OrderCounter, the hybrid point-of-sale provider that pairs the reliability of an on-site server with the accessibility of the cloud, and Maple, the leading voice AI platform for restaurants, today announced a partnership that brings automated phone ordering to OrderCounter’s restaurant customers.
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OrderCounter built its reputation on an architecture most of the industry moved away from and its customers refused to give up: a local server on the premises, paired with cloud access from any device anywhere. That design keeps a restaurant taking orders and printing tickets even when its internet connection falters, which is why reliability-focused operators, from fine dining rooms to high-volume bars, run OrderCounter. Maple’s voice AI now sits on top of that foundation, answering the phones and sending every order into the same dependable system the kitchen already works from.
“We have always evolved OrderCounter around one question: does this help our merchants make money and run a smoother floor,” said Thomas Barrineau IV, CEO of OrderCounter. “Voice AI answers a problem every operator feels on a Friday night. Pairing Maple with the local reliability our customers count on means the calls get answered and the orders land where the kitchen can act on them, every time.”
The Order Still Has to Reach the Kitchen
Phone calls arrive in a restaurant exactly when staff are least able to answer them, especially during the lunch and dinner rushes. Answering the call is the first half of the problem. The second half is getting that order onto the line reliably, which is where a phone system tied to a single cloud connection can quietly cost a kitchen tickets. OrderCounter’s on-site server handles that last step locally, so an order Maple captures over the phone reaches the kitchen display and the printer the same way a walk-in order does.
“Restaurant owners tell us they cannot afford to hire dedicated phone staff, and they cannot afford to miss calls,” said Aidan Chau, CEO and Founder of Maple. “Running our voice AI through OrderCounter’s hybrid system means an operator gets both: every call answered around the clock, and every order flowing into the workflow their staff already knows. No extra tablets, no duplicate entry, no order stuck in limbo because a connection dropped.”
How the Integration Works
Maple pulls menu data directly from OrderCounter, so there is no manual menu programming step and orders are accurate from the first call.
Key integration capabilities include:
- Direct POS integration: Phone orders taken by Maple’s AI push straight into OrderCounter, appearing on kitchen display systems and receipt printers instantly, with no extra tablets or manual re-entry.
- On-site reliability: Because OrderCounter runs a local server, captured orders reach the kitchen through the same on-premise system that keeps the restaurant running during connectivity interruptions.
- Real-time menu synchronization: Maple pulls live menu data from OrderCounter, including items, modifiers, pricing, and availability, so the AI always quotes what the kitchen can actually make.
- Flexible payment: Customers can pay over the phone through a text-to-pay link or settle in store at pickup, with transactions flowing through OrderCounter’s existing processing.
- 24/7 availability: Maple answers every call around the clock, capturing phone orders during peak rushes, after hours, and whenever staff are focused on the floor.
Beyond order taking, Maple’s AI handles reservations, catering inquiries, hours and directions, and frequently asked questions, giving OrderCounter merchants comprehensive phone coverage.
Since launching in December 2023, Maple has answered over 1 million calls for restaurants with a 92% resolution rate without human intervention. A graduate of Amazon’s AWS Generative AI Accelerator, Maple serves over 1,000 merchant locations nationwide and processes thousands of calls daily. The company integrates with major POS systems including Toast, Square, Oracle, Clover, and now OrderCounter.
Availability
The Maple integration is available immediately to OrderCounter merchants in the United States. Restaurants can activate the service through their OrderCounter representative. Dealers and payment processors interested in offering Maple to their restaurant portfolios can contact juniper@maple.inc.
About OrderCounter
OrderCounter is a fiercely processor-agnostic Hybrid Point-of-Sale platform headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, serving restaurants, retailers, salons and other growing businesses. Combining the reliability of an on-site server with the flexibility of the cloud, OrderCounter helps restaurants and other operators run their businesses from virtually anywhere. Restaurant solutions include online ordering, kitchen display systems, mobile and tableside POS, self-service kiosks and remote back-office management. Named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America, OrderCounter serves merchants nationwide. Learn more at ordercounter.com.
About Maple
Maple (formerly Argo Labs), 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 1,000 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.
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