Maple Partners with Shift4 to Bring AI Phone Ordering to SkyTab Restaurants

Key Terms

voice AI technical

Voice AI is software that listens to and speaks with people, turning natural conversation into actions like answering questions, issuing commands, or creating synthetic voices — think of it as teaching a digital receptionist to understand and respond like a human. It matters to investors because it can open new revenue streams, cut service costs and speed product adoption, but also brings privacy, accuracy and regulatory risks that affect a company’s growth and valuation.

integrated payments financial

Integrated payments are payment processing capabilities built directly into a business’s software or platform so customers can pay without leaving the app or workflow, like tapping to pay inside a shopping cart or invoicing system. For investors this matters because it can boost sales and customer loyalty by removing friction, create recurring revenue and higher margins for the platform provider, and produce richer transaction data that can be monetized or used to improve products.

AI-powered technical

"AI-powered" describes technology that uses artificial intelligence to perform tasks, make decisions, or analyze information automatically. It’s similar to having a highly skilled assistant that can learn from data, recognize patterns, and improve over time, helping to make processes faster and more accurate. For investors, this means better insights and more efficient operations, potentially leading to smarter investment choices.

Direct POS integration technical

Direct POS integration means connecting a product or service straight into a merchant’s point-of-sale system so transactions, inventory and customer data flow automatically between the two. For investors, it matters because this tight connection can make a product more convenient and “sticky” for businesses—similar to wiring an app directly into a shop’s cash register—potentially boosting sales, recurring revenue and access to real-time transaction data that can improve forecasting and margins.

kitchen display systems technical

A kitchen display system is a digital screen and software setup that shows and organizes incoming food orders for restaurant kitchens, replacing paper tickets or handwritten notes. Like a traffic controller or a digital scoreboard, it helps staff prioritize, time and track each dish, reducing mistakes, speeding service and cutting waste. Investors care because these systems can boost a restaurant’s sales, lower labor and food costs, and provide data that improves efficiency and customer turnover—key drivers of profitability.

payment processing financial

Payment processing is the behind‑the‑scenes system that moves money when a customer pays a business, handling authorization, fraud checks and final settlement so sellers actually receive funds. Think of it as the cashier, security guard and delivery truck for a digital sale all in one; its speed, fees, reliability and fraud protection directly affect a company’s revenue, costs and customer trust, making it a key factor investors watch.

payment rails financial

Payment rails are the networks and systems that move money electronically between buyers, sellers, banks and payment processors—think of them as the roads and tunnels that let cash travel from one place to another. They matter to investors because their speed, cost, reliability and geographic reach affect a business’s ability to collect revenue, control costs, expand into new markets and manage fraud risk, which in turn influences profitability and growth prospects.

Integration Enables Restaurant Operators to Capture Every Call and Increase Revenue

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Maple, the leading voice AI platform for restaurants, today announced that it has integrated its solution with Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR), a global leader in integrated payments and commerce technology, to bring 24/7 AI-powered phone ordering to restaurant merchants using SkyTab POS nationwide.

Maple's Voice AI-powered phone ordering is now integrated with SkyTab for seamless order and menu management.

The partnership integrates Maple's voice AI directly with SkyTab, addressing the persistent challenge of missed phone calls and lost revenue facing restaurant operators. With over 40% of restaurant phone calls going unanswered during peak hours, the average restaurant loses more than $30,000 annually in unrealized phone orders.

"Restaurant owners constantly tell us that they can't afford to hire dedicated phone staff, but they also can't afford to miss calls," said Aidan Chau, CEO and Founder of Maple. "Partnering with Shift4 allows us to bring AI phone ordering to thousands of SkyTab restaurants with an integration that just works: orders flow straight to the kitchen without extra tablets, duplicate entries, or friction."

Deep Integration Drives Operational Efficiency

Unlike typical AI phone systems that require weeks of menu programming and configuration, the Maple-SkyTab integration enables deployment in minutes. Maple pulls menu data directly from SkyTab, including items, modifiers, pricing, and availability, ensuring accurate order taking from day one.

Key capabilities include:

• Direct POS integration: Phone orders taken by Maple's AI appear on SkyTab kitchen display systems and receipt printers instantly, no extra tablets or manual re-entry required
• Real-time menu synchronization: Maple pulls live menu data directly from SkyTab, eliminating manual menu programming
• Seamless payment processing: Customers can pay over the phone or upon pickup, with transactions flowing through Shift4's existing payment rails
• Multi-location support: Restaurant groups can deploy Maple across all SkyTab locations with centralized management and location-specific customization
• 24/7 availability: Maple answers every call around the clock, capturing phone orders during peak rushes, after hours, or when staff are focused on in-store service

Beyond order taking, Maple's AI handles reservations, catering inquiries, hours and directions, and frequently asked questions.

Addressing a Persistent Industry Challenge

American restaurants miss roughly one in three incoming calls during service hours, a structural problem that costs the industry billions annually. The challenge is timing: phones ring most when kitchens are slammed and staff are focused on guests in the dining room.

The Maple-Shift4 partnership tackles this head-on. With Maple handling phone orders around the clock, restaurants capture revenue they'd otherwise lose while freeing staff to focus on in-person service. Orders taken by AI flow directly into SkyTab's kitchen systems, no extra hardware, no manual re-entry, no disruption to existing workflows.

Since launching in December 2023, Maple has answered over 1 million calls for restaurants with a 94% resolution rate without human intervention. The platform also handles reservations, catering inquiries, hours and directions, and common questions, all integrated with leading POS systems.

Availability

The Maple integration is available now to all SkyTab merchants in the United States. Restaurants can activate the service through the SkyTab Marketplace or contact their Shift4 representative.

About Maple

Maple, the leading Voice AI platform for restaurants, provides 24/7 phone answering for restaurants and local businesses, handling orders, reservations, and delivery inquiries. A graduate of Amazon's AWS Generative AI Accelerator, Maple has scaled to serve over 2,500 merchants since launching in December 2023. The platform integrates with major POS systems and partners with leading restaurant technology platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Maple is on a mission to ensure no restaurant ever misses a customer call again. For more information, visit maple.inc.

About Shift4

Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR) powers the experience economy, enabling businesses to deliver the moments that matter. Transforming how people shop, dine, stay, and play, Shift4’s commerce technology allows for a seamless experience at any scale. From your neighborhood restaurant to the world’s largest event venues, Shift4 handles billions of transactions annually for hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world. For more information, visit shift4.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260316749809/en/

Media Contacts:

Aidan Chau press@maple.inc

Nate Hirshberg nhirshberg@shift4.com

Source: Maple