A Leeds-based tech firm has raised £250,000 in seed funding to expand its AI booking system that’s solving one of hospitality’s biggest headaches.
One Touch, founded by restaurant tech veterans Craig Pollock and David Downs, has developed a voice automation system that handles reservations, takeaway orders and customer queries around the clock in a bid to solve the issue of unanswered phone calls during peak service times. The technology is already being used by several Yorkshire restaurants including Wakefield’s Qubana and Fino.
The AI-powered system answers calls using natural language processing, capturing what the company claims could be up to 85% of calls that would otherwise go unanswered when staff are stretched during busy services. Crucially, it can even recommend alternative venues when a restaurant is fully booked, helping to keep customers within a hospitality group or local area.
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Pollock, who has a decade of experience in restaurant technology, said: “We’re excited to launch One Touch, an AI system that we have built primarily to meet the evolving demands of communication for restaurants. It makes the booking process more efficient and frees up valuable time for staff to focus on delivering top class customer services. With real time interaction it also offers diners an alternative restaurant if their chosen restaurant is fully booked. Our target is to have Voice AI in over 5,000 restaurants across the UK by the end of 2026. We’re also looking to expand into other sectors including hotels, retail and takeaways.”
The investment comes from Andrew Pennock, former COO of private hire firm Veezu, and will help the company scale its technology nationally. One Touch has set an ambitious target of installing its system in 5,000 UK restaurants by 2026, with plans to expand into hotels, retail and takeaways.
The move comes as the hospitality industry increasingly turns to AI solutions, with recent research showing 94% of restaurant operators believe AI will be essential to remain competitive. A separate McKinsey study found 71.6% of hospitality businesses plan to adopt some form of AI in the near future.
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For restaurant owners facing rising costs and staffing challenges, systems like One Touch offer a potential lifeline. As Pollock notes: “Adaptability is critical to the success of restaurants and One Touch is helping with this. It also provides significant cost saving for restaurants, many of whom are facing rising business costs and looking to boost adaptability and resilience while safeguarding their bottom line. Up to 30% of calls go unanswered, either through staff shortages, or called whilst the venue is closed. One Touch has the potential to boost revenues by capturing calls that are potentially being missed out of hours and during busy peak times.
“The backing from Andrew Pennock has been instrumental to our successful launch. Things are moving at pace and we’re working with the teams at Qubana and Fino who are already feeling the benefits of the One Touch system.”
“AI is helping many sectors to evolve, and the restaurant sector is starting to recognise this trend. According to McKinsey over 72% of organisations use AI in some form. Further research reveals 71.6% of restaurant operators plan to adopt AI soon.* Nearly 94% say that AI will be necessary to stay competitive.”
The company, headquartered in Leeds, was established in 2023 and is currently rolling out its technology to restaurants across Yorkshire before expanding nationwide.
