Otto, Australia’s first AI ordering telephone agent, has launched nationwide “as the technology looks set to transform how restaurants, cafés, and catering services take orders, manage bookings, and connect with customers”.
“Developed with both venues and Australian consumers in mind, Otto operates 24/7, ensuring all calls are answered promptly, even outside business hours, so enquiries are managed efficiently and revenue opportunities are never missed,” Otto notes.
“Hospitality venues are increasingly challenged by high staff turnover, resource pressures, and rising customer expectations. Research shows that 71 per cent of inbound calls are revenue-related, with 34 per cent of restaurant phone calls going unanswered, including bookings, takeaway orders, and catering requests.
“Otto is providing a solution that bridges this gap and is poised to change the way hospitality businesses operate – supporting existing teams, while capturing revenue opportunities around the clock.
“As the first AI ordering agent in Australia capable of taking orders and sending them straight to the kitchen, the standalone product operates without any apps or software integrations, meaning venues can go live instantly with just a phone number and a printer.”
Shannon Hatout, Founder and CEO of Otto, says, “Hospitality is fast-paced and demanding, and Otto acts as a reliable team member who never misses a call. By capturing every order, booking and catering request, Otto helps venues increase revenue and support their staff.
“More than half of restaurant revenue now comes from remote ordering, yet only 27 per cent of this is processed online, leaving phone orders as a crucial channel for many venues. Missing these calls can result in lost revenue, so having staff focus on service, while calls are answered ensures revenue is protected.”
“In summer, our trade explodes. The restaurant’s packed, and the phones don’t stop. But when no one can hear the call, or no one’s free to answer, that’s money walking out the door. Otto is giving us a way to handle phone orders without pulling staff off the floor. It’s smart, simple, and helps us keep the focus on our guests,” Marco Di Pietrantonio, Owner, Italico said.
“For consumers, Otto delivers faster service and greater convenience. Customers can place takeaway or catering orders any time of day, with the confidence that their order is received correctly and will be prepared without delay.”
Scott Fox, Chief AI Officer at Otto, adds, “We find that a lot of hospo folks are cautious when it comes to adopting new tech. Operators are just figuring out if & how AI can help them, so it becomes a “to-do later” thing. Otto is a bit different because it drops right into the current process. It’s just like having a staff member pick up the phone, chat with the customer and send the order to the kitchen. We’ve seen a lot of tech transformation in hospo over the years, the tools that succeed are the ones that slot effortlessly into the operations for staff, and elevate the customer experience.
“Otto provides a scalable solution for venues looking to protect revenue, reduce pressure on staff, and improve the customer experience.”