UK takeaways
Chip shop phone orders, taken while you fry
Zogu answers your chip shop's phone, takes the order from the menu in your POS, reads it back once, sends it straight into your POS and gives the caller the total and the ready time. The example call below uses a made-up menu.
Where the ready time comes from
It's the prep time on your POS location: "It'll be ready in about twenty minutes." With none set, Zogu leaves the timing out.
- For delivery it adds your area's extra minutes: "It should be with you in about thirty-five minutes" (pickup and delivery).
- It's one number all day. Zogu can't see the range, so set the time you can keep on a Friday.
- It's said as soon as your POS has the order, without waiting for the kitchen. If you reject an order later, the caller isn't told.
Friday lunch and teatime
- A pause mid-sentence doesn't cut a caller off. After 12 seconds of silence Zogu says "Take your time. Let me know when you're ready." A second long silence ends the call.
- Up to 20 of any one item: "I can take up to twenty of one item over the phone."
- A lunchtime special with lunch hours in your POS stops at the time you set. A POS promotion isn't applied.
- At teatime nobody steps off the range: the order lands in your POS already read back and confirmed (missed phone orders in the rush).
Sizes and extras
Required choices are asked one at a time: "For the Cod and Chips, which one would you like? We have Regular or Large."
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy work as options or as their own items.
- A Sides category can be offered after "that's it", up to two offers, skipped if the caller already has a side.
- "No vinegar" goes on as a note for the kitchen.
- "With salt and vinegar" only works if your chips have it as an option. Scraps too: add them as a free option.
An example call
An example, not a recording: a made-up menu and prices, pickup only, a 20-minute prep time.
Caller: Hiya, can I get a cod and chips, please?
Zogu: One Cod and Chips. For the Cod and Chips, which one would you like? We have Regular or Large.
Caller: Large.
The caller asks for no vinegar, a large mushy peas and a curry sauce, says that's it, turns down a drink and gives the name Sam.
Zogu: Thanks, Sam. So that's one Large Cod and Chips, no vinegar, one Large Mushy Peas and one Curry Sauce, for pickup, under the name Sam. The total is fifteen pounds fifty, paid on pickup. Shall I place the order?
Caller: Yeah, go ahead.
Zogu: Thank you, Sam. I've placed your order for pickup, the total is fifteen pounds fifty, paid on pickup. It'll be ready in about twenty minutes.
Then it says goodbye and hangs up. How the read-back works covers changes at that point.
Scallops, fish suppers and local words
LARGE COD & CHIPS is said as "Large Cod and Chips", and 10oz as "10 ounce". Your area's words are another matter: a scallop, a fritter or a fish supper. A miss is saved for review, and once "scallop" is linked to your fritter, the next caller gets it. Our team makes those changes for you (teaching Zogu your shop's words).
Opening hours and closed days
Zogu follows your POS hours, split shifts and special days included. With 11:30am to 2pm and 4:30pm to 9pm:
- At 3pm the caller hears you're closed and open again at 4:30pm. They can still ask your hours or address.
- It doesn't take orders for later.
- A yes at 2:01pm is told pickup has just closed, so the order can't be placed.
- Pause orders in your POS to stop phone orders until the time you set.
Questions and answers
Does it work with my EPOS?
It works with Toast, Square, Clover, Oracle MICROS RES 3700 and Foodhub. If your EPOS isn't one of those, Zogu can't take orders for you.
Will callers know they're talking to an automated system?
Yes. Every call opens with your shop's name and "this is the automated ordering assistant".
Can a caller ask to speak to someone in the shop?
They can ask, but Zogu doesn't transfer calls or promise a call-back. It offers to take the order instead.
Can callers pay by card over the phone?
No. Orders go into your POS to be paid on pickup or delivery.
Can it tell callers what you fry in?
Only if you've given us the answer. Otherwise it says it doesn't have one and saves the question for review.