# Introduction (/docs/)

> Virnika answers your restaurant's phone and takes orders, so your staff can focus on the guests in front of them.

Virnika is an AI phone agent for restaurants. It answers calls, takes pickup and delivery orders from your real menu, answers common questions, and sends finished orders straight to your point of sale.

Call flow: Caller (Dials your usual number) → Virnika (Takes the order) → Your POS (Order arrives like online orders) → Your kitchen (Prints or shows on the KDS)

## How setup works

**If your POS is supported and your phone system is ready, you can be live the same day.** Every Virnika restaurant gets an onboarding specialist who handles setup with you, usually in a single working session.

1. **Kickoff call** (You + Virnika): We confirm your phone provider, POS and menu, and plan the setup.
2. **Connect your POS** (You + Virnika): You approve the connection and we import your menu.
3. **Tune your menu** (Virnika): We set up your menu for phone ordering: names read aloud cleanly, nicknames callers use, modifier rules.
4. **Connect your phones** (You + Virnika): You turn on call forwarding, and we confirm calls reach Virnika and your store.
5. **Test calls** (You): You place test orders on your test number. Nothing reaches your POS.
6. **Go live** (Virnika): Virnika answers on your main number. We check the first live calls with you.

Typical total: Same day

### When it takes longer

Same-day setup needs a [supported POS](/docs/orders/pos/supported) and a phone system you can forward from right away. These setups add time:

**What adds time**

- **You're on a landline** → We ship you a phone for transfers (Live once it arrives)
- **Your phone provider makes forwarding changes for you** → We call your provider with you (Their turnaround)
- **You're switching phone services or moving your number** → Set up after the move (1–2 weeks)
- **Your POS connects through Deliverect, Stream or Olo** → The partner sets up their side first (Their turnaround)
- **Your POS isn't supported** → We set you up with a OneTablet tablet (Live once it's set up)
- **You'd like a trial run first** → Pilot during hours you pick (You choose)

Your specialist confirms your date on the kickoff call, once your phone line and POS are checked.

## Your part in setup

Most delays happen while we're waiting on an answer or a login. You can keep things moving by:

- **Replying within one business day** when your specialist reaches out, by text or email.
- **Sharing logins when we ask** for your phone account and POS. Your specialist will give you a secure way to send them.
- **Having your account PIN ready** for calls with your phone provider.
- **Naming one contact** who can make decisions and answer questions about the store.
- **Looping in your IT person or POS reseller early** if they manage your phones or POS.

Use the [Before your kickoff](/docs/kickoff/) checklist to gather what we'll ask for up front.

If we can't reach you, we'll pause your setup and pick it back up as soon as you're ready. Your go-live date moves by however long it was paused.

- [Before your kickoff](/docs/kickoff/): What to gather before your kickoff call.
- [Phone setup](/docs/phone): How calls reach Virnika, and the setup options for your phone line.
- [POS integrations](/docs/orders/pos): How orders reach your POS, and what we need from you for each system.

## Need help?

Text or call us at [(984) 364-8294](sms:+19843648294), or email [help@virnika.ai](mailto:help@virnika.ai). We usually reply the same business day.