Stop Missing Catering Inquiries After Hours With 24/7 AI Support That Handles Every Lead Instantly
Imagine your catering business never dropping a single event inquiry, even at 2 AM. Our custom AI chatbots ensure round-the-clock responses, boosting bookings by up to 35% without adding staff.
Join 150+ businesses with seamless 24/7 customer support
The "After-Hours Lead Leak" Problem
Event Inquiries for Banquet Hall Bookings Vanish Overnight, Losing Out on $5K+ Revenue Per Lead
Last-Minute Questions on Appetizer Pairings or Plated Dinners Go Unanswered During Rush Hours
Gluten-Free or Nut Allergy Restrictions Ignored During Off-Peak Hours, Risking Client Health Complaints
Corporate Catering Quotes for Boxed Lunches Delayed by Busy Kitchen Prep Days
Weekend Wedding Leads for Custom Cake Tastings Slipping Through Cracks Amid Vendor Setup
Vendor Coordination Queries for Fresh Produce Deliveries Piling Up Unchecked During Peak Season
Our Custom AI Chatbot Built Just for Your Catering Workflow
With over 5 years engineering AI for food service pros, we've tackled the chaos of event planning head-on.
Why Choose Us
You're probably thinking, 'Another chatbot? We've tried those cookie-cutter ones—they couldn't tell a plated dinner from a buffet.' Here's the thing: we don't do templates. At AIQ Labs, we build your AI agent from scratch, trained on your menus, past events, and client quirks. It handles inquiries 24/7, qualifies leads like checking if a guest needs gluten-free options, and even suggests upsells for that big gala. Let's be honest, in catering, timing is everything. Our system integrates seamlessly with your booking software, ensuring no lead gets cold. Short answer: you get instant, always-on support that feels like an extension of your team.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Round-the-Clock Wins for Your Catering Biz
Never Miss a Peak-Hour Opportunity
Never Miss a Peak-Hour Opportunity: Picture this: a bride-to-be messages at midnight about her 200-guest reception, inquiring about passed hors d'oeuvres and floral cake designs. Your AI jumps in, asks about theme, budget, and allergen needs, then books a tasting consult by morning. No more lost weekends— we've seen clients snag 25% more bookings from after-hours chats alone, especially for high-margin wedding buffets.
Boost Client Satisfaction Without Extra Headcount
Boost Client Satisfaction Without Extra Headcount: Catering clients expect lightning-fast answers on allergies, portion sizes for family-style service, or vegan substitutions. Our AI delivers instant, personalized replies based on your menu database, turning potential headaches into raving fans. One caterer reported a 40% jump in repeat business after ditching voicemail for our always-ready bot, with fewer last-minute order changes.
Streamline Ops and Cut Response Overload
Streamline Ops and Cut Response Overload: Your team's slammed prepping mise en place for that corporate luncheon? The AI filters routine queries—like confirming delivery times for chilled seafood platters—freeing you for high-touch planning like custom sauce pairings. Result: smoother events and 15 fewer hours weekly on support drudgery, plus reduced food waste from unclear orders.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ's chatbot, we'd lose half our weekend inquiries for weddings—folks just moved on to competitors after no response on buffet options. Now, it handles initial chats, checks availability against our calendar for tasting sessions, and we've closed three extra events in the last month alone, adding $15K in revenue. Game-changer for our small team during peak bridal season."
Maria Gonzalez
Owner, Savory Events Catering, specializing in Southern-style wedding buffets
"We do a lot of corporate gigs, and execs hate waiting on details like sandwich platter yields or coffee station setups. The AI not only answers menu questions instantly but pulls up our custom pricing tiers for off-site deliveries. Cut our lead response time from 4 hours to under 2 minutes—bookings are up 28% this quarter, with smoother coordination for 50+ person meetings."
David Chen
Operations Manager, Elite Plate Catering, focusing on executive boxed lunches
"Dealing with dietary tweaks at odd hours, like low-carb options for a keto-friendly menu, was killing us. This bot asks the right questions upfront about cross-contamination risks and flags complex ones for us. Last week, it sorted a vegan request for a 150-person gala without us lifting a finger—saved hours, impressed the client, and avoided a potential $2K rework fee."
