Every missed call is a missed order and for a takeaway, that means lost revenue. When the phone rings, it’s not just a customer enquiry, it’s money on the line.
A decade ago, a traditional landline was enough to keep business ticking over. But in 2025, with more competition, higher customer expectations, and busy peak hours, landlines are showing their age. They can only handle one call at a time, leave customers frustrated with engaged tones, and offer no visibility or flexibility when you need it most. For takeaway owners, this often means juggling calls, missing orders, and watching sales slip away – today you’ll find out why voip beats landlines ofr takeaway businesses every time.
That’s where VoIP changes the game. Designed for modern businesses, VoIP systems handle multiple calls seamlessly, route them to the right person, and even integrate with ordering apps and customer records. Instead of struggling with outdated infrastructure, takeaways can focus on what matters: keeping orders flowing, customers happy, and revenue growing.
In this article, we’ll show exactly why VoIP beats traditional landlines for takeaways—and how it can help you stop missing orders for good.
The Problem with Landlines in Takeaway Businesses
For a busy takeaway, the humble landline quickly turns from lifeline to liability. The problem is simple: one line can only handle one call at a time. When the phone’s engaged, hungry customers don’t wait—they hang up and order from a competitor. That’s lost revenue you’ll never see again.
Even when the phone isn’t engaged, landlines create a bottleneck. Staff have to juggle taking orders, answering questions, and managing the kitchen, all through a single handset. Calls get rushed, mistakes creep in, and customer service suffers.
Worse still, missed calls often vanish without a trace. Traditional landlines offer no call logs, alerts, or tracking. Unless a customer rings back, you’ll never know how many orders slipped through the cracks. And if you try to fix the problem? Adding extra lines or staff coverage is expensive and rarely practical for small takeaway businesses.
In short, landlines were never built to handle today’s demand. They leave takeaways exposed to missed orders, frustrated customers, and unnecessary costs—exactly the issues VoIP is designed to solve.
Why VoIP is a Game-Changer for Takeaways
VoIP gives takeaways the tools to keep up with demand and stop orders slipping through the cracks. Unlike landlines, it can handle multiple calls at once. Instead of hearing a frustrating busy tone, customers are placed in a queue with on-hold messages, so they’re more likely to wait and place their order.
VoIP also keeps you connected wherever you are. Calls can be forwarded to mobiles or even delivery drivers, ensuring no order gets missed just because no one is near the counter phone. And if a customer does leave a message, voicemail-to-email delivers it straight to your inbox so you can respond quickly and professionally.
It’s cost-effective, too. Rather than paying for several separate lines, VoIP minutes can be shared across your whole team, making it cheaper and simpler to manage. For takeaways with multiple branches or franchise plans, VoIP links every site under the same system—so scaling up doesn’t mean scaling your phone bill.
In short, VoIP gives takeaways a modern, flexible, and reliable communication system—something landlines simply can’t match.
Caller ID & EPOS Integration (Critical for Takeaways)
For most takeaways, caller ID isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. When a regular customer calls, the number instantly pulls up past orders and delivery details in your EPOS system. This speeds up service, reduces mistakes, and keeps loyal customers happy.
But here’s the catch: moving from a traditional landline to VoIP can sometimes cause caller ID issues if it isn’t configured correctly. Without the right setup, your EPOS might not recognise the number, leaving staff scrambling to confirm addresses and orders manually—a frustrating step backwards.
The good news is, this problem is easily solved. With the right approach—whether that’s using an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) or switching to takeaway-focused VoIP software—caller ID integrates seamlessly. Your staff keep the same fast, familiar workflow, while gaining all the extra benefits of VoIP.
In short, VoIP doesn’t mean losing the caller ID link that powers your EPOS. Done properly, it makes that connection stronger, more reliable, and future-proof for a growing takeaway business.
Read more about the solutions for this here.
Cost Comparison: Landline vs VoIP for Takeaways
For most takeaways, cost is just as important as convenience—and here, VoIP comes out ahead. Traditional landlines typically cost £20–£40 per line, but each line can only handle one call at a time. If you want to handle more orders, you’ll need to pay for extra lines and hardware, quickly driving up monthly bills without solving the underlying limitations.
VoIP, on the other hand, is priced per user, usually around £10–£20 per month. Minutes are shared across your team, so you get far more flexibility for less money. Call rates are also lower, especially for mobiles and long-distance calls, which means savings stack up quickly.
For a real-world example: a typical takeaway switching from three landlines to VoIP could save £100–£200 every month. That’s money straight back into the business—whether it’s for marketing, staff, or simply boosting profit margins.
When you add in the fact that VoIP delivers better functionality at a lower cost, the question isn’t whether you can afford to upgrade, it’s whether you can afford not to.
