Restaurant management software, whether it’s the greatest POS system or inventory management software that saves you hours of headaches, is something that shouldn’t be overlooked at your establishment.
The food and beverage sector is an ever-changing landscape. Practices that were accepted only a few years ago are swiftly being phased out in favor of more efficient and speedier methods of operating.
Restaurant management software is one of the aspects of restaurant operations that has changed the most. Every day, new systems emerge that can perform tasks in a fraction of the time and with greater precision than previously possible.
When used correctly, restaurant management software is a sure-fire approach to ensure a restaurant’s success.
Continue reading to discover about the 16 finest restaurant management software options for 2021, as well as the features you’ll need to ensure they get the job done.
Restaurant management software assists restaurant owners and managers in running their businesses from start to finish. Restaurant employees use these tools to keep track of inventory, payroll, orders, and analytics.
Managers and owners can use these tools to compare business practices across multiple locations, make new employee onboarding easier, and track employee effectiveness. These tools offer a variety of features for either specific restaurant types or restaurants as a whole.
In the past, a good POS system was inexpensive, simple to use, and served only one purpose: processing sales and transactions.
Nowadays, POS systems are among the most powerful types of restaurant management software that a restaurant can have.
Modern POS systems function as a computer/cash register hybrid, processing credit card payments, printing receipts, displaying information on a user-friendly screen, and acting as a service station.
With technological advancements, formerly bulky tabletop POS systems are being replaced by tablets such as iPads for increased portability.
The following are the features that your POS system must have:
When searching for a new POS system for your restaurant, conduct thorough research based on the restaurant’s wants and needs. Keep in mind that most POS companies will let you test the system for free before purchasing it.
Consider the following factors when selecting a POS system:
Harbortouch: Offers no-cost POS software and hardware, as well as free installation. The monthly fee is $89 per terminal.
Oracle’s micros is the world’s leading restaurant POS system. Price: Setup costs start at $5,000.
Square POS is simple to set up and extremely social media and marketing friendly. The hardware costs $169, and the transaction fee is 2.75 percent.
Revel: Simple interface, loyalty and gift card programs built in. Price: Depending on the size of the restaurant, around $139 per month.
Moving from the ‘pen and paper method of restaurant booking to a restaurant reservation system can make a huge difference for restaurants taking reservations.
Using restaurant reservation software not only simplifies your day-to-day operations, but it also improves the user experience for your guests.
Instead of answering phones and manually entering information, guests can enter their own information via a website interface, mobile app, or web widget.
See also: 7 Best Restaurant Inventory Management Software for 2022
A good restaurant reservation system will also include a user-friendly table management system.
This enables restaurants to receive bookings via a variety of channels while also visualizing their restaurant hour by hour.
When selecting a reservation system for your restaurant, make sure it meets your daily requirements.
A good system should be simple to use and should not necessitate hours of training to master. It should also be scalable, able to meet not only the restaurant’s current needs but also future volume.
To create a faster user experience, all restaurant information should be stored in the cloud rather than on the system itself.
Eat App: A complete front-of-house table management system that is available on the web, tablets, and mobile devices. The monthly fee is $119 for an unlimited number of devices per restaurant.
The number one priority of a restaurant operator is to ensure profitability. The primary source of revenue in a restaurant is the food itself, so knowing the food cost of each menu item is critical.
By automating all calculations, food costing software simplifies the entire process. A good food costing software will assist you in keeping track of your inventory as well as providing detailed analytics for each dish.
FoodCo: Integrates completely with your existing accounting software. The intuitive controls make it simple to use. Prices begin at $4,000.
CostBrain: Real-time food costing with the ability to scan invoices directly. Prices range from $0 to $40, depending on the plan.
Download this free food cost calculator excel sheet instead.
A good inventory management system provides restaurant owners with a clear picture of their inventory’s current state.
This eliminates the need for regular inventory checks, lowering the number of human errors.
With software automating the process, restaurants have more time to focus on running their businesses rather than completing menial tasks, and they are assured of having the right stock at the right time.
When selecting an inventory management system, keep your budget in mind, as some products can be extremely expensive but unnecessary for your size restaurant.
Before making a decision, it is also critical to understand the inventory challenges you face in your restaurant.
SimpleOrder: Directly exports to accounting software. Reduces food costs. The cost is $19 per month or $65 per year.
