Voice AI in Restaurants: How SoundHound + Olo Increase Check Sizes 15% While Reducing Drive-Offs
Restaurant operators face impossible tradeoffs: push upselling to boost check sizes and risk drive-thru backups, or prioritize speed and leave money on the table. SoundHound's voice AI through Olo's platform solves this by automatically adjusting upsell intensity based on line length - delivering 15% larger checks while actually reducing abandoned orders. Discover how leading brands are using this technology across drive-thru, phone, and even in-car ordering.
The ROI Numbers That Surprised Even Operators
When voice AI first entered restaurants, operators expected labor savings as the primary benefit. What shocked them was how dramatically it impacted revenue metrics. At the Olo Partner Summit, SoundHound revealed brands using their AI in drive-thrus see:
15% average check size increases from consistent, strategic upselling tailored to each restaurant's highest-margin items. Unlike human staff who vary their approach, the AI perfectly executes upsell strategies without fatigue or inconsistency.
Perhaps more valuable is the AI's dynamic throttling capability. During peak lunch rushes when throughput is critical, the system automatically reduces upsell intensity to keep lines moving. This balanced approach actually reduces drive-offs by 30% compared to human-only lanes where service speed varies wildly.
How AI Handles Complex Orders (And Knows When To Transfer)
One major operator concern was whether voice AI could handle the endless customizations customers request - "no pickles, extra sauce, gluten-free bun but regular fries." SoundHound's system trained on Olo's detailed menu data handles most requests flawlessly.
The AI detects when requests exceed its capabilities, instantly transferring to staff for:
- Highly complex multi-item modifications
- Detailed dietary questions beyond basic allergen info
- Off-menu requests (like bringing back discontinued items)
This hybrid approach maintains order accuracy while freeing staff to focus on food preparation rather than routine order taking.
The Hidden Goldmine: Recovering Lost Phone Orders
While drive-thru gets attention, SoundHound's phone ordering AI quietly delivers massive value. Over 15,000 locations now use the system to capture orders that would have been lost during busy periods.
3-5 additional orders per day per location come from calls that previously would have gone unanswered during lunch rushes. For a 100-location chain, that's $2M+ annually in recovered revenue from a channel many had written off.
The AI answers immediately with perfect consistency, eliminating the variability of human phone operators. Integration with Olo means orders flow directly into the POS without rekeying errors.
Voice Insights: Turning Conversations Into Menu Optimization
SoundHound's Voice Insights product analyzes every customer interaction, revealing patterns impossible to detect manually. One brand discovered customers frequently asked for a discontinued LTO that had underperformed initially.
When they relaunched it based on this data, the item became their best-selling LTO ever - a insight they'd never have uncovered through traditional surveys. The system now tracks:
- Most requested discontinued items
- Common modification requests signaling menu gaps
- Peak times customers ask about dessert (to optimize digital menu board timing)
The Next Frontier: In-Car Ordering Integration
SoundHound already integrates with Hyundai, Stellantis and Lucid vehicles, positioning restaurants for the autonomous driving future. As cars become mobile living spaces, voice ordering allows:
- Natural language ordering while driving ("I want my usual burger combo")
- Automatic pickup timing based on GPS ETA
- Payment via saved profiles without fumbling for wallets
This channel represents the next wave of off-premise dining as drive-thru lanes evolve for autonomous vehicles.
Beyond Ordering: AI for Employee Training
SoundHound's Employee Assist product brings voice AI to back-of-house, solving one of restaurants' biggest challenges: consistent training. Staff can ask:
- "How do I make the spicy sauce?"
- "What's in the gluten-free bun?"
- "Where are the allergen binders?"
Upcoming vision capabilities will let employees photograph items to instantly access preparation guides, reducing reliance on overburdened trainers.
What's Next for Voice AI in Restaurants
SoundHound's roadmap includes:
- Real-time menu board adjustments based on voice analytics
- Multilingual support expanding to 20+ languages
- Emotion detection to identify frustrated customers for immediate manager attention
As Mike from SoundHound noted at 4:32 in the video, "With AI, things are changing fast - and we're changing faster."
