Can AI answer phone calls?
Yes, it can.
Gone are the days of trawling through your voicemail after a busy service, where staff needed to prioritise serving customers over answering the phone. You can now use AI restaurant automation tools to answer phone calls, engage in conversation with potential customers and record detailed transcripts. This reduces missed calls, saves time and improves customer satisfaction at every touchpoint with your brand.
More than a traditional voicemail or menu-based system, AI voice receptionists offer a seamless call answering experience, without the wait times or "Please press 1 for...”
frustration. Instead, they converse with the caller in a friendly manner as an ambassador for your brand. This means that you’ll never lose a booking due to missed calls or poor customer engagement again.
AI voice receptionist vs Human interaction
In an industry that is so people-focused, nothing can replace human interaction. But you can implement a strong alternative.
Out of the available AI tools for restaurant management, one that is often overlooked is how phone calls are handled. Missed calls mean missed bookings. And during peak hours or after closing, that’s revenue slipping through the cracks.
An AI voice receptionist like Collins Call AI is a smart, automated system that uses natural language to answer incoming phone calls as a human would.
Just like a member of your team, an AI voice receptionist can:
- Greet guests in a natural, friendly tone
- Check live availability*
- Take bookings in real time*
- Answer common questions
- Route enquiries when needed
*Collins Call AI integrates with your Access Collins reservation diary to offer available times and tables to customers on the phone. It can confirm these bookings and add them directly to your diary, as well as sending confirmation to the customer. End-to-end management of phone enquiries to improve efficiency and reduce missed revenue. Other solutions may not integrate with your online table management system.
As AI uses a knowledge base to be an ambassador for your venue, it can’t respond to customer questions that aren't answered within your uploaded policies, documents and brand guidelines like a team member could.
However, it will record details of the request. Details that would otherwise have been lost down an unanswered phone line. That way, you can effectively follow up on all potential bookings with ease. Over time, you can also refine and expand your knowledge base by updating it with new FAQs, policy changes, and guest feedback. Optimising the performance of the system as real-world queries come in.
Key benefits of using AI to answer phone calls
- Maximise your bookings with 24/7 availability
- Reduce pressure on your already busy teams
- Improve customer experience at every brand touchpoint
- Gain valuable insights with call data recording
- Optimise operations by streamlining booking processes
Why now? The real-world impact
Use of AI and restaurant automation tools is increasing across the hospitality sector.
Operators are turning to automation not just to cut costs, but to enhance service and stay competitive. And with rising operational costs, concern about attracting new diners, and changes in guest expectations, venues are being pushed to do more with less.
For hospitality operators with busy teams, using AI to answer phone calls is crucial.
See the results of using Collins Call AI for yourself:
- 30-50% fewer missed calls
- More bookings captured after hours
- More bookings confirmed from phone enquiries
Give Collins Call AI a ring and see an AI voice assistant in action today
So, can AI answer phone calls? Yes.
Using AI to answer phone calls can transform how restaurants and venues handle and convert booking enquiries. It's fast, friendly and always-on, which helps you boost bookings, reduce admin and deliver a better guest experience. But like any new system, it works best when it’s implemented with the right tools, mindset and support.
Access Hospitality is proud to be at the forefront of developing hospitality solutions and providing support to restaurants, bars and other venues - and Collins Call AI is testament to that.
If you’re interested in booking a demo of Collins and Collins Call AI, while hearing our AI voice assistant in action, then give us a ring on (+44)8006404028. Alternatively, get in touch with our team to discuss how much it could benefit you.
For a more in-depth feature comparison between traditional voicemail or menu-based systems and Collins Call AI, download our comparison table here.