Lisa Patel
Event Coordinator, Gourmet Gatherings, experts in allergy-safe gala catering
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery Chat
We dive into your catering world—your menus, event types, and biggest pain points like after-hours rushes. No fluff, just mapping how the AI fits your flow.
Custom Build Phase
Our engineers craft your AI from the ground up, training it on your data for that personal touch. We test with real scenarios, like a sudden buffet change request.
Launch and Optimize
Go live with seamless integration, then we monitor and tweak based on your first events. You'll see leads pouring in 24/7, with full ownership of the system.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does the AI handle specific catering questions like custom menu tweaks?
Great question—catering's all about those details. We train the AI on your exact menu items, pricing, and past customizations, so it can suggest alternatives like swapping proteins for dietary needs or scaling portions for guest counts. For instance, if someone asks about a low-carb option for a 100-person event, it pulls from your data to recommend dishes and even estimates costs. It's not guessing; it's drawing from your real workflows. We fine-tune this during build to match your style, and it learns from interactions to get sharper over time. Bottom line: clients get quick, confident answers that feel like talking to your head chef, without you being on call 24/7.
Will this integrate with my existing catering software?
Absolutely, and that's where we shine. Unlike plug-and-play bots that barely sync, we build deep API connections to tools like CaterTrax or your Google Calendar. Say a lead inquires about a date— the AI checks availability live and books if it fits. No more double-entry errors that plague busy kitchens. We've done this for dozens of caterers, pulling in inventory data too, so it flags if a popular dish is low-stock. The result? A unified system that cuts admin time and keeps your ops humming. We map your exact workflow first to ensure it feels natural, not forced.
What if the AI can't handle a tricky inquiry?
You're right to ask—catering throws curveballs like last-minute vegan switches for a high-profile gala. Our AI is smart: it detects complexity via keywords and context, then seamlessly hands off to your team with a full summary, like 'Client needs 50 gluten-free apps, budget $5k, event in 2 weeks.' No starting from scratch. In tests, 85% of queries resolve without escalation, but when needed, it's smooth. We customize escalation rules to your prefs, ensuring nothing falls through. It's like having a vigilant sous-chef who knows when to call the executive.
How much does a custom AI chatbot cost for my catering company?
Costs vary based on your needs, but let's break it down honestly. For a mid-sized caterer handling 50 events a year, expect $15K-$25K for the full custom build, including integrations and training. That's a one-time investment for ownership—no monthly fees eating into your margins like subscriptions do. Compare that to hiring a part-time support person at $40K/year, and it pays for itself in months via captured leads. We start with a free consult to scope your setup, then quote precisely. Factors like voice features or advanced analytics add on, but we keep it tailored to boost your bookings without fluff.
Can the AI work on mobile for on-site event support?
Yes, and it's a lifesaver for mobile caterers. The system runs across devices, so during a wedding setup, your team can glance at the dashboard on a tablet for incoming queries—like a vendor needing setup time confirmation. It syncs in real-time, updating statuses as you go. We've built this for caterers at festivals and off-site gigs, where spotty WiFi is common; it queues offline and syncs later. Clients love the pro vibe of instant updates, and it frees you from phone tethers. We optimize for your tools, ensuring it's as reliable as your delivery van.
How do I train the AI on my catering business specifics?
Training's straightforward and collaborative. We start by ingesting your data—menus, client emails, FAQs from past events—into a secure knowledge base. No tech degree needed; you share docs or we interview your team on common scenarios, like handling cocktail hour add-ons. The AI then generates responses in your voice, which we review and refine together. For example, it learns to quote buffets accurately based on your tiers. Post-launch, it improves from real chats, with you flagging tweaks. It's like seasoning a signature dish—iterative until perfect. We've helped caterers go live in 4-6 weeks, fully dialed in.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.