Kea AI Launches Text AI, Expanding Conversational Ordering Beyond Voice
The leading Restaurant Voice AI now enables guests order, ask questions, and pay — all through a simple text conversation.
Today, Kea AI, the leader in restaurant Voice AI, announced the launch of Text AI, a new conversational messaging feature that allows guests to interact directly with restaurants via text message. All the capabilities of Voice AI to place orders, ask menu questions, or pay for meals in just a few taps through text messages.
Having powered hundreds of thousands of phone orders through its Voice AI, Kea is now expanding into text to meet guests wherever they are. Whether that’s at the kiddos soccer game, in a meeting, or unable to talk on the phone. The new Text AI feature rounds out Kea’s omnichannel ordering suite, offering restaurants a single system for both calls and texts tied directly to their POS.
Born From Real-World Insights
“For years, we’ve learned from how real customers interact with restaurants,” said John Merrells, CTO at Kea. “When people miss a call or can’t talk, they instinctively text. They don’t leave a voicemail. Text AI lets restaurants respond naturally in that same way, through friendly, on-brand messaging powered by AI.”
Kea’s team built Text AI after studying thousands of live orders and guest behaviors. Many diners faced challenges completing voice transactions, because of noisy environments, lost signals, or difficulty reading credit cards over the phone. That led to the creation of Kea Pay, an instant checkout link sent by text that supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and browser Credit Card autofill. Text AI builds on that success, enabling full two-way text conversations with the same personalization and accuracy Kea’s Voice AI is known for.
How Text AI Works
When a guest prefers to text, they can just use the same number that they call into for voice orders. The customer can confirm items, ask questions, or add to their order, all via SMS text messaging with the dedicated Kea AI local store number, not a toll-free number or short code.
Restaurants can tailor the tone of the AI to match their brand from friendly and conversational to playful or regionally inspired. Text AI also remembers returning customers names and their favorite orders, even allowing emoji-based ordering. “🍔 with bacon again?”
The system sends orders directly to leading point-of-sale systems including Toast, Square, Clover, and Olo, ensuring every text order syncs with the restaurant’s workflow and kitchen ticketing in real time.
Early Results from Beta Partners
In co-development with several restaurant brands, Kea observed that text conversations were fast and efficient in the amount of text messages exchanged. Some guests completed their order in as few as 6 texts. Repeat engagement rates were exceptionally high, with less than 1% of customers opting out of text interactions.
Joel Foster | Senior Technical Product Manager at Kea AI found “Once customers discovered they could simply text their favorite location to reorder, they began using it repeatedly instead of calling or ordering online.” The result: faster ordering, higher satisfaction, and incremental sales growth without adding staff.
One of Kea’s top brand design partners Kent Asaki, Chief Development Officer of Rachel’s Kitchen, mentioned, “Kea’s innovation over the years has been truly remarkable. Every time they roll out a new feature, they’re keeping one step ahead of where the industry’s going. This new Text AI, especially with the ability to reorder through personalized conversations, is a total game changer. It’s transforming how our guests connect with us.”
A Natural Next Step in Restaurant Communication
Text AI extends Kea’s mission of helping restaurants recapture missed revenue and guest engagement across every communication channel. With voice, text, and payment all unified, restaurants can offer frictionless ordering to every guest. No apps, downloads, or complicated menus required.
“Restaurants don’t need to chase the next platform,” Max Tilka | Senior Product Manager for Kea AI added. “Voice AI and Text AI together turn their existing phone line into a full-service digital storefront.”
Get Started
Restaurants can activate Text AI through a single setting. Once enabled, their existing Kea phone number supports both calling and texting, letting guests instantly connect through their preferred channel. You can join the waitlist on their site at www.kea.ai.
To see Text AI in action, request a demo at book.kea.ai or simply text the demo line here: (609) 451-2253
See Text AI in Action
About Kea AI
Kea AI is the leading Restaurant Voice AI platform built to supercharge restaurant operations. Founded in 2018 by CEO Adam Ahmad, Kea helps restaurants capture every call and text with intelligent ordering, menu analysis, and payment capabilities. Integrated with over 10+ POS systems, including Toast, Square, Clover, and Olo, Kea AI has powered hundreds of brands such as Rachel’s Kitchen, Pincho, Blaze Pizza, Hopdoddy, and Via 313. Kea has raised $33 million from Marbruck, Xfund, and Streamlined Ventures and is redefining how restaurants connect with their guests — one conversation at a time.
