Product Update: Introducing Our New AI-Powered Features!
Content
Min Read
We're excited to announce a major update to our platform that will revolutionize the way you manage your business! At [SaaSleek], we are committed to constantly improving our service to help you stay ahead of the competition. In this release, we’ve introduced several AI-powered features designed to make your work smarter, faster, and more efficient.
AI phone ordering has transformed restaurant operations in the US — and the UK market is now catching up fast. This guide covers everything UK restaurant owners need to know: which systems work with UK POS platforms, how to get a UK phone number, and what the regulations require.
The UK restaurant phone problem
UK restaurants — particularly takeaways, Indian restaurants, Chinese restaurants, and pizza shops — are among the highest-volume phone order businesses in the world. The average UK takeaway receives between 80 and 300 phone calls on a Friday evening alone.
Staff answering phones during a rush is one of the most common complaints from UK restaurant owners. Every call answered by a staff member is a customer at the counter or a ticket being missed. Every call that goes unanswered is lost revenue.
What's different about the UK market
Most AI phone ordering guides are written for US restaurants. The UK has several important differences:
POS systems
The most popular POS systems in UK restaurants are different from the US. Epos Now and Foodhub are widely used by independent takeaways — systems that many US-focused AI providers don't support at all. Before choosing a voicebot, confirm it integrates with your specific POS.
| POS system | Common in UK? | SpeakLouder support |
|---|---|---|
| Foodhub | Very common | Yes — official partner |
| Epos Now | Very common | Yes |
| Lightspeed | Common | Yes |
| Square | Growing | Yes |
| Clover | Growing | Yes |
| Toast | Less common | Yes |
| Tevalis | Common | Not yet |
| Vita Mojo | Common | Not yet |
Phone numbers
Unlike in the US where many providers supply phone numbers directly, UK AI phone ordering typically requires you to obtain a UK number through Twilio and connect it to the system. This takes about 5 minutes and costs approximately £1/month for the number itself.
Data protection
UK restaurants using AI phone systems need to be aware of UK GDPR requirements. Any system processing customer voice data or personal information (name, address, order history) must comply with the UK Data Protection Act 2018. Reputable providers handle this at the platform level, but you should confirm with your provider that their data processing is GDPR-compliant and that data is not stored in jurisdictions that don't meet UK adequacy standards.
How to set up AI phone ordering in the UK
Choose your system
For UK independent restaurants, SpeakLouder is currently the only AI phone ordering solution with official Foodhub integration and a pay-per-order model. For sit-down restaurants focused on reservations, options are more limited in the UK than the US.
Get a UK phone number via Twilio
Go to twilio.com, create an account, and purchase a UK local number (typically a 01, 02, or 03 number). Cost is approximately £1/month. This is the number your AI will answer — you'll forward your existing restaurant number to it.
Connect your POS
Log into your SpeakLouder account and connect your POS system. Your menu imports automatically — no manual entry. Changes to your menu in the POS sync to the AI in real time.
Set up your agent
Customise your greeting, set your opening hours, and add any special instructions — delivery areas, allergen information, minimum order values. The AI uses this to handle every call accurately.
Forward your number and go live
Set your existing restaurant phone to forward to the Twilio number. Test with a real call. Your AI is live — every call is now answered, every order goes straight to your kitchen.
UK-specific tip: opening hours
UK restaurant opening hours vary significantly — many takeaways don't open until 4–5pm and run until midnight or later. Make sure your AI agent is configured with accurate opening hours so it handles after-hours calls correctly (capturing enquiries rather than trying to take orders).
Also configure bank holiday hours separately — UK bank holidays fall at unpredictable times and catching a call at the wrong time can create confusion for customers.
Which UK restaurants benefit most
AI phone ordering delivers the highest ROI for:
- Takeaways — high call volume, peak-hour pressure, staff stretched across cooking and serving
- Indian, Chinese and pizza restaurants — consistently the highest phone order volumes in the UK market
- Restaurants with late hours — AI answers calls at 11pm that no staff member would
- Multi-cuisine restaurants — complex menus that take time to explain over the phone benefit from AI patience
- Restaurants near universities — high-volume, price-sensitive customers who order frequently by phone
What UK restaurants should expect to pay
At $1 per completed order with no monthly fee, a typical UK takeaway taking 150 phone orders per month pays approximately £120/month at current exchange rates. That's less than the cost of four hours of minimum wage staff time — and the AI works every evening, every weekend, and never calls in sick.
UK cost comparison at 150 orders/month:
- SpeakLouder: ~£120/month (150 × $1 at current rates)
- Part-time phone staff (10 hrs/week at £12.21/hr NLW): ~£529/month
- Third-party delivery commission (at 25%): £1,050/month on £4,200 revenue
Frequently asked questions
Ready to try it for your UK restaurant?
First 50 orders free. Official Foodhub partner. Set up in under 4 minutes.
Get started free →$1 per completed order · Epos Now, Foodhub, Lightspeed, Square, Clover, Toast · No monthly fee
More Articles
