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6 Best Restaurant Software for 2024 and Beyond 

6 Best Restaurant Software for 2024 and Beyond 

Picture of Clarissa Buch Zilberman
Clarissa Buch Zilberman

Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one solution like Restaurant365 or a specialized tool to manage inventory, scheduling, or online ordering, there’s a restaurant software option out there that’ll fit the bill. 

Running a restaurant involves juggling countless tasks, from managing staff and inventory to delighting guests and tracking finances. Finding the time to do it all efficiently can feel like an impossible feat. 

The good news is technology has stepped up to the plate, offering a diverse menu of software to simplify these complexities. In fact, 76% of restaurant operators say these solutions give them a competitive edge. 

Whether you’re a cozy cafe or a bustling bistro, these six top-rated restaurant software solutions can help manage everything from online ordering to back-of-house inventory.  

Best all-in-one restaurant software: Restaurant365

Tired of managing different software in a Frankenstein-ed restaurant tech stack? You’re not alone: On average, restaurants use three different technology vendors to manage back-office operations.  

However, tracking multiple subscriptions and contracts can quickly become a costly and complicated headache, not to mention the challenges of integrating disparate systems and creating seamless processes for your team. 

As an all-in-one solution, Restaurant365 unites accounting, inventory, scheduling, payroll, HR, and reporting, integrating seamlessly with your point of sale (POS), vendors, and financial institution. Features include: 

  • Automation of routine processes: R365 automates tedious back-office tasks like invoice processing, bank reconciliation, and even labor forecasting.  
  • Inventory insights: From mobile inventory counts to intelligent ordering suggestions, R365 empowers you to optimize your stock levels, minimize waste, and ensure you always have the freshest ingredients on hand. 
  • Simplified workforce management: Schedule staff with ease, track labor costs, and manage payroll, all within a single platform. Plus, streamline the hiring and onboarding process to attract and retain top talent. 
  • Data-driven decisions: R365 delivers the insights needed to make smarter decisions. Discover best-selling dishes, identify areas for improvement, and watch profits soar. 

Best restaurant POS software: Toast

The heart of any restaurant is its POS system. Think of it as the command center for taking orders and processing payments. With the average restaurant’s profit margin hovering around 3-6%, a more efficient POS system that can optimize operations and boost the bottom line is important. 

As a leading POS software, Toast is: 

  • Built for restaurants: Toast is designed specifically for the unique needs of restaurants, offering tableside ordering, detailed menu customization, and robust inventory management. 
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface: Forget clunky systems and complicated interfaces. Toast is intuitive, so staff can master it in no time. This means less training time, fewer errors, and happier employees. 
  • Focus on profitability: Toast helps keep a close eye on costs, manage inventory, and analyze sales data. 

Best restaurant scheduling software: 7shifts

More than 50% of employers spend two hours per week scheduling employees. But when you’re running a fast-paced restaurant, that’s two hours you simply don’t have.  

7shifts is explicitly designed for restaurants, making it easy to manage employee availability, track time off, and handle those inevitable last-minute shift changes. Highlights include: 

  • Restaurant focused: 7shifts understands the needs of the restaurant industry, with features like shift templates, labor cost forecasting, and communication tools built for your team. 
  • Ease of use: The intuitive interface makes scheduling a painless process, even for managers who aren’t tech savvy. Employees can also easily access their schedules and request time off from their phones. 
  • Centralized communication: Keep your team connected with built-in communication tools. Send announcements, share schedule updates, and even manage employee training. 
  • Labor cost control: Don’t let labor costs eat into profits. 7shifts helps monitor and optimize staffing levels, so you can stay on budget and maximize efficiency. 

Best restaurant inventory management software: MarketMan

Food waste is a major challenge for restaurants, impacting both profitability and sustainability. With MarketMan, you can take control of your inventory while enjoying these features: 

  • Waste reduction: MarketMan helps tackle food waste head-on. Identify sources of waste, track spoilage, and optimize ordering to minimize losses and keep your kitchen running smoothly. 
  • Streamlined ordering: MarketMan simplifies the entire ordering process, from connecting with suppliers to tracking deliveries.  
  • Recipe costing: Calculate the true cost of your dishes, analyze menu profitability, and make data-driven pricing decisions. 

Case study

Bavarian Bierhaus Managers Save Nearly 30 Hours Per Month with Restaurant365

Best restaurant online ordering software: ChowNow

Delivery and takeout are here to stay, with 52% of U.S. consumers calling it an “essential part of their lifestyle.” However, third-party apps can take a hefty bite out of your profits—the standard UberEats commission rate is 30% of total order value. 

Ditch the third-party delivery apps and take control of your online ordering with ChowNow. You can benefit from: 

  • Brand ownership: Create a custom-branded online ordering experience that reflects your restaurant’s unique identity. No more sharing your customers with third-party apps. 
  • Direct customer connection: Own your customer data and build relationships through targeted marketing campaigns. 
  • Commission-free ordering: No more costly commission fees charged by third-party delivery apps.  
  • Powerful marketing tools: ChowNow provides marketing tools to help drive online orders, including email marketing, social media integration, and loyalty programs. 

Best restaurant reservation software: OpenTable

Say goodbye to no-shows and hello to a packed house. OpenTable makes it easy for guests to book tables online while providing robust tools to manage reservations and optimize seating capacity, including:  

  • Increased visibility: Millions of people use OpenTable to find their next dining destination. Make sure your restaurant is front and center when they’re searching for a place to eat. 
  • Easy reservations: Replace the chaos of phone calls and handwritten notes with a streamlined reservation process. Easily manage bookings, track availability, and reduce no-shows with automated reminders and waitlist management. 
  • Table management: Seat more guests, increase revenue, and keep your dining room buzzing. 
  • Guest data and insights: Get to know your diners on a deeper level with OpenTable’s guest data and insights. From there, personalize their experience and turn them into loyal regulars. 

Unlock your restaurant’s full potential

The right software can make all the difference in your restaurant operation. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one solution like Restaurant365 or a specialized tool to manage inventory, scheduling, or online ordering, there’s a restaurant software option out there that’ll fit the bill.  

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Restaurant365 bridges the gap between accounting and operations by centralizing all data, helping restaurant operators to become more efficient, accurately forecast, and tackle any challenge or opportunity with speed and accuracy.