What makes up a good restaurant software?

The past few years have been less than ideal for restaurants and brick-and-mortar dining. A global pandemic, rising inflation, and shifting toward delivery ordering have seen many restauranteurs struggle to keep up. But what if the way forward wasn’t a complete change in business – but rather a shift in how we operate?

Here’s the good news: 39% of adults surveyed say they aren’t eating out as much as they’d like. That’s 39% of adults looking for a seamless, enjoyable restaurant experience.

To meet this demand, dining establishments must invest in the right kind of restaurant software. Features like digital menus, online ordering systems, and automated table management systems are just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s look at each of these in detail – and see how finding the right providers for your management platform is key to success.

What Is Restaurant Software?

First, let’s look at what restaurant software is – and what it isn’t. Most restaurant owners want to see their prices go down, and investing in software solutions may feel like a drain on resources. 

But when implemented correctly, a restaurant management solution can actually save money in the long run by streamlining processes and increasing efficiency. Restaurant software such as digital menus, POS systems, and inventory tracking can help restaurants manage their resources more effectively.

Comprehensive Restaurant Management Software

A foundational restaurant management software sets the stage for nearly every other aspect of your establishment. A restaurant management system integrates processes from employee scheduling, inventory tracking, and ordering.

1. Employee Scheduling: Restaurant management software can streamline managing employees, from scheduling roles and shifts to tracking labor costs.

2. Inventory Tracking: The right restaurant management system will track inventory in real time, helping you stay on top of stock levels and ensure that food doesn’t go to waste. The best restaurant management software will give both front and back of house controls.

3. Ordering & Purchasing: A restaurant management system can help streamline ordering and purchasing processes, making it easy to keep track of vendor performance and stock up when necessary.

4. Reporting & Analysis: Restaurant management software provides a variety of reports that analyze different aspects of your business, such as sales reports, cost analysis, or labor costs. A quality back office solution will help you stay ahead in the restaurant industry.

5. Integrated Services: The right restaurant management system will have integrated services such as customer feedback, loyalty programs, payment processing, and online ordering capabilities. This can help you provide a seamless experience to your customers while streamlining operations within the restaurant.

6. Security & Compliance: Restaurant management software should comply with security regulations and guidelines set by governing bodies such as PCI-DSS. This will ensure that all customer data is kept safe and secure, reducing the risk of fraud or theft.

Modern restaurant management software solutions will bring together all the necessary tools and features to help you run a successful business. With the right solution, you can streamline operations, increase customer satisfaction, and drive increased revenue.

Restaurant POS System

Point-of-sale (POS) systems are an essential component of any restaurant. It is the hub of all operations, from taking orders and processing transactions to managing customer loyalty programs.

It’s likely that your restaurant already has a POS system in place, but is it adding to your restaurant’s success? Investing in a modern POS system with the best features is essential to achieving goals like improving customer service, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs.

Modern POS systems provide features such as

• Contactless payment options

• Table management and order management

• Digital menus and mobile app features

• Inventory management and menu management

• Reporting tools for data analysis

• Mobile applications for efficient order-taking (i.e., QR code options)

• Automated marketing campaigns

• Gift cards and mobile POS software features at tableside

These features often come bundled in a modern POS system, making it easier for businesses to stay ahead of the competition. But always look closely at what your potential POS system offers - and if you don’t need a particular feature, be sure to choose one that doesn’t include it so you don’t end up paying extra for something you won't use.

For instance, do you need to invest in credit card or ecommerce services for your cafe? Are CRM and dashboards necessary for getting the right metrics? Your goals will determine your needs;

Restaurant Scheduling Software

While many restaurant software systems focus outward to customer experience, ensuring that your staff can effectively manage their time is just as important. Restaurant scheduling software automates employee shift management, making it easy to create staff rotas and track hours worked for payroll purposes.

Restaurant scheduling software enables managers and staff to monitor current and upcoming shifts, check employee availability for any given shift, ensure the right staffing levels are in place at the correct times, communicate quickly and efficiently about changes or requests, and much more.

You’d be shocked at how many restaurants depend on paper-based methods for scheduling employee shifts – often due to tradition and a lack of time to invest in the research and implementation of new systems. 

However, with restaurant scheduling software, you can reduce human error, save time and money, and promote a healthy work-life balance for your staff. This will all help make sure your business runs like clockwork!

Inventory Management and Forecasting

How is your stock looking? Are you overstocked on certain items? Do you need to restock ingredients for a dish that is proving popular?

If restaurant scheduling software keeps your staff updated with the latest information, inventory management, and forecasting, do the same for your products. 

You can save money by reducing waste and knowing exactly when to place more orders for specific items. Not only can you save money, but your customers will enjoy better quality dishes due to having the right ingredients available at all times.

Kitchen Display Systems

Having an efficient kitchen setup is vital in a restaurant. No matter how good your staff is at memorizing orders, kitchen display systems can help keep the process running smoothly and cut down on errors.

Display system solutions send orders directly to the kitchen, reducing the need for a waiter or waitress to bring them over. This can be especially valuable during busy periods, where staff may not have time to remember all the orders and deliver them in a timely manner. You can even add timers or alerts to ensure food reaches customers at the optimum temperature.

Restaurant Financial Analytics and Reporting Software

Perhaps one of the most understated areas of restaurant management is financial analytics and reporting. Simply put, if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Knowing to the penny how much money your restaurant is making on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis allows for better strategic decision-making.

A robust financial analytics and reporting software solution can provide you with a 360-degree view of your restaurant’s performance. You can take advantage of insights such as:

• Sales performance and trends

• Cost of goods sold tracking

• Profitability analysis

• Cash flow forecasting

• Inventory management

These insights can help you plan for the future, identify areas for improvement, and make sure you stay ahead of cash flow issues. Plus, should you have stakeholders or investors, easy-to-use reporting tools can give you better transparency into the state of your finances.

