50 Automations for Restaurants
We’ve worked with countless small business owners to streamline their daily tasks. Below are the top five automations we implement, plus a full list of 50 options to handle everything from scheduling to payments
5 High‑Impact Automations — All Done‑for‑You
1.AI Chat/Text Agent
Answers common questions (menu, hours, parking), takes table bookings, and can handle basic catering inquiries 24/7 via your website, Facebook, Google Chat, or SMS.
2.Missed-Call Text-Back
Whenever a call goes unanswered, the system instantly texts the caller: “Sorry we missed you—book a table here or text your question.”
3.Online Reservation + Auto-Reminder
Real-time booking calendar guests use on your site/QR; sends confirmation plus 3-hour reminder by SMS/email.
4.Post-Visit Review & Referral Request
Automatically thanks diners the next morning, links them to leave a Google review, and offers a small perk if they refer a friend.
5.Walk-In Waitlist SMS
Adds walk-ins to a digital queue and automatically texts them when their table is ready.
Want to focus on serving your customers rather than answering questions all day?
50 Automations that are working for other businesses like yours
(of course your automations will be tailored to you)
Monthly Time Saved
≈ 180 hours freed up every monthWhat an Employee Would Cost You
£2,060 /month at UK minimum wage*| Automation Name | What It Does | Time Saved/Week | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Chat & SMS Agent | Answers diner questions 24/7, shows menu items, takes reservations or takeaway orders, and logs every inquiry. | ≈5 hrs | Guests can book or order instantly while staff concentrate on food and service—not ringing phones. |
| Missed‑Call Text‑Back | Auto texts callers you can’t answer. | ≈0.5 hr | Recovers reservations you’d lose when phone is busy. |
| Online Reservation Widget | Guests book tables on your site/Facebook. | ≈1 hr | Frees staff from phone booking and avoids double‑booking. |
| Reservation Confirm & Reminder | Sends instant confirm + day‑before reminder. | ≈0.5 hr | Reduces no‑shows so seats are filled and revenue steady. |
| Waitlist Text Notifier | Texts diners when their table is ready. | ≈0.5 hr | Eliminates buzzing pagers and keeps guests nearby. |
| Auto Seat Table Rotations | Software seats parties by size/turn time. | ≈0.5 hr | Maximises covers without host stand maths. |
| Order‑Ahead Pickup | Online menu for takeaway orders. | ≈0.5 hr | Extra sales with no phone time. |
| Order Ready SMS | Alerts customer when pickup is ready. | ≈0.5 hr | Reduces lobby congestion, happier guests. |
| Review Request Automation | Emails/SMS after meal to ask for review. | ≈0.5 hr | Grows 5‑star ratings that drive new diners. |
| Loyalty Points Tracker | Auto adds points on each visit. | ≈0.5 hr | Keeps regulars returning more often. |
| Birthday Coupon Sender | Sends discount before diner’s birthday. | ≈0.5 hr | Fills tables with celebratory groups. |
| Lapsed Guest Win‑Back | Nudges diners absent 90+ days. | ≈0.5 hr | Reactivates customers cheaper than ads. |
| Post‑Meal Upsell Email | Offers dessert voucher next visit. | ≈0.5 hr | Boosts average spend from existing guests. |
| Abandoned Online Cart Reminder | Emails diners who left checkout. | ≈0.5 hr | Recovers lost takeaway revenue. |
| Weekly Specials Blast | Sends menu & deals every Monday. | ≈0.5 hr | Keeps your place top‑of‑mind and seats booked mid‑week. |
| Weather‑Based Patio Promo | Texts sunshine patio deal on nice days. | ≈0.5 hr | Fills outdoor seats that would sit empty. |
| Google Business Chat Auto Reply | Instant response in GBP chat. | ≈0.3 hr | Captures leads browsing on Google search. |
| Social DM Auto Reply | Responds to IG/FB DMs off‑hours. | ≈0.3 hr | Stops potential diners bouncing to competitors. |
