Top 20 Must-Have Apps/Software for Smoother Restaurant Operations

In the modern world, restaurants are an essential part of the food market, and having apps/softwares is the key element for smoother restaurant operations. By using applications and software technologies, restaurant owners can automate almost all aspects of their business and service delivery, thus enhancing their profitability and making restaurant operations smoother. 

This guide explains the key 20 apps and software for restaurant management and lists solutions that can help restaurant owners stay ahead of the competition and choose the right app for each particular business. Whether streamlining processes and organizing work, enhancing customers’ experience, or handling money matters, those tools are vital for efficient work. Keep reading to learn more!

Taqtics: All-in-one Tool That Restaurants Should Have 

Restaurants have different operations, and every operation differs from one another in every aspect. This means that to simplify every operation, you will require a dedicated software/app. For instance: for inventory management, you will require an inventory management app, and similarly, for learning and training, you will require a centralized learning management system. 

However, having multiple vendors and software makes the billing and IT infrastructure management software. That’s why restaurants should go for all-in-one software where most of the modules that simplify specific restaurant operations are included. 

For instance, Taqtics. Taqtics is a restaurant operation management software that includes the following modules or functions: 

1. Tasks and Checklists 
2. Issue Ticketing 
3. Knowledge Center 
4. Noticeboard 
5. Store Audits and Reports 
6. Attendance Management 
7. VM Execution  

Here are the benefits that your restaurant will enjoy after implementing All-in-one Restaurant Operation Management Software: 

1. You will get the data about most of your operations through a single and centralized dashboard. 
2. It is an entirely no-code platform, so it is the perfect solution for individuals dedicated to simplifying restaurant operations without having much technical knowledge. 
3. The solution can be deployed quickly, your entire organization can be mapped, and users can be onboarded within 7 days. 
4. Regardless of the type of restaurant you run, whether it is a quick-service restaurant (QSR), restaurant, or cafe, it is designed and can be customized as per your needs. 
5. The user-friendly interface makes the adoption and learning curve easier. 

With Taqtics in your operations, you can ensure consistent adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) across all your outlets, create standardized training programs for staff (both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house), and resolve issues promptly as soon as they are identified. 

Take the demo today to see how Taqtics can improve your restaurant operations and also to know the pricing. 

Top 20 Must-Have Apps/Software For Restaurant Operations

For any restaurant business to succeed in today’s highly competitive market, it is important to find the right apps and software to use. The following is the list of the 20 most crucial tools for the restaurant business. 

Point of Sale (POS) Systems

POS systems are the backbone of any restaurant since they are involved in entering orders, preparing orders, and processing payments. Choosing the right POS system can significantly improve the efficiency of the business and the quality of services provided to customers.

• Toast POS

Toast POS is a cloud-based software solution that integrates all the necessary features for restaurants. These include order management, payment processing, inventory tracking, and quality sales analytics, which makes the tool very useful for managing operations.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Easy to use, great customer service, work well with other applications.
• Cons: High costs for some of the extra features that may be out of reach for small businesses.

Pricing Model:
The monthly cost of restaurant POS systems typically ranges between $60 and $250 for software, with additional fees for add-ons and premium features.

• Square for Restaurants

Square for Restaurants is a flexible POS solution that offers tools such as menu setup, table organization, and current sales data. It is easy to use and also can be customized to suit restaurants of all sizes, including small and large restaurants.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Affordable, convenient navigation, quick configuration, and personalization.
• Cons: Lack of features that could enhance its functionality when used on large-scale operations.

Pricing Model:
The basic plan is free, with transaction fees of 2.6% + $0.10 per swipe. Premium or paid plans are available at $149 with $50/month for each additional device.

Reservation and Booking Management

Effective reservation management is of the utmost importance as it contributes to table turnover and customer satisfaction. Tools that assist restaurants in managing reservations and bookings enable them to manage customer flow effectively.

• OpenTable

OpenTable is a well-known online restaurant reservation service that enables restaurant establishments to take orders, control seating capacity, and minimize waiting list time. It also offers customer information, which can help restaurants better serve their customers.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Popular, many clients, compatible with a broad range of POS solutions.
• Cons: It has high commission fees per cover, which can be very expensive for restaurants with large customer numbers.

Pricing Model:
The monthly fee starts at $149 with a free trial for 30 days.

