17.09.25
|Reading time:
6 min
Optimizing Accessibility in Restaurants
What options do restaurant owners have?
In many restaurants across Switzerland, staff can hardly keep up with the constantly ringing phone. Guests want to make last-minute reservations, ask questions, or change their orders. But between service, the kitchen, and daily operations, there’s often no time left to answer every call. The result: missed calls, lost guests, and lost revenue.
So how can restaurants improve their accessibility without overloading their staff? Modern reservation systems, POS systems, and AI assistants provide solutions that not only reduce stress but also create a better guest experience.
The challenge of constant availability in Swiss restaurants
The Swiss restaurant industry is under particular pressure: high labor costs, staff shortages, and growing guest expectations for service quality. Many guests expect an immediate response to their request - whether by phone, online reservation, or social media.
Specific challenges in Switzerland:
- Many restaurants are small or family-run and don’t have enough staff to keep the phone covered at all times.
- Tourist regions (Zurich, Lucerne, Ticino) welcome guests from all over the world, which creates the need for multi-language availability.
- Flexible opening hours and seasonal fluctuations make continuous availability even harder.
Phone availability, in particular, is a critical issue. Missed calls don’t just mean dissatisfied guests - they often result in lost revenue. Studies show that guests are more likely to turn to a competitor if they don’t get an answer.
The solution: digital systems that are available 24/7. These systems take the pressure off staff while ensuring guest satisfaction.
Reservation Channels Under the Reality Check
Accessibility is not a side issue – it has a direct impact on business success, as shown in the latest Guest Behavior Report*.
The data is clear: online reservations are now the most important access channel, ensuring a stable base level of occupancy. At the same time, the phone remains indispensable, as this is where large groups book – and those bookings typically generate the highest revenues. The bar chart below illustrates how strongly both channels shape the daily operations of restaurants, and why missed calls are just as risky as lacking an online presence.
Reservation systems help optimize capacity
A professional reservation system not only improves accessibility but also ensures better use of tables. Guests can conveniently book their reservation online without staff having to pick up the phone.
Benefits of digital reservation systems
- 24/7 bookings independent of opening hours and accessible from anywhere
- Optimized table allocation through intelligent algorithms
- Protection against no-shows with features such as automated reminders
- Integration with POS systems for smooth and efficient operations
Fewer interruptions to service - the team can fully focus on guests on-site
Well-known reservation system: foratable
Foratable is the smart reservation system for restaurants: easy to use, AI-powered to reduce effort, strengthen guest loyalty, and increase profitability. Whether by phone, online, or walk-in, all reservations are captured efficiently, no-shows are reduced through options like credit card deposits, and table occupancy is always in view. With the exclusive Caller ID, phone bookings are automatically transferred into the system, saving up to 50% of time and preventing entry errors.
Interfaces between reservation systems and Lightspeed POS
The real strength of modern systems lies in their integration with POS systems like Lightspeed.
By connecting the reservation system with the digital POS, restaurants benefit from:
- Automatic transfer of reservation data into the POS system
- Management of guest preferences (e.g. allergies, loyalty discounts)
- Live overview of capacity, revenue, and table occupancy
- More efficient planning for kitchen and service teams
Practical example: A shared customer in Zurich uses foratable together with Lightspeed POS systems. Guests book online, and the data automatically flows into the POS. This way, staff know in advance which table sizes are booked, which guests are vegetarian, and whether there are any special requests. The result: faster service and fewer misunderstandings.
Text-to-Speech AI solutions relieve staff
Alongside online reservations, the phone remains the most important communication channel for many guests - and for restaurants, it is one of the strongest drivers of new business. This is where AI-powered voice assistants can support staff and take pressure off the team.
Use cases for Text-to-Speech in restaurants
- Automated call handling: guests receive an immediate and friendly response
- Telephone reservations: guests can dictate their details, and the AI enters them directly into the system
- FAQ service: opening hours, menu information, parking options - all reliably answered by AI
Example: A restaurant in Zurich uses Text-to-Speech via ElevenLabs. When the phone rings, the AI assistant answers, explains the opening hours, and offers the guest a direct option to make a reservation.
Which Text-to-Speech solutions are available on the market?
- ElevenLabs - realistic voices, multilingual, ideal for restaurants with international guests
- Alveni AI - the "most human-like" voice bot for smart hotels, multilingual, developed in Switzerland
- Google Cloud Text-to-Speech - easy integration, wide language selection, API-enabled
- Amazon Polly - AWS voice solution, highly scalable, often combined with chatbots
With these tools, AI assistants can greet guests, answer standard questions (e.g. "Are you open today?") and handle reservations automatically. This not only relieves staff but also increases guest satisfaction.
Combination: Reservation system + POS system + AI
Restaurants achieve the greatest impact when they combine several systems:
- Reservation system (e.g. foratable) records bookings digitally
- POS system (e.g. Lightspeed) receives the data and provides the service team with all relevant information
- Text-to-Speech assistant answers additional guest inquiries automatically by phone
This combination ensures 360° accessibility: guests can reach the restaurant anytime, on any channel.
Vendomat advises restaurants
Digitalization in gastronomy is complex - from reservation systems to digital POS systems to AI solutions for guest accessibility.
Vendomat AG supports restaurants in Switzerland in choosing the right systems and using them effectively:
- Consulting on the selection of the right reservation system (such as foratable)
- Integration with Lightspeed POS systems and other hospitality software solutions
- Training and support for staff
Conclusion: How restaurants can optimize their accessibility
Accessibility is a decisive success factor for restaurants in Switzerland. Those who rely on digital reservation systems, POS interfaces, and AI assistants today can:
- Generate more reservations
- Reach guests around the clock
- Relieve staff of routine tasks
- Increase service quality and guest satisfaction
The future lies in an intelligent combination of POS systems, reservation systems, and Text-to-Speech AI solutions.
Igeho Basel
15 - 19 November 2025 Visit us!
Would you also like to improve your restaurant’s accessibility while reducing the workload for your staff?
Book a consultation now or visit us at Igeho! You will find foratable and Vendomat side by side: at booths B133 and B131 in Hall 1.1. Discover the complete solution for your restaurant on-site - from the POS system to digital guest communication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about restaurant accessibility
*Source reference
Guest behavior in gastronomy 2025 | foratable by Lunchgate
Vendomat AG
Zentrumsplatz 1, 3322 Schönbühl
Piazza Grande 9a, 6600 Locarno (Ticino branch)
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