Oracle Simphony Cloud Conversational Menu Ordering

During the order taking process, a Waiter usually takes the order from the guest and then places the order in the POS.

Sometimes, the process could have a back and forth as the customer changes menu item of choice, size, or accompaniments, or perhaps the entire menu choice. This could be sophisticated for the Waiter as it may require several screen shifts and shuffles in order to ensure the correct order is placed.

To a rookie waiter, the process could be even more complex and thus ends up either placing incorrect menu orders or wastes valuable time, and eventually delays in food preparation.

The customer in the end is either dissatisfied or might reject the incorrectly placed order, translating into food wastage, loss of revenue and poor guest feedback.

Conversational Menu Ordering

With Oracle Simphony Cloud, the inbuilt ability to order a menu in a conversational sequence enables your staff to input menu items in the exact random sequence a customer speaks them, matching a natural human conversation. This frees up the Staff from the traditional rigid menu selection sequence thus making an ordering experience conducive and exciting to both the staff and Customer.

How It Works

Natural Flow

Traditional POS systems force operators to click through rigid, step-by-step menus (like choosing a drink, then size, then milk type in a strict order). Conversational ordering lets the staff tap items as the customer says them—for example, “an iced mocha, medium size, with whipped cream”.

Real-Time Editing

Staff can navigate out of sequence, edit any selection on the check instantly, and remove or change components with a single tap before finalizing the order.

Smart Modifiers

The screen displays relevant modifier groups automatically without blind prompts, and default rules can pre-set standard options (like adding a regular size automatically) to speed up entry.

Role Customization

Tailor the layout for different staff duties, such as simplified cocktail grids for bartenders or full item menus for table servers.

Upselling Support

Prompt staff with cross-selling and upselling suggestions directly on the active order screen.

Key Benefits

Speed of Service (SOS)

Reduces total keystrokes and eliminates the need to delete and re-add incorrectly sequenced items. Staff no longer need to interrupt customers, pause to hunt for nested menu screens, or back-track through rigid prompts, which speeds up transactions.

Fewer Errors

Lowers the rate of voids, corrections, and miscommunicated kitchen tickets by capturing the order dynamically. Traditional workflows lead to mistakes when orders change mid-sentence. Staff frequently have to void or re-add items. Conversational entry reduces wasted keystrokes and error corrections.

Better Guest Experience

Keeps the focus on the customer conversation rather than fighting with a rigid POS screen.

Ease of Onboarding New Staff

Inexperienced new employees are able to adopt operations so easily and quickly when they are even unfamiliar with the menu, since they are able to key in the menu selection as the customer orders.

Orphaned Modifiers

Without smart defaults, ringing in a modifier without a parent item causes errors. Simphony allows features like default parent assignment (e.g., typing a cheese modifier directly to a burger if spoken first).

Increase in Revenue

Improved staff efficiency in delivering exceptional service to customers guarantees quicker order turnarounds, thus serving more customers and accelerating more revenue flow.

Free Up Your Menu Ordering Workflow

You have Oracle Simphony Cloud at your property? Conversational Menu Ordering can free your staff from the POS screen and keep their focus on the guest. This functionality is presently available within your current Simphony POS Cloud subscription at no additional cost.

Ready for a deeper look? Talk to us today to discover how to configure conversational ordering menu items.

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