| Unified Inbox | Merges calls, texts, emails into one screen. | ≈0.5 hr | No message slips through the cracks, faster service. |
| Staff Schedule Notifier | Sends weekly rota + shift reminders. | ≈0.5 hr | Fewer late arrivals & “when do I work?” texts. |
| Shift‑Swap Broadcast | Alerts staff of open shift, auto assigns first reply. | ≈0.3 hr | Manager stops calling a dozen servers. |
| Daily Prep List Generator | Creates kitchen prep sheet from bookings. | ≈0.5 hr | Cooks start day with clear quantities, less waste. |
| Recipe Scaling Calculator | Scales recipes to covers forecast. | ≈0.3 hr | Prevents over/under‑prep. |
| Low‑Stock Alert | Texts chef when ingredient low. | ≈0.5 hr | Prevents menu 86s and lost sales. |
| Supplier Re‑Order Draft | Creates PO email when threshold hit. | ≈0.5 hr | Saves chef admin time, keeps kitchen stocked. |
| Expiry Date Alert | Flags product near expiry. | ≈0.3 hr | Use or discount before waste. |
| Waste Log & Weekly Report | Tracks discarded food, emails summary. | ≈0.3 hr | Identify costly waste patterns quickly. |
| Sales & Inventory Report | Emails top sellers, inventory levels weekly. | ≈0.5 hr | Data‑driven menu and ordering decisions. |
| POS→Accounting Sync | Pushes daily sales to Xero/QBO. | ≈0.5 hr | No manual bookkeeping data entry. |
| Tip Pool Calculator | Auto splits pooled tips, emails staff. | ≈0.3 hr | Transparent, accurate payouts without maths. |
| Payroll Export | Exports hours to payroll file. | ≈0.5 hr | Pays staff in minutes not hours. |
| Health Inspection Checklist Reminders | Sends daily/weekly cleaning tasks. | ≈0.3 hr | Keeps venue audit‑ready, no nagging. |
| Fridge/Freezer Temp Alerts | Warns if equipment warms up. | ≈0.3 hr | Avoids thousand‑pound spoilage disasters. |
| Allergen Flagging | Tags menu items with allergens automatically. | ≈0.3 hr | Protects guests & compliance without manual updates. |
| Digital Menu Price Sync | Change price once, updates boards/site. | ≈0.3 hr | No mismatched pricing errors. |
| Happy‑Hour Auto Pricing | Switches POS prices at set times. | ≈0.3 hr | Ends manual button pressing, prevents mistakes. |
| Delivery Route Optimiser | Maps efficient path for own drivers. | ≈0.5 hr | Saves fuel, delivers food hotter. |
| Driver Live Tracking SMS | Sends customer ETA link. | ≈0.3 hr | Improves delivery experience, fewer “where is it?” calls. |
| Gift Card Sales & Reminder | Sells e‑cards, reminds unused cards. | ≈0.3 hr | Boosts cash flow and bring‑back visits. |
| Holiday Pre‑Order System | Takes orders for Xmas/New Year menus. | ≈0.5 hr | Avoids phone chaos, guarantees holiday revenue. |
| Event Booking Calendar | Lets customers reserve private room. | ≈0.3 hr | Fills high‑ticket events automatically. |
| Post‑Event Follow‑Up | Emails organiser for feedback & repeat booking. | ≈0.3 hr | Turns one‑off event into recurring revenue. |
| Catering Quote Builder | Auto creates menu & price quote PDF. | ≈0.5 hr | Speeds proposals, wins catering gigs first. |
| Catering Quote Follow‑Up | Reminder if quote not accepted in 3 days. | ≈0.3 hr | Nudges prospects, boosts conversion. |
| Table‑Side Feedback Survey | QR code survey, data auto‑logs. | ≈0.3 hr | Catches issues before they hit reviews. |
| Social Media Scheduler | Auto‑posts food pics & promos. | ≈0.5 hr | Consistent online presence without daily effort. |
| Ad Lead Capture to CRM | Pushes Facebook/Google leads to list. | ≈0.3 hr | Ensures every promo lead gets nurtured. |
| Weekly KPI Email | Sends covers, revenue, labour %, top dishes. | ≈0.3 hr | Owner sees health of business at a glance. |
| License/Premises Renewal Reminders | Alerts before licenses expire. | ≈0.2 hr | Avoid fines or forced closures automatically. |
| Slow‑Night Promo Blast | One‑click SMS/email to boost Tuesday covers. | ≈0.5 hr | Turns dead nights into profitable ones fast. |
