If you’ve worked a service or kitchen shift recently, you don’t need us to tell you it’s tough out there. Short-staffed rosters, tight margins, and a steady stream of guests who expect everything right now. It’s a lot to juggle, and we’ve heard it firsthand from the teams we support.
That’s why more and more venues are leaning on AI. Not as a gimmick, but as genuine backup. From helping prep crews stay ahead during service to managing bookings when no one’s on the phone, the best form of AI is the one that blends into the background and makes life easier. It’s the kind of support that doesn’t take a break, doesn’t call in sick, and doesn’t miss a detail.
And no, it’s not here to replace anyone. It’s here to take the pressure off, so your team can focus on the good stuff—warm welcomes, great food, and those important moments that keep guests coming back.
Bottom line? When AI works behind the scenes, your people get to shine out front.
Front of house automation
From guest bookings to upselling at the table, the front of house is where the customer experience really shines; or stumbles. And as the industry continues to grapple with staff shortages and rising costs, one thing we hear time and again from restaurant teams is: “We just need a bit more time back.”
That’s where AI has quietly stepped in. Not to replace staff, but to help teams do more with the resources they’ve got. From our side of the industry—supporting venues with bookings, guest data, and service flow—we’ve seen some smart, practical front-of-house wins through automation.
Here’s how hospitality pros are putting AI in restaurants to work where it counts: right at the guest-facing front.
1. AI chatbots for reservations and customer service
When we first started talking with restaurant teams about using AI chatbots to handle after-hours reservations, the reaction was pretty consistent: Sounds helpful. But will it feel personal? Can it actually keep up?
Totally fair questions. But once they see it in action, the results speak for themselves.
One of our popular pub venues, Beach Hotel Burnie, used to miss out on bookings simply because no one could keep up with the endless phone calls. After setting up the AI assistant through their Now Book It system, things turned around fast. In just one month, the chatbot took over 900+ calls and logged 213 bookings all automatically.
No missed calls. No unanswered messages. Just more bums on seats and less stress for the team.
With Sadie AI, restaurants don’t have to choose between great service and getting some rest. She answers every call, books directly into your Now Book It system, and keeps guests happy with quick, friendly responses 24/7. It’s like adding a rock-solid front-of-house team member who never clocks out.
2. AI-powered ordering systems
Let’s be real: not every restaurant wants to swap warm service for screens. But in the right setting—think fast-casual, pub dining, or high-volume venues—AI-powered ordering has been a real game changer.
We’re seeing more coastal cafes and busy pubs across Australia and New Zealand using table-side ordering tablets that suggest drink or side pairings based on guest choices. One great example is our friends at me&u, whose AI-driven QR code menus personalise recommendations to speed up ordering and improve the guest experience.
The venues that succeed don’t just install the tech—they train their teams to embrace it. These systems aren’t replacements; they’re like extra hands during a rush. Staff still greet guests, answer questions, and add that vital human touch.
Bottom line? These tools work best when paired with personality. Don’t just drop a tablet on the table and disappear.
3. Dynamic pricing and smart menus
Dynamic pricing used to be something you only heard about with airlines. Now, it’s helping restaurants manage stock and margins in clever, practical ways. Imagine your menu changing in real-time to respond to a sudden downpour or a Friday night surplus of ingredients. With smart menu tech, that’s possible.
Some restaurants are using AI to tweak prices or highlight certain dishes based on inventory levels, time of day, or even the weather. It’s a smart way to cut waste, boost profits, and keep things running smoothly.
This isn’t guesswork—AI is analysing real data like sales history, weather forecasts, and POS info to make timely, strategic updates. The result? Less waste, more sales, and a menu that really comes alive.
Back of house automation
When we talk about AI in restaurants, most people picture flashy front of house tech like chatbots or self-serve kiosks. But the real magic is happening behind the scenes, where smart kitchens and automation are transforming how restaurants operate.
For owners and managers looking to boost efficiency, cut waste, and make life easier for their teams, back-of-house AI tools are quickly becoming a game changer.
Here’s a look at some of the most exciting ways hospitality pros are using restaurant automation in the kitchen and beyond.
5. Smart kitchen tech & predictive inventory
We’ve talked to plenty of restaurant managers who say stock management is a constant headache. One longtime client, running a busy coastal bistro, told us how they used to over-order perishables “just in case” — which led to a lot of waste and tight margins.
That’s where AI steps in. Using historical sales data, weather patterns, and even local events, AI-powered inventory tools can predict what you’ll need and when. This means fewer surprises and less food going to waste. It’s what you’d call a win-win for smart kitchens and restaurant bottom lines.