Orca: POS support and financial tracking. Monthly cost: $129
WISK is a liquor inventory app that does it all. It assists restaurant managers in more efficiently organizing and ordering bottles. Starting at $124 per month.
If you own a popular restaurant or simply have a busy night, you understand the value of implementing a waitlist system.
When a restaurant is full, waitlist software allows operators to quickly add guests to a waiting list, who are then notified when a table becomes available.
This is accomplished by either a portable buzzer carried by the guest or, in more modern waitlist systems, by sending an SMS when a table is ready.
Waitlist software must-haves include:
WaitWhile: From anywhere, create a waitlist and notify guests via SMS updates. Set up check-in stations where guests can sign themselves in. Price: Depending on restaurant volume, prices range from $0 to $149 per month.
Queupad: Supports multiple waitlists and does not require internet access. The cost is zero.
Waitlisted: Works with a variety of other services. Allows guests to recommend friends to advance in line. Annual cost is $60.
Running a restaurant can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor, but it comes at a cost.
One of the most important aspects of restaurant operation is easy to overlook – restaurant accounting. Restaurants will fail if proper accounting practices are not implemented.
But what if your budget does not permit you to hire a restaurant accountant?
Restaurant accounting software is frequently inexpensive (sometimes even free) and simple to use. You’ll be balancing your books like a pro in no time.
Features of essential restaurant accounting software
Zipbooks: Personalized emails and invoices for small business owners. The cost is zero.
QuickBooks: Can be accessed from any device at any time and can generate accounting reports. Prices start at $5 per month (1-month free trial)
Cash is king in the restaurant industry, and you’ll need to manage your cash flow to keep a steady flow of money coming in to balance the money going out.
Being profitable is not enough for a small restaurant; you must also have adequate cash flow to make that a reality.
Despite being one of the most important aspects of financial business stability, it is frequently overlooked by restaurant owners in favor of other business offerings.
If this is the case at your restaurant, learn how to easily manage your cash flow by utilizing low-cost cash flow management software.
Features of essential cash flow management software
Pulse: All-in-one cash flow solution that integrates with QuickBooks. Prices start at $30 per month (1-month free trial)
Restaurants need to rely on online ordering software more than ever in the post-Covid world. With restrictions preventing regulars from visiting their favorite establishments, it’s critical to provide simple alternatives that allow your guests to enjoy your offerings.
As a result of changing consumer preferences, more online ordering software providers have emerged, challenging the traditional approach to online ordering with all-in-one systems.
If you’re having trouble getting customers through the door in 2021, it might be time to consider online ordering software for your restaurant.
Must-have online ordering software features
UpMenu is an all-in-one online ordering system with loyalty, a restaurant website builder, and branded restaurant apps. Prices start at $49 per month (7-day free trial)
The main driver of profitability in your restaurant is efficiency. Restaurant analytics software will assist you in identifying various opportunities for efficiency improvement.
Whether your goal is to increase sales, improve employee productivity, cut costs, or even reduce fraud and theft, analytics software will allow you to look at all aspects of your restaurant’s operations.
Important restaurant analytics software features:
Fishbowl: Econometric pricing, menu optimization, competitor auditing. Price: On request
One of the most important aspects of any restaurant is a well-thought-out menu. Customers have no way of knowing what they can order and at what price without a menu. It is critical, however, to have a menu that not only follows menu engineering best practices, but also accurately reflects the restaurant’s personality.
What should you do if you have no experience designing restaurant menus and cannot afford to hire a professional designer? You’re in luck because the internet is brimming with both paid and free online restaurant menu makers that can easily do the job for you.
Important restaurant menu building software features
iMenuPro: An online menu maker that allows you to create restaurant menus like a pro in seconds. Pricing begins at $9.75 per month.
A straightforward approach to employee management that takes into account everything from pay stubs to time off requests. Allows restaurant owners to forego the time-consuming excel or paper-based methods in favor of a faster, cloud-based service.
Allows restaurant owners to collect valuable information from customers, which can then be used to make strategic decisions to increase customer satisfaction.
Allows guests to return to your establishment by offering discounts and free meals after a certain number of visits. It also helps the restaurant’s reputation by spreading word of mouth.
Restaurant inventory software assists restaurants in keeping track of ingredient stock levels, purchase orders, recipes,…
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