Comprehensive AI-Powered Solution for Managing Restaurant Table Reservations via Client Calls and Google Calendar Integration
April 15, 2024
5 minutes read
SUMMARY
The client, a restaurant chain owner in Spain, needed to automate the table reservation process via phone calls. He approached us to develop an AI-driven solution to handle incoming information and book tables efficiently.
Our system was designed to process calls accurately, accounting for variations in vocabulary and sound quality. This ensured reliable performance in a real-world restaurant setting.
Call handling was a crucial part of the project, implemented through Asterisk, an open-source framework for building communications applications. The integration with Google Calendar ensured seamless and up-to-date reservations.
The client aimed for full automation of the table booking management, including notifying if a time slot was already occupied, receiving customer information, and booking the table in Google Calendar with the customer's name.
TECH STACK
Asterisk
Python
Deepgram
OpenAI-Text-To-Speech
GPT
Digital Ocean
Webflow
Docker
DELIVERY TIMELINE
1 Week
Solution Architecture Design
1 Week
Asterisk Setup
3 Weeks
Speech-To-Text and Text-To-Speech Pipeline Creation
2 Weeks
Google Calendar Integration and Whole Booking Pipeline Validation
1 Week
Deployment & Testing
TECH CHALLENGE
The challenge was to accurately capture information using Deepgram and subsequently process the received data to book dates and times in the calendar. Dealing with human speech introduces nuances in pronunciation, sound quality, and other factors, and the AI needed to handle these variations without compromising accuracy.
It was also extremely important to build a stable Asterisk server and use it to achieve high-quality calls via VoIP. To make these Text to Speech work quickly and create a feeling of real communication with a person
Creation of REST API for third-party services. Its main task was to imitate a chat bot based on call settings. That is, completely duplicate the created scripts for calling a chat bot, which can be connected to third-party resources
SOLUTION
To handle incoming calls, the team utilized Asterisk, an open-source communications framework known for its flexibility and reliability. We configured a trunk for the client, which allowed the system to efficiently receive and manage calls from customers. This setup ensured that the system could handle multiple calls simultaneously and route them correctly for further processing. By using Asterisk, we provided a robust foundation for the AI-driven reservation system.
For speech-to-text conversion, we employed Deepgram, a powerful AI-based solution for transcribing speech. Deepgram's advanced algorithms enabled the accurate capture of the visitor's voice, translating it into text for subsequent processing. This was crucial for understanding customer requests and booking details, despite variations in pronunciation and sound quality. By leveraging Deepgram, we ensured high accuracy and reliability in extracting the necessary information from voice calls.
For text-to-speech interactions, we utilized OpenAI's Speech-to-Text technology. This component enabled the system to interact naturally with callers by greeting them, informing them if a specific time slot was already taken, and confirming or adjusting the reservation as needed. The system could also provide a polite farewell and confirm the booking details, enhancing the overall customer experience. Using OpenAI's technology ensured clear and coherent communication, making the process smooth and user-friendly.
Once the final time was agreed upon, the system booked the date and time in Google Calendar for the respective caller. This step ensured that all reservations were accurately recorded and easily accessible for both the client and their staff. The calendar integration included essential details such as the customer's name and reservation time, providing a comprehensive overview of bookings. This seamless integration with Google Calendar helped streamline the reservation process, reducing manual effort and minimizing the risk of errors.
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