6. Voice AI & digital kitchen assistants
We love hearing stories about how kitchens are using voice-activated AI assistants. Imagine a kitchen where chefs can access recipes, timers, or allergy info without ever stopping what they’re doing or touching a screen.
For example, Brigade, a UK-based company, offers voice-activated kitchen assistants that help staff quickly get cooking instructions and manage tasks hands-free. Closer to home, some Australian venues have started trialling similar tech, reporting smoother workflows during busy service periods.
From our perspective, this kind of hands-free tech is a subtle but powerful boost—especially for newer staff who are still learning the ropes. It keeps things moving fast without sacrificing quality or safety. Honestly, it’s a clever way to give kitchen teams some breathing room when orders pile up.
7. AI in staff scheduling and hiring
Staffing headaches? We hear you. It’s one of the biggest challenges restaurant teams face every day. That’s why AI-powered tools for scheduling and hiring are becoming popular fast.
These smart scheduling systems look at things like past sales, upcoming bookings, and local events to predict exactly how many staff you’ll need. The result? Smarter rosters that avoid having too many or too few people on shift—and fewer last-minute emergencies.
When it comes to hiring, AI screening tools can quickly review applicants and match the right people to the right roles based on their skills and experience. That means you find good hires faster and spend less time sorting through resumes.
If you’re worried about AI taking over decisions, don’t be—these tools don’t replace human judgment; they support it. By taking the guesswork out of staffing, they free managers to focus on coaching their teams and delivering great service.
AI in restaurant marketing
AI in restaurants isn’t just about smart kitchens or ordering systems—the biggest shifts we’re noticing are happening in marketing. It’s a quieter revolution, but one that’s making a real impact for restaurant teams juggling a million tasks.
Marketing often gets pushed down the priority list, so AI-powered tools that lighten the load have been a genuine game changer for the venues we work with.
8. AI for customer insights & personalisation
One thing restaurant teams often tell us is how tricky it is to keep up with guest preferences. Customers are more diverse than ever, and those one-size-fits-all promos just don’t cut it anymore.
That’s why more venues are turning to AI to help personalise their marketing. In fact, 33% of U.S. restaurant operators are already using AI for personalised marketing—and it’s easy to see why. We’ve seen tools that analyse data from bookings, loyalty programs, and POS systems to tailor offers in a way that actually resonates.
Our venues that start sending personalised birthday offers and tailored promos based on guests’ past orders and dining habits see noticeable growth in repeat visits. This is all done using dynamic customer profiles from their Now Book It system and automated SMS and email templates. It wasn’t about shouting louder—it was about speaking more directly, and more meaningfully.
This kind of personalisation is becoming non-negotiable in the restaurant world. It’s how venues build loyalty, create better guest experiences, and stand out without adding more work to already busy teams.
9. AI tools for automated campaigns and social media
Managing email campaigns and social media can seriously pile on the stress. We’ve seen plenty of venues get totally swamped trying to keep their content fresh while juggling everything else that running a restaurant demands.
That’s why AI tools have become such a lifesaver. They can quickly whip up email promos, craft social posts, and even figure out the best times to post—helping take a huge chunk off those overwhelming to-do lists. One local cafe told us that using AI to draft their weekly social media posts has saved them hours each week. It was like suddenly having an extra team member to share the load, without the extra cost.
Here’s a pro tip: think of AI as your helper, not a replacement. It speeds things up but still keeps your restaurant’s unique voice front and centre—because that personal touch is what really counts.
10. AI for review management
Keeping track of reviews across all the different sites can feel like a full-time job on top of a full-time job. We’ve chatted with restaurant managers who stay up late just trying to keep up with feedback from Google, TripAdvisor, Facebook… the list goes on. One manager even told us they had a spreadsheet just to track all the comments!
AI review tools have been a breath of fresh air for a lot of venues. They pull in reviews from multiple platforms into one simple dashboard, highlight patterns in guest feedback, and even suggest personalised responses. It’s a massive timesaver and a stress reducer.
Think of it as an extra set of hands for your reputation. These tools make it easier to respond quickly and thoughtfully, so guests feel genuinely heard without you losing sleep over every new review.
Less stress, more service with AI in hospitality
Hospitality is still all about people—but the way teams are supported behind the scenes is changing fast. Whether it’s managing reservations, streamlining kitchen prep, or personalising marketing, AI tools are quickly becoming part of the day-to-day in modern venues.
And it’s not just a trend. 95% of surveyed operators say they’re already using some form of AI in their restaurants, with inventory management, menu optimisation, and booking systems leading the charge. For busy teams juggling tight rosters and high guest expectations, this kind of tech isn’t just helpful—it’s becoming essential.
The goal isn’t to replace the human touch. It’s to give your staff more breathing room to do what they do best: deliver genuine, memorable guest experiences.