Accurate reporting also allows your operators and managers to track progress against goals easily. They can translate meal cost data into labor and food costs, compare sales across multiple locations, and even look at customer behavior over time so they can learn more about their guests’ needs and preferences.

Software for Hiring Hourly Employees

One of the key challenges facing many restaurants is hiring and managing hourly employees. A key restaurant software to invest in is a hiring system that is integrated with your restaurant management system.

From creating detailed job descriptions to organizing and tracking applicant information to scheduling interviews and onboarding new hires, a comprehensive restaurant hiring system can help streamline the recruitment process and save time.

When you can identify the right applicants – and track them through the recruitment and onboarding process – you can be sure to make the right hires for your team. With good restaurant software, you’ll also have access to detailed reporting analytics that allow you to track employee performance over time, ensuring that you will always have people on board who are passionate about their jobs and willing to work hard.

Onboarding Software: A Seamless Start for New Hires

Once you find the right candidates for your restaurant roles, it’s just as essential to make sure they have a smooth onboarding experience. For this, you’ll want to invest in a restaurant onboarding software package tailored to your business.

Too many restaurants struggle to adequately onboard their new hires – leading to increased turnover and higher costs. With a good onboarding software package, you can ensure your new hires start off on the right foot by providing comprehensive job training materials and information about company policies. Plus, you’ll be able to track progress within the onboarding program to ensure that all new hires have all the tools they need to succeed in their role.

Payroll Systems for Restaurants

Paying your employees on time is one of the most important tasks of a restaurant manager. If you can’t get your payroll done correctly, it’s going to create a lot of headaches for you and your staff. 

Investing in a sound payroll system can help streamline the process and automate calculations so that everything runs smoothly every pay period. Plus, many payroll systems also offer integrated time-tracking features that allow you to monitor employee hours in real time and make sure everyone is paid accurately.

Benefits Administration

Within your payroll software or restaurant management system, you’ll want to make sure your staff is able to easily access their benefits information. This can include health insurance, dental insurance, any prepaid vacation or sick days they’ve earned, and other supplemental benefits.

Your payroll software should also offer detailed reports so you can stay on top of any changes in tax laws that could affect your employees’ payments. This kind of transparency will help keep your team informed and on the same page.

Employee Portals

Just like benefits administration, you should also have access to employee portals that allow your staff to manage their personal information and make updates as needed.

These portals can serve as an additional resource for employees when they need help using the payroll system, updating their contact info, or making changes to their withholding allowances. They should also be able to easily access documents like W-2s and other vital records.

With these features and tools, you’ll have the assurance that your payroll system is always up-to-date and compliant with regulations. Plus, choosing a user-friendly option make it easier for everyone involved to stay on top of their responsibilities.

Restaurant Computer Systems (POS and Beyond)

There are a variety of other technology solutions you can implement in your restaurant to make life easier. 

Security Systems

Your restaurant should be equipped with an effective security system to ensure the safety of both your employees and customers. Security cameras, motion sensors, and access control systems are just a few tools you can use to keep your business secure. iPad-based terminals and kiosk options are often available.

Data Storage Solutions

In addition to protecting your business, you must have access to all the information about running a successful restaurant. From customer orders and employee records to inventory tracking and customer loyalty programs, data storage solutions provide a secure way to store important information. 

Automation

Automation can help streamline the operations of your restaurant. From ordering and payment systems to scheduling and payroll processes, automation helps your staff stay organized and efficient while providing customers with a seamless experience. Automation can also help reduce labor costs and save time.

Data Security

It's essential to keep your customer and employee data secure. Implementing measures such as two-factor authentication, encrypting sensitive information, using strong passwords, and regularly backing up your data can help you protect yourself against cyberattacks. The last thing you want is for your restaurant to become a target of hackers. With the right security measures, you can help keep your data safe and secure.

Marketing Software Solutions

Adopting marketing automation can help restaurants stay competitive. You can use automated tools like email campaigns and social media to reach new customers and engage existing ones. This not only saves time but also allows you to track user behavior and optimize your messages for maximum engagement with your restaurant business.

FAQ

Which software does restaurant use?

Restaurants use a variety of software solutions, from point-of-sale systems to customer relationship management tools. It really depends on the size and scope of your restaurant's needs. Choosing the right software for your business can help you streamline operations and make it easier to manage customer experience.

What is restaurant management software?

Restaurant management software is a suite of tools designed to help restaurant owners and managers keep track of operations, manage customer relationships, monitor financial performance, store data, and more. It typically includes features like reporting & analytics, inventory management, menu items & pricing control, kitchen display systems (KDS), POS integration, and payment processing. Some software even offers marketing capabilities and employee management features.

What is the restaurant computer system called?

The restaurant computer system is typically called a Point of Sale (POS) system. POS systems are designed to handle customer orders, track inventory, process payments, and manage other operations within the restaurant. They come in hardware and software configurations and can be tailored to your front-of-house and kitchen needs. With POS systems, you can increase efficiency, accuracy, and profitability while delivering a better customer experience.

What are the benefits of using a restaurant computer system?

A restaurant computer system offers numerous benefits to businesses in the hospitality industry. They can help boost efficiency by cutting transaction time and increasing accuracy in order processing. This functionality enhances restaurant operations and ensures the best guest experience.

Choose The Right Restaurant Software For Your Business

Having the right all-in-one restaurant software can be an integral part of success in the hospitality industry. It streamlines operations, provides a better customer experience, and increases efficiency and accuracy. 

Investing in quality restaurant software can help businesses gain a competitive edge and maximize profitability. Restaurant owners should research their options to identify the best system for their business and invest in these technologies to ensure long-term growth and success.