How can a chatbot help your restaurant?

A chatbot can be used in several ways. We have already seen chatbots as a digital HR employee, a lead-generating sales rep or a digital estate agent. But did you know you can also use a chatbot for a restaurant? In this blog we explain how a chatbot can help your restaurant!

What is a chatbot?

A chatbot is a digital colleague that you can place on your website, but can also integrate with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or other tools used within your organisation. When you ask this chatbot a question, the bot looks for the right answer and sends it to you within seconds. This means your frequently asked questions can be automated, and you no longer have to worry about them.

What are the benefits for your restaurant?

Chatbots can handle frequently asked questions, but also strengthen the relationship with your (potential) guests, both online and in the restaurant. Chatbots can make recommendations, take orders or answer questions. Curious what that looks like in practice? We have described a few ideas below.

Making reservations

You know the feeling: the phone ringing constantly because customers want to make a reservation by telephone. While your floor staff really have no time for it. Put a chatbot on your website and help the guest make an online reservation! The chatbot asks for the name, telephone number, number of people, date and time, and passes that reservation on to one of your staff. Integrate the chatbot with your booking system, and the chatbot can even enter the reservation and send an email confirmation to the guest. That way the floor staff can focus on the guests in the restaurant again, instead of running to the phone!

Taking orders

This probably still sounds a bit futuristic, but we really have come that far! In many restaurants you can now photograph a QR code and place your order online straight away. But what if the chatbot could take that order? The guest is addressed in a personal way and the order is passed to the bar or the kitchen in no time!

Advising

We probably all do it: sneaking a quick look at the menu before heading to the restaurant. Most people make their choice before they are even in the restaurant. We can make this a step more interesting, though: what if a chatbot could advise in advance on which dish is best to choose? Or which wine goes best with that dish? This can also be very handy when guests have a particular dietary requirement!

Asking for reviews

To keep improving the service in your restaurant, it is important to ask for feedback regularly. A chatbot can help you with that! The chatbot asks the guest to leave a score and explain it. That way your manager can pick up this feedback and use it to make the restaurant even better.

Curious about the possibilities? Try it yourself and create a free account.