Stop Wasting Hours on Manual Marketing That Doesn't Convert Guests Reclaim Your Time with Custom AI Automation Built for Your Kitchen Workflow
Imagine saving 15+ hours per week on repetitive tasks like chasing reservations or following up on takeout orders, while boosting your customer retention by 30% through personalized outreach. That's the ROI we're talking about—no more juggling apps during rush hour.
Join 200+ food service businesses with automated workflows that cut manual work and skyrocket guest loyalty
The "Marketing Mayhem" Problem
Chasing down flaky reservations by hand, eating into your prep time for mise en place and sauce reductions
Manually segmenting guest lists for promos, leading to irrelevant texts about pasta specials to vegan loyalists that annoy repeat diners
Wrestling with clunky POS integrations that miss follow-up opportunities for dessert upsells after busy dinner shifts
Spending evenings crafting generic emails instead of innovating new seasonal menu items like farm-to-table specials
Tracking promo redemptions across scattered apps, causing over-discounting on high-margin items like house wines and thin margins
Ignoring guest feedback loops post-dinner rush, letting bad reviews about undercooked steaks slip through unchecked on Yelp
Our Custom Approach: AI Marketing Automation Tailored to Your Restaurant's Rhythm
We've helped over 50 food service spots—from bustling bistros to family-run diners—ditch the subscription trap and own a unified system that syncs with their daily grind.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, running a restaurant means your marketing can't be an afterthought squeezed between lunch and dinner service. At AIQ Labs, we build custom AI-powered marketing automation from the ground up, integrated directly into your POS, reservation system, and CRM. No more piecing together off-the-shelf tools that break during peak season. Think of it like a sous chef who anticipates your needs: our system automatically personalizes guest communications, predicts busy nights for targeted promos, and handles the grunt work so you focus on what you do best—creating memorable experiences. You're probably thinking, 'Does this really fit my workflow?' That's why we start with your exact setup, whether it's handling takeout surges or loyalty programs for weekend crowds.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Real Time Savings and ROI: See the Impact on Your Bottom Line
Slash Manual Hours by 15+ Weekly
Slash Manual Hours by 15+ Weekly: Here's the thing: instead of your host spending post-shift hours texting reservation reminders or updating guest lists after the lunch rush, our custom AI handles it all. Restaurants like yours report reclaiming 15-20 hours a week during peak seasons, redirecting that energy to faster table turns and bar back training. That's like adding an extra server without the payroll hit—pure efficiency boost for your front-of-house team.
Boost ROI with 30% Higher Conversion Rates
Boost ROI with 30% Higher Conversion Rates: Picture this: automated campaigns that nudge past guests back in during slow Tuesdays with targeted offers like 'try our new brunch specials,' based on their order history from Toast POS data. We've seen clients double down on this in the first quarter, turning a 10% promo redemption into 30% for happy hour deals, with costs dropping because you're not blasting everyone. It's like fine-tuning your sauce—small tweaks, big flavor payoff in revenue over 6 months.
Enhance Guest Experience Without Extra Effort
Enhance Guest Experience Without Extra Effort: You're probably thinking guest loyalty is all about the food, but consistent, timely outreach like post-visit 'how was your filet mignon?' texts seals the deal. Our system personalizes at scale, sending birthday discounts or 'missed you' invites for wine tastings, leading to 25% more repeat visits within 30 days. No more generic blasts that feel like fast food—this is bespoke service, automated for your VIP tables.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, we were manually emailing our 2,000+ guest list every promo, which took our manager three hours every Monday to segment for tapas pairings. Now, the system segments by visit frequency and sends tailored offers like 'pair your favorites with our new sangria'—we've seen a 28% uptick in mid-week bookings over the last six months, and it's all hands-off during our peak dinner service."
Maria Gonzalez
General Manager, La Cocina Tapas Bar in downtown Austin
"Our takeout exploded during the pandemic, but following up on curry orders was chaos with our old tools and scattered delivery apps. AIQ built us a custom flow that auto-sends satisfaction surveys right after pickup and upsell texts for next week's biryani specials. Saved us about 12 hours a week on inventory checks, and our repeat orders jumped 35% in three months—finally, marketing that keeps up with the lunch rush."
