Technology
Photo: VIA 313
August 27, 2025
VIA 313, a Detroit-style fast casual concept, has partnered with Kea, a conversational AI company for restaurants, to manage phone orders across its more than 23 locations. The move aims to maintain consistent customer service as the company expands.
Kea’s voice AI now handles 100% of VIA 313’s inbound calls, taking orders with a tone and script tailored to the brand’s hospitality. The partnership follows VIA 313’s recent $32.5 million capital raise, reflecting its investment in operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.
“No matter how big we grow, every community we serve deserves the same warm, attentive experience,” Kiplan Welsch, president at VIA 313, said in a company press release. “Partnering with Kea gives us the confidence to scale without sacrificing service; it’s like having a super-reliable team member on every shift.”
For fast-growing chains, managing high volumes of phone orders with limited front-of-house staff can be a challenge. Kea’s AI solution acts as a virtual employee, ensuring every call is answered promptly and accurately. This allows VIA 313 staff to focus on in-house diners, enhancing the brand’s family-style experience.
Kea, which works with more than 30 brands, including Blaze Pizza and &Pizza, boasts a 99.3% order accuracy rate. The company’s AI integrates with more than 11 point-of-sale systems, including Toast, Square, and Clover, allowing new restaurants to onboard in under an hour.
“Pizza is one of the most call-heavy categories in the restaurant industry, with billions in sales coming through to-go orders,” said Adam Ahmad, founder and CEO of Kea. “We’re bringing cutting-edge tech to family-style operators like VIA 313 so they can not only survive but thrive.”