• Resy

Resy is a contemporary tool for table reservation that can include table management, waitlist management, and comprehensive customer information. It’s popular for its well-designed and elegant user interface and ease of use.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Ease of use, cheaper, and close relationship between the company and its customers.
• Cons: Fewer users than OpenTable, not integrated with many platforms.

Pricing Model:
Ranges from $249 monthly and users have to pay extra for the enhanced functionalities.

Inventory Management

In restaurants, inventory control helps ensure that they hold the right stocks, minimize wastage, and control expenses. To address this issue, inventory management software assists in tracking supplies and reordering them.

• BlueCart

BlueCart is an inventory management system that enables restaurants to manage orders and inventory and minimize wastage. It also makes reordering easier through direct contact with suppliers.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Convenience, customer relations, and saving money from spoiled food.
• Cons: Fewer additional functions, aimed mainly at organizations with limited complexity, usually up to the medium level.

Pricing Model:
It offers a basic plan at no cost; advanced tools are available for purchase, with monthly prices starting from $10/buyer.

• MarketMan

MarketMan is an application that focuses on inventory and supplier management and provides options like cost control, inventory tracking, and more. It assists restaurants in managing their procurement systems and minimizing related expenditures.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Good reporting tools, compatible with various POS, useful in controlling costs.
• Cons: Difficult to configure, can be expensive.

Pricing Model:
Ranges from $239 per month for the basic package and goes up to $429 per month for the most enhanced package.

Employee Scheduling and Management

Employee scheduling and management are crucial to having a properly functioning and motivated staff. These tools help to keep schedules organized, track hours, and meet worker compliance requirements.

• 7shifts

7shifts is a cloud-based employee scheduling solution for restaurants. Some of them include shift management, time management, and communication tools that can be used to assist managers in creating a shift schedule, estimating labor costs, and communicating with employees effectively.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Clean design, effective at tracking labor costs, great customer service.
• Cons: Fewer advanced features in the basic and below-tier packages.

Pricing Model:
It starts at $135 per month for the basic package and extra charges for other features.

• Deputy

Deputy is an employee management tool that provides the capabilities of scheduling and tracking time and tasks. It assists managers in better managing labor costs, spotting and avoiding legal issues, and monitoring employee performance.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Full-featured, compatible with payroll providers, well-equipped in compliance.
• Cons: A slightly higher initial learning curve and costs.

Pricing Model:
The basic plan is free; paid plans start at $2.50 per user per month.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

CRM tools assist restaurants in managing customer data, marketing, and offering the best dining experience to customers. Customer relationship management has been proven to improve customer loyalty and, hence, increase overall revenue.

• SevenRooms

SevenRooms is a Customer Relationship Management tool tailored for the hospitality industry. It includes guest profiles, reservations, and marketing automation to enhance restaurants’ communication with customers.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Customer data gathering, self-service marketing tools, compatible with leading POS solutions.
• Cons: Expensive and requires more effort to implement.

Pricing Model:
SevenRooms offers two pricing options: Plus: $249/month and Pro: $749/month.

• Upserve

Upserve is a CRM tool designed specifically for restaurants where you can operate customer records, reward programs, and marketing initiatives. It also links with POS systems to allow merchants to gain a deeper understanding of customer inclinations and actions.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Reporting tools and integration with other systems improve customer satisfaction.
• Cons: Costly, may need extra staff training to implement effectively.

Pricing Model:
Currently, a minor fee of 2.99% of the order amount is charged for the online ordering service. 

Online Ordering and Delivery

Online food ordering and delivery solutions have been crucial for restaurants, especially in the new normal. These platforms assist customers in placing orders and also help restaurants reach out to them.

• UberEats

UberEats is among the leading e-commerce food delivery services, helping restaurants reach a large client base. It covers the whole process from order placement to delivery, which allows restaurants to expand their market.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Large customer base, productive delivery system, compatibility with POS terminals.
• Cons: High commission fees and lack of control over the delivery experience.

Pricing Model:
Commission-based pricing; typically 15%-30% per order.

• Grubhub

Grubhub is another popular online ordering and delivery services provider. Some of its advantages include the ease of managing menus, tracking orders, and having many customers, which makes it a great tool for restaurants that want to increase delivery services.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: The advantages include the availability of a wide customer base, intensive marketing promotion, and precise identification of orders.
• Cons: High commission fees, likely competition with other restaurants on the platform.

Pricing Model:
Commission-based, with rates ranging from 5% per order.

Billing and Accounting

Accurate billing and accounting are critical in determining the revenue, cost, and profitability of an organization. Such tools enable restaurants to keep track of their finances properly and minimize issues related to accounting.

