 1 — Create Your Account and Connect to Square

With platforms like SpeakLouder AI, setup takes minutes:

• Create your account

• Log in to the dashboard

• Connect your Square POS via OAuth

No coding or developer setup needed.

Step 2 — Define Your Upsell Rules

Inside the dashboard, choose:

• Which items trigger upsells (e.g. burger → fries)

• Price thresholds for free add-ons

• Limited-time offers or high-margin items

Step 3 — Train & Test

Run test calls to ensure upsells sound natural and do not interrupt order flow.

Benefits: Why Upselling with AI Works

✅ Higher Average Ticket Size
Restaurants see 10–20% increase in average order value.

✅ Increased Profit Margins
Upselling high-margin items boosts profitability.

✅ Zero Extra Labor
No need for staff to remember or be trained.

✅ Better Customer Experience
Polite, timely upsells feel helpful — not pushy.

Real-World Case Study

A quick-service chicken restaurant in Texas used an AI voicebot to upsell sides and drinks. Results after 60 days:

• Average ticket size rose by 18%

• Upsell acceptance rate averaged 31%

• Staff saved 15+ hours/week on phone calls

FAQ: AI Upselling Voicebots

1. Can I choose which items the bot upsells?
Yes — you control upsell logic and product pairings in the dashboard.

2. Will customers find upsells annoying?
No — the bot suggests only 1–2 relevant items after the main order.

3. Can it change upsells daily?
Yes — it can pull daily specials and promotions from your POS automatically.

4. Does this work for multi-location chains?
Absolutely — you can set global or location-specific upsell rules.

5. How quickly can we launch it?
Most restaurants go live in under a week.

Conclusion: Turn Every Order Into a Bigger Order

Upselling is proven to increase revenue — and AI makes it effortless. By integrating an upselling voicebot with your Square POS, you can increase average ticket size, reduce labor costs, and deliver a consistent experience on every call.

In 2025, the most profitable restaurants are the ones that automate upselling at scale — and voicebots are the fastest way to get there.