Yelp Host vs. Revmo: AI-powered phone assistants compared
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The restaurant industry is experiencing a digital revolution, and artificial intelligence is leading the charge by optimizing how establishments manage their front-of-house operations, among other areas. For restaurant owners and managers interested in using AI to streamline their guest experience while maximizing profitability, taking advantage of AI-powered phone assistants can be an easy first step into the world of AI.
Conversational AI is a technology that allows computers to simulate human-like dialogue using natural language processing and machine learning. In an industry that thrives on human interaction, conversational AI is transforming restaurant operations.
Let’s explore two popular AI-powered phone assistants, Yelp Host and Revmo, to examine their capabilities and help you determine which tool will best fit your needs.
Yelp Host: A comprehensive AI-powered assistant
Yelp Host is an AI-powered phone assistant designed specifically for restaurants. It answers phone calls with a natural-sounding voice that can be customized to your brand’s style and tone.
It works 24/7 to answer common questions, book reservations, and more—freeing up restaurant staff to focus on delivering an exceptional dining experience. Plus, Yelp Host integrates seamlessly with Yelp Guest Manager to book and modify reservations directly.
Let’s break down the benefits of Yelp Host.
AI-powered guest communication with a personal touch
Yelp Host’s conversational AI is available in four customizable brand voice options to make the experience feel personal and human. It’s able to respond to callers’ inquiries with accuracy and provide real-time wait estimates.
Yelp Host’s AI-powered functionality:
- Integrates with Yelp Guest Manager, taking reservations and adding guests to the waitlist; also works alongside other reservation systems
- Answers questions about hours of operation, location, menu items, specials, and more
- Sends SMS notifications to the caller with links to view takeout menus or place an online order
Plus any customer preferences, like seating requests, will be recorded; AI phone calls are transcribed for easy review; and complex calls can be routed to a team member.
No more missed calls
During high-volume periods when your host stand is overwhelmed, Yelp Host seamlessly manages all incoming calls. It can even answer multiple calls at once—something no single person can do—and fields calls 24/7. Say goodbye to:
- Phones ringing off the hook
- Potential customers being lost to missed calls
- Busy phone lines preventing calls from getting through
- No one being available to take reservations during off-hours
Yelp Host also filters out spam calls and wrong numbers, saving time and frustration.
Quick setup and implementation
One of the biggest benefits of Yelp Host is straightforward, easy setup. The system doesn’t have a complicated onboarding process. It pulls information directly from your Yelp Business Page, allowing you to be up and running in 10 minutes.
Since Yelp Host integrates with Yelp Guest Manager, reservations stay streamlined and your in-house staff always has a pulse on what’s going on.
Revmo: The specialized AI assistant
Revmo AI positions itself as a specialized solution focused primarily on automated communication and basic reservation handling. Originally focused on home services scheduling, Revmo’s approach emphasizes automated phone call handling across industries. While it offers some compelling features, its base plan’s functionality is more limited compared to Yelp Host. For example, you’ll need to invest in Revmo’s Advanced AI plan to integrate with your reservation system.
Communication features
Similar to Yelp Host, Revmo handles guest communication through automated responses and standard messaging protocols. While the platform uses conversational AI, it doesn’t offer the same level of personalization or learning capabilities that make Yelp Host stand out.
Setup complications
While Revmo does integrate with Yelp Guest Manager, setup is slightly more complicated, as you need to answer questions to train the virtual agent.
Yelp Host vs. Revmo: The key differentiators
When determining which AI assistant is best for your restaurant, there are two main key differentiators between Yelp Host and Revmo that become pretty clear: pricing and value.
Revmo has two plan tiers: Essential AI and Advanced AI:
- The Essential AI plan manages incoming calls and answers common questions. It costs $0.59 per conversation. This pricing makes the bill unpredictable. If you’re a high-call-volume customer getting 1,000+ calls a month or your call volume is really seasonal (with more calls during the holidays), Revmo’s pricing makes it really hard for your business to manage your call budget.
- The Advanced AI plan includes more robust features and the reservation integration. It comes with custom pricing, so you’d need to request a quote.
Yelp Host costs $149 per month (or $99 per month for Yelp Guest Manager customers). The first 500 calls per month are included, and it’s only $0.25 per call after (compared to the $0.59 for Revmo). Plus, if you purchase both Yelp Host and Yelp Guest Manager, they’ll be integrated at no additional cost.
For 500 calls on Revmo’s Essential AI plan, the cost would be $295. That’s almost double the cost for the first 500 calls of the month under Yelp Host’s $149 rate and almost triple Yelp Host’s $99 rate when purchased with Yelp Guest Manager.
Even when you go beyond Yelp Host’s 500/month call limit, the savings are clear. For 600 calls on Revmo, the cost would be $354. With Yelp Host, 600 calls would cost $174 (or $124 for Yelp Guest Manager customers).
Considering the lower cost per phone call and the standard reservation features, Yelp Host shines as the better value compared to Revmo. You can even get Yelp Host free for up to 30 days.
The verdict: Yelp Host leads the way
For restaurant managers and owners who are interested in leveraging the benefits of AI, Yelp Host offers a simple solution and easy entry point into the world of artificial intelligence. The customer experience is still personal, and callers can get answers about menu items or receive accurate wait times, even during peak hours.
With sophisticated AI capabilities, integration with Yelp Guest Manager’s reservation system and other Yelp products, and affordable pricing, Yelp Host is a powerful tool for restaurants of all sizes. While Revmo offers similar AI phone functionality, its pricing and less robust base plan may not be the right fit for some restaurants.
To learn more and to experience Yelp Host for yourself, schedule a demo today.