• QuickBooks

QuickBooks is one of the most famous accounting tools on the market today. It provides tools for expenses, invoices, salary, and taxes. It is ideal for small and large restaurant businesses since it assists in managing finances.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Easy to use, powerful and all-in-one options, impressive reporting system.
• Cons: Costly, more appropriate for small to medium-sized operations.

Pricing Model:
The pricing of plans begins at $25 per month, with extra charges for features such as payroll and taxes.

• Xero

Xero is an online accounting software that provides solutions such as bank reconciliation, invoicing, expenses, and reporting. It is admired for its clean look and simplicity; it is appropriate for small and medium restaurants.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: User-friendly, compatible with various third-party apps, relatively cheap.
• Cons: Less customer service, fewer features than similar software.

Pricing Model:
The pricing begins at $13 per month, and the additional services are more expensive.

Feedback and Survey Tools

It is vital to get feedback from customers and make changes to services to be delivered to meet the expectations of the customers. Customer feedback and surveys are the processes used to gather, understand, and respond to customers’ feedback in restaurants.

• Tattle

Tattle is a feedback management platform that enables restaurant businesses to acquire feedback on the services they offer from customers in real time. Some of the features that it provides include survey customization, comprehensive reports, and compatibility with POS to enhance restaurant service delivery.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Feedback in real-time, survey based on specific parameters, usable results.
• Cons: It is more expensive than other hosting providers for features that require customization, and can be difficult to install.

Pricing Model:
Pricing depends on the size of the restaurant and any specific requirements it might have. Contact the provider to get an estimated quote!

• SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey is a flexible survey platform for gathering customer feedback, conducting market research, and gaining employee insights. It provides diverse survey types and analysis tools, which enable users to obtain important information easily.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Simplicity, flexibility, a range of analysis capabilities.
• Cons: It can be costly for large teams, with little to no customer support, when on the basic tier.

Pricing Model:
The basic version is free; the paid version starts at $25 per month.

Marketing and Promotion

Marketing and promotional strategies play a central role in creating awareness of the restaurant, attracting new customers, and retaining existing ones. These apps offer all the necessary options for conducting effective campaigns and promotions.

• Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a complete marketing system that includes email marketing, social advertising, and CRM solutions. This is particularly suitable for restaurants who want to establish a regular clientele and constantly market to them.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Versatile tool, user-friendly, compatible with other tools.
• Cons: It may be costly as your list expands, and there is little flexibility in the entry-level packages.

Pricing Model:
It offers a free plan; paid plans begin at $199 per month.

• Constant Contact

As a marketing tool, Constant Contact focuses on Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and Event Marketing. It’s easy to use with a great support team and is perfect for restaurants who want to take their marketing to the next level.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Simple, customer-oriented, powerful data analysis.
• Cons: Expensive compared to other products in the same category and has fewer features compared to other competitors.

Pricing Model:
It has a basic package that costs $60 per month, with extra fees for additional services.

Table and Floor Management

Proper table and floor placement is essential to achieving maximum occupancy and avoiding discomfort during meal service. These tools assist restaurants in handling bookings, increasing table turnover rates, and enhancing customer traffic.

• TableIn

TableIn is a tool for planning and managing restaurants’ tables and their availability, increasing efficiency and improving customer experience. It is easy to use and quite basic, which is why it is ideal for small to medium-sized restaurants.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Economical, easy to use to reduce the time spent with each customer, increase table turnover.
• Cons: Not designed for large-scale operations, lacks complex analysis.

Pricing Model:
It starts at $249 per month.

• Tock

Tock is an all-in-one table management software that includes tools for reservation management, event booking, and analysis. It assists restaurants in arranging the seating area and customer movements.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Rich functionality, powerful analysis tools, capable of event management.
• Cons: It has a higher cost and can be difficult to implement and administer.

Pricing Model:
It offers a flexible pricing model which depends on your restaurant’s needs. 

The Bottom Line

In the fast-changing restaurant business environment, choosing appropriate technology is critical to improving the efficiency of processes, increasing customer satisfaction, and ultimately increasing revenues. The top 20 must-have apps and software listed in this guide can be integrated into restaurants to enhance workflow, resource management, and competitiveness. It is high time for you to start working with these tools to discover the most suitable ones for you and boost your restaurant’s performance. Don’t miss out—sign up to receive more information, check out consultation options, or sign up for a free trial to keep your business growing.