Watch the Full Tutorial
See the complete conversation from the Olo Partner Summit where Mike from SoundHound explains how their voice AI handles complex orders while dynamically adjusting upsell strategies based on drive-thru traffic (key moment at 2:15).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about voice AI in restaurants
Restaurants using SoundHound's voice AI through Olo see average check size increases of 15%. The AI consistently upsells without fatigue, focusing on high-margin items with proven attach rates.
During peak hours, the system intelligently throttles upsells to maintain throughput. This balanced approach actually increases overall revenue more than aggressive upselling that causes drive-offs.
- 15% average check size increase
- Dynamic upsell adjustment based on line length
- Focus on highest-margin, highest-attach items
SoundHound's AI handles most customizations using Olo's detailed menu data, including allergen information and preparation methods. The system understands natural language requests like "no mayo, extra pickles" or "gluten-free bun".
For highly complex requests or detailed dietary questions beyond the menu data, the AI instantly transfers to staff. This ensures accuracy while still handling the majority of routine customizations automatically.
- Handles 85%+ of customization requests
- Automatic transfer for complex scenarios
- Trained on Olo's complete menu data
By reducing order taking time 30% and eliminating miscommunications, voice AI decreases drive-thru line frustration. The system maintains consistent speed regardless of rush hour volume or staff availability.
Brands report fewer cars leaving queues when AI manages ordering versus human variability during peak times. The AI's ability to dynamically adjust upsell intensity based on line length optimizes the balance between revenue and throughput.
- 30% faster order taking
- No miscommunications requiring repeats
- Dynamic adjustment to line conditions
During peak lunch periods before implementing voice AI, restaurants typically missed 10-15% of phone orders due to overwhelmed staff. SoundHound's phone AI recovers 3-5 of these previously lost orders daily per location.
The AI answers every call instantly with perfect consistency, capturing revenue from customers who would have hung up during busy times. Orders flow directly into the POS via Olo integration, eliminating errors from manual order entry.
- Recovers 3-5 lost orders daily per location
- Instant answer even during peak hours
- Direct POS integration eliminates errors
SoundHound's Voice Insights product tracks how often customers request discontinued LTOs in natural conversation. One brand discovered a previously underperforming LTO was actually highly demanded when analyzed through voice data.
When relaunched, this item became their best-selling LTO ever - an insight impossible through traditional surveys. The system now informs LTO strategy by revealing true customer demand patterns invisible through sales data alone.
- Identifies unexpectedly popular discontinued items
- Reveals true customer demand patterns
- Provides data for LTO optimization
Yes, SoundHound already integrates with Hyundai, Stellantis and Lucid vehicles. As cars evolve toward self-driving, voice becomes the primary interface for food ordering while traveling.
The system allows natural language requests ("I want my usual burger combo") with automatic pickup timing based on GPS ETA. Payment happens through saved profiles without handling cards or phones at pickup.
- Current integrations with major automakers
- Natural language ordering while driving
- Automatic timing based on GPS
SoundHound's Employee Assist product provides real-time information to staff via voice commands, reducing reliance on veteran team members. New employees can ask preparation questions hands-free while working.
Upcoming vision capabilities will let employees photograph items to instantly access preparation guides and FAQs. This addresses restaurants' constant challenge of training turnover while maintaining food quality consistency.
- Real-time answers to preparation questions
- Reduces reliance on veteran staff
- Upcoming visual recognition features
GrowwStacks specializes in implementing voice AI solutions like SoundHound through Olo's platform. We handle the technical integration, menu optimization for AI upselling, and staff training process.
Our typical implementations deliver 15% check size increases within 30 days by configuring the AI's upsell strategy to your highest-margin items. We also set up Voice Insights to uncover hidden menu opportunities like the LTO success story mentioned earlier.
- Complete SoundHound + Olo integration
- Menu optimization for maximum AI upsell impact
- Staff training for hybrid human/AI operations
Ready to Add 15% to Your Check Sizes With Voice AI?
Every day you wait is another day of missed upsell opportunities and lost phone orders. GrowwStacks can have SoundHound's voice AI live in your restaurants within 30 days, typically delivering ROI in under 90 days.