Our Mission
At Ai-Menu, our mission is to revolutionise the hospitality industry by providing a comprehensive technology solution that enhances operational efficiency and profitability for venues. We empower venues by streamlining the ordering process directly from the end customer, establishing ourselves as the one-stop shop for all technological needs and support. Our locally-developed software, backed by a dedicated local support team, ensures a deep understanding of our hospitality clients’ unique challenges and requirements.
The Evolution of Ai-Menu
The Inspiration
It all started on an exceptionally hot January day. Our founder, Vlad, was out with his family in the bustling city centre. They stumbled upon a crowded restaurant and were seated at a table right in the middle. With temperatures soaring into the high 30s, all he wanted was a cold beer. Sceptically, he thought, “I’m never going to get a cold beer here!”
Then, a waiter approached with an iPad encased in a clunky, grey acrylic cover with bars on the front. To use it, you had to stick your fingers through the bars to tap the screen. Despite the awkward design, he managed to order a beer from the tablet. Astonishingly, within 10 seconds, a waiter delivered the beer. “Now THAT’S a great concept and service!”
This moment sparked an idea: to create an improved digital menu that looks and feels like a traditional menu but offers all the benefits of modern technology, including instant ordering and waiter calls.
The First Steps
Driven by this vision, Vlad began development on what would later be called “Ai-Menu”, short for Artificial Intelligence Menu.
The initial concept was simple: a tablet menu app connected to a central server where restaurant owners could easily edit the menu items, descriptions, images, and prices. All the development was handled internally, completing the initial version in about six months.
The Trial & Error
The first trial took place at Stones Restaurant in Wellington Point, owned by Shaun, a friend of a friend. He was intrigued by the idea and agreed to test it out. They photographed every menu item and set up the system. However, the trial was a disaster. Orders printed one by one, overwhelming the kitchen. The interface was clunky, and the system often re-downloaded menu images, rendering the tablets useless during the process.
After some heated discussions, the critical flaw was identified: it assumed the server would always be online. In reality, WiFi bottlenecks, router glitches, and other issues could cause temporary downtime. The system needed to be redesigned to function even during server failures. The user interface was revamped with a focus on restaurant workflow, resulting in Ai-Menu’s distinctive “bump screen” main window, a feature that remains largely unchanged to this day.
The Turnaround
Three months later, the revamped system was reintroduced at Stones Restaurant and received immediate praise. After a few weeks, when the system was taken away for servicing and updates, Shaun realised just how integral it had become. Without it, service became inefficient, orders were missed, and sales of entrees and desserts declined. The ease of ordering through the tablets had noticeably boosted sales and improved customer satisfaction.
The Collaboration
Excited by the potential of Ai-Menu, Shaun proposed a partnership to promote the product to other restaurants. During this period, the system continually evolved, adding features such as Point-of-Sale (POS) capabilities, bump screens, multiple printers, takeaway systems,
stock management, and detailed reporting.
Many of these features were inspired by client feedback, reflecting the diverse needs of different restaurants. For instance, a holiday surcharge option allowed restaurants to adjust prices on specific days, and new messaging capabilities facilitated kitchen and table communication. Additional features included split bills, part payments, EFTPOS integration, vouchers, and customer management.
The Growth
As Ai-Menu’s reputation grew, larger clients joined, prompting further improvements. Robust server implementations, support for multiple kitchens, separate POS and administration terminal apps, and integrations with third-party delivery services, card payments, accounting, and staff scheduling were introduced.
Kiosks were also added, transforming Ai-Menu into a comprehensive POS and menu-integrated software solution.
The Impact of COVID-19
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges. Overnight, Ai-Menu lost 80% of its revenue as dining venues were forced to close by government mandates. Faced with this crisis, we quickly introduced an online takeaway system. Within that same week, our online platform started gaining traction. Over the next three months, usage of our online stores steadily increased, and by July 2020, our revenue had returned to pre-COVID levels. The resilience and adaptability demonstrated during this period underscored the value of our innovative solutions.
The Evolution of Customer-Side Ordering
The success of our online takeaway ordering system during the pandemic fostered the concept of QR ordering, essentially an extension of the same technology. By introducing QR dining ordering, we expanded our offerings to include various methods of customer-side ordering: tablets, QR codes, and kiosks.
This comprehensive approach allows us to cater to different types of venues: kiosks for fast-food restaurants, QR codes for cafes and bars, and tablets for table-service establishments. With these options, Ai-Menu provides solutions that meet every requirement, ensuring efficient and seamless service across the hospitality industry.
Advancing Payment Solutions
To further enhance our offerings, we integrated EFTPOS and payment solutions into Ai-Menu. We introduced zero-cost EFTPOS with integrated reporting, automating the often cumbersome and time-consuming daily reconciliation process.
Our EFTPOS machines offer advanced features such as Pay@Table, pre-authorization, MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order), 4G failover, and mobile and battery-powered options for residual reliability. These innovations ensure that transactions are smooth, secure, and efficient, meeting the diverse needs of our clients and their customers.
The Future
Ai-Menu has come a long way from its humble beginnings, continually adapting and expanding to meet the ever-evolving needs of the hospitality industry.
We continue listening to our client feedback and solving the problems faced within the industry. We look forward to becoming the unbeatable global hospitality tech experts.
