Guides / UK AI phone agent checklist

Choosing a UK AI phone agent — checklist (restaurants & takeaways)

Use this when comparing vendors without getting lost in engineering jargon. If an answer is vague, treat it as a risk — your peak service windows are too short for surprises.

1. What does “live voice” actually use?

• Which speech and conversation stack powers the demo you are sold on?
• Can you try the same stack on the vendor’s public site (for example, Reco Genie’s homepage Morag widget uses ElevenLabs for live voice)?
• Is text chat labelled separately from live voice so you are not comparing unlike things?

2. Data, recording, and GDPR

• Where are call audio and transcripts stored, and for how long?
• Who can access them on the vendor side, and how are staff accounts protected?
• What is the process if a customer asks to delete their data?

3. Menu truth and handoff

• How does the agent stay aligned with your menu, prices, and “off” items?
• What happens on a complex or angry call — clean handoff to your team?
• How are kitchen tickets or printers handled today, without assuming POS sync you do not have?

4. Pricing that matches your call volume

• Is pricing per minute, per seat, or flat licence?
• What is included in the minimum spend or wallet model?
• Are there charges for training, number porting, or menu import?

5. Support when Friday goes wrong

• UK-time coverage and escalation path.
• Whether you get a named contact during pilot, not only a ticket queue.