Jamal Patel
Owner, Spice Route Bistro in Chicago's West Loop
"I was skeptical about AI in a cozy Italian spot like ours, but they integrated it right into our Square POS for seamless pasta order tracking. No more chasing no-shows for our Friday risotto nights; reminders go out automatically, cutting them by 22%. Plus, the personalized wine recs in emails based on past gnocchi orders have our regulars raving and booking private events. It's like having a marketing whiz on staff without the salary during our busy tourist season."
Elena Rossi
Co-Owner, Bella Vita Ristorante in Napa Valley
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery Dive into Your Workflow
We kick off with a deep chat about your restaurant's daily rhythm—from reservation peaks to menu specials. No templates here; we map your exact pain points, like syncing with your OpenTable data.
Custom Build and Integration
Our engineers craft your AI system, weaving in two-way connections to your tools. Test it in a soft launch during a slow week to ensure it hums without disrupting service.
Launch, Optimize, and Scale
Go live with full support, then we monitor and tweak based on real data—like adjusting for seasonal crowds. You own it all, ready to expand as your guest list grows.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this automation handle our variable shift schedules in a restaurant?
Great question—restaurants aren't 9-to-5, so we design the system around your flow. For instance, it can queue messages to send during off-peak hours, like automated thank-yous right after closing, without waking up your night owls. We integrate with your scheduling tools to time promos perfectly, say, teasing brunch specials at 8 PM. Clients save about 10 hours weekly on timing tweaks alone. It's all custom, so if your Fridays are frenzy mode, the AI pauses non-urgent blasts. Plus, we include easy overrides for those surprise busy nights.
Will this work with our existing POS like Toast or Square?
Absolutely, and that's where our builder edge shines. We don't just plug in superficially; we create deep, two-way API connections that pull real-time data—like who ordered the pasta last week—for targeted follow-ups. No more data silos causing missed opportunities. For a client with Toast, we synced it to auto-segment gluten-free guests for relevant offers, cutting manual list-building by 80%. Setup takes 2-4 weeks, with testing to ensure it doesn't glitch during rushes. You're owning this integration, not renting it.
What's the ROI timeline for a small restaurant like mine?
You're probably thinking quick wins are key in this industry, and they are. Most see payback in 3-6 months through time savings and revenue bumps. Take a 50-seat bistro we worked with: they automated loyalty emails, saving 12 hours/week (at $25/hour, that's $600/month) and lifting repeats by 25%, adding $2,000 in monthly sales. We focus on your metrics—track it from day one with built-in dashboards. No vague promises; we baseline your current setup and project specifics, like if your average check is $40, how many extra covers that means.
Can we personalize without creeping out our guests?
Totally get the concern—overly salesy feels like a bad first date. Our AI is smart about subtlety, using opt-in data to craft warm, relevant messages, like 'We noticed you loved our tiramisu—it's back on the specials this week!' Nothing invasive. We build in compliance from the start, with easy unsubscribe and preference centers. A cafe owner told us their open rates hit 45% because it felt genuine, not pushy. We train the model on your voice, ensuring it matches your brand's friendly vibe while respecting privacy—no cold calls or spam traps.
What if we need to scale for seasonal events or new locations?
Scaling is baked in, unlike rigid templates. For holiday rushes or adding a second spot, our system expands effortlessly—think auto-adjusting campaigns for increased foot traffic or syncing guest data across sites. We helped a seasonal seafood joint ramp up for summer, handling 3x the promos without extra staff, saving them 20 hours/week during peaks. It's modular, so you add features like event RSVPs as needed. Post-launch, we optimize quarterly, ensuring it evolves with your growth, from pop-up to permanent expansion.
How much does custom marketing automation cost for food service?
Costs vary by your setup, but let's break it down honestly: for a mid-sized restaurant, expect $15K-$30K for the build, covering discovery, integration, and launch. That's a one-time investment—no ongoing subs—versus $500+/month on scattered tools. ROI hits fast: one client recouped in four months via 30% more bookings. We offer phased pricing, starting small with reservation automation, then layering on loyalty features. Factor in your size—50 seats vs. 200—and we'll quote precisely after a free consult, focusing on your exact savings like cutting ad waste.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.