Find out more about our phone systems for restaurants and takeaway businesses.
We Cater to a Range of Takeaway Businesses
No matter your cuisine or setup, Plexatalk is built to handle the unique challenges of takeaway life. Our VoIP systems are tailored to busy kitchens and front-of-house teams, helping you keep orders flowing smoothly—whatever’s on the menu.
- Chinese takeaways managing high call volumes at peak times
- Pizza shops dealing with Friday night rushes
- Kebab houses coordinating late-night deliveries
- Indian restaurants with repeat regulars and big family orders
- Burger joints and fast-food outlets balancing speed with service
- Fish & chip shops handling walk-ins and phone orders together
From single-location independents to multi-branch franchises, Plexatalk helps takeaways stay connected, cut costs, and deliver a better experience for customers.
Future-Proofing: PSTN/ISDN Switch-Off in 2027
The clock is ticking on traditional phone lines. By 2027, the UK’s PSTN and ISDN networks will be switched off completely, meaning landlines, as we know them, simply won’t exist. For takeaway owners still relying on old systems, that’s a serious risk.
Waiting until the last minute isn’t a safe option. A rushed upgrade often means higher installation costs, limited provider choice, and the very real danger of downtime right when you need your phones most. Imagine losing your main order channel for even a day during peak trading—it’s a hit no business can afford.
Early adoption of VoIP removes that risk entirely. By switching now, you get the benefits immediately—better call handling, lower costs, and integration with your existing workflows—while knowing your system is future-proof. The transition is smoother, staff have time to adapt, and you won’t be caught in the 2027 scramble.
In short: the landline switch-off isn’t coming, it’s already underway. Takeaways that act early won’t just avoid disruption—they’ll gain a head start on competitors still stuck in the past.
The benefits of VoIP aren’t just theory, takeaways across the UK are already seeing the difference it makes.
One Chinese takeaway switched from three landlines to a VoIP system and immediately cut their call costs by around £150 a month. That saving went straight back into staff wages and marketing, while the phones worked better than ever.
A busy pizza shop struggled every Friday night with constant engaged tones. After moving to VoIP, they set up call queues so customers waited on hold instead of hanging up. The result? Fewer missed orders, happier customers, and a noticeable bump in weekend revenue.
Meanwhile, a local kebab shop uses VoIP’s mobile app integration to keep staff connected on the go. Drivers and managers can call customers directly from the shop’s number, not their personal mobiles, keeping communication professional and consistent while protecting staff privacy.
These examples show how VoIP adapts to real takeaway challenges—saving money, preventing missed orders, and making operations smoother day-to-day.
Takeaway (no pun intended): Why Switch Now
The message is simple: sticking with landlines means sticking with lost orders, higher costs, and frustrated customers. Every missed call is lost revenue—and with competition tougher than ever, that’s business you can’t afford to give away.
VoIP, on the other hand, gives takeaways exactly what they need: flexibility to handle multiple calls, lower running costs, smoother workflows, and happier customers who know their favourite orders will always get through. It’s a system designed for the reality of modern takeaway life.
With Plexatalk, switching is fast and hassle-free. Our service is built specifically for UK takeaways, with caller ID and EPOS integration included as standard, and pricing that’s clear and transparent. You’ll be set up quickly, with support every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters—keeping orders flowing and customers coming back.
Don’t wait until the 2027 landline switch-off or until the next peak rush exposes the cracks. The best time to upgrade is now. The second best is tomorrow.
Don’t lose another order
See how Plexatalk helps takeaways stay connected, cut costs, and keep customers happy.
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Frequently Asked Questions – Why VoIP Beats Landlines for Takeaway Shops
What is the best phone system for takeaway restaurants?
For most takeaways, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is the best option. It handles multiple calls at once, integrates with EPOS systems, and costs less than traditional landlines.
Can VoIP stop missed orders in my takeaway?
Yes. Unlike landlines, VoIP can queue calls, forward them to mobiles, and log every missed call. This means fewer lost orders and happier customers.
Is VoIP cheaper than a landline for takeaways?
In most cases, yes. Landlines cost £20–£40 per line, while VoIP is around £10–£20 per user with cheaper call rates. Many takeaways save £100–£200 a month after switching.
Will VoIP work with my takeaway’s EPOS system?
Yes. With the right setup (such as ATAs or takeaway-focused VoIP software), caller ID integrates seamlessly with EPOS systems to pull up customer order history and delivery details.
Do I need new hardware to switch my takeaway to VoIP?
Not always. You can use existing phones with an adapter, or upgrade to VoIP handsets and mobile apps. Providers like Plexatalk guide you through the setup.