Restaurant Reservation System: How to Implement, Comparisons, Benefits

In this digitally advanced world, implementing a restaurant reservation system is essential if you are still relying on conventional methods for booking reservations. A restaurant reservation system helps handle online bookings, automate confirmation, and allow easy integrations. 

As a restaurant operator, this decision to implement a reservation system can make a big difference. Reservation systems help restaurant owners manage operations efficiently, reduce no-shows, and gain real-time analysis.

However, implementing the reservation system with your existing systems might seem challenging at first. The good news is that adding a reservation system is not that tough if you have choosen the right software in consideration with your existing system. 

In this article, we have listed some popular restaurant reservation systems and some key steps to help you implement one in your restaurant business.

What is a Restaurant Reservation System?

A restaurant reservation system allows guests to pre-book tables at restaurants. It is digital software built on an advanced tech stack that helps restaurant owners to manage reservations. The tool is built on a technology that supports the automation of the reservation system, streamlines restaurant operations, and enhances guest satisfaction. 

Earlier, people made their restaurant bookings by personally visiting the venue or on a call. However, modern restaurants have progressed rapidly. They have gone beyond these traditional methods of manual pen-paper bookings by adopting technology-based platforms to manage their restaurant reservations.

The advanced ways of reservations include online bookings via the restaurant website, social media handles, mobile application services, or third-party reservation apps. The digital approach to restaurant reservations has eased the management process, improved efficiency, and increased overall restaurant sales.

Here are some of the benefits of restaurant reservation systems that help restaurants simplify the booking process.

Benefits of Using a Restaurant Reservation System

Here are some of the benefits of using restaurant reservation systems:

• Ease of Use

You certainly want to have a restaurant reservation system to facilitate bookings and manage operations. These platforms offer a user-friendly tool that your diners and staff members can use. Remember to customize your software according to your brand requirements, and make sure you select a reservation tool that provides easy personalization options.

• Enhanced Customer Experience

A restaurant reservation tool provides a seamless customer experience and also reduces management stress. When choosing software, do a comparative analysis of all its features. Features such as point-of-sale (POS) Integration and Automated Reservation Confirmations are quite useful and enhance the customer’s experience.

• Integration with Other Systems

These days, diners prefer convenience over hassle when it comes to delightful cuisine. Integrating multiple platforms into your reservation system increases your reach and improves the service. So, when you look for a reservation system, make sure it allows smooth integration with marketing, POS, and inventory management platforms.

Let’s have a look at some popular restaurant reservation systems and the features they offer.

Comparisons of Popular Restaurant Reservation Systems

Here are some of the best restaurant reservation systems- complete with the features offered and their pricing structure.

1. OpenTable

OpenTable is one of the best restaurant reservation systems that allows customers to book tables through the website and supporting partners. It is a robust platform for restaurant owners to reach their target audience. From easy reservations to custom profiles and listings, here are some of the features they offer.

Features offered

• The platform offers an Owner App on iPhone that helps you edit and manage reservations along with features such as VIP Push notifications. With OpenTable lists and collections, you can manage and keep an eye on the waitlists.
• Diners can get quick notifications when a table becomes available in the desired range, and you can quickly book the table.
• With the availability of direct messaging, diners and restaurants can easily communicate. This helps in solving queriesquickly which improves customer experience.

Prices: OpenTable offers a basic plan at $149 per month and a pro plan at $499 per month. It also has a core plan at $299 per month that includes additional services than the basic plan. It also charges some additional cover fees, which are as follows. 

Additional Fees

2. Eat App

Eat App is another popular tool that supports restaurant reservations online. It is a cloud-based software that helps restaurant owners in handling bookings, table orders, guests, and payments. Their simplified solution allows you to get more bookings by reducing the manual process.

Features offered

• Eat App accepts bookings through the app, social media, and website. It offers seamless table management, which helps you become more efficient and prevent double booking.
• The platform also offers smart in-app suggestions that help you optimize seating and seamlessly manage the reservations, increasing business efficiency and revenue.

Prices: Eat App starts with a free plan that allows 30 reservations per month. It has a Starter plan at $34 per month that offers 300 reservations per month. Eat App has an Essential plan that costs $90 per month and offers unlimited reservations. The pro plan costs $160 per month and provides maximum benefits. Eat App does not charge any additional fees.

3. SevenRooms

SevenRooms is one of the top reservation tools for online bookings. It is a comprehensive digital platform that offers multiple features to improve reservations and guest management. It is more than just a reservation system; it helps restaurants increase their sales and enhance customer experience. 

Features offered

• SevenRooms offers reservation and guest management tools that help you manage reservations with ease. These reservations seamlessly integrate with PowerEPOS, which helps enhance seating arrangements.
• The table status is updated in real-time, which helps you provide an elevated level of service, ensuring repeated business.

Prices: SevenRooms provides customized services for every individual business. The pricing scheme depends on the restaurant’s business requirements, features, and special services. SevenRooms does not charge any additional cover fees.

Now, let us have a look at the steps to help you implement a restaurant reservation system.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing a Restaurant Reservation System

Here are some of the steps that will help you add a reservation system to your restaurant.

1. Assess the Restaurant’s Needs.

Restaurant business analysis is one of the top priorities for selecting a restaurant reservation system. So, assess your everyday services before heading toward any tool. This will include understanding the size of your outlet, seating arrangements, and space for family bookings, and will help you select a targeted reservation system.

Other factors, such as analyzing restaurant peak hours, customer base, daily table occupancy, and turnover rates, will assist you in selecting an optimal reservation system. You must understand daily restaurant metrics before you opt for pre-booking software. 

Budget fixing is a necessary aspect, so you may consider all your financial channels and set a realistic budget for the restaurant reservation system. Make sure you invest wisely, as this will create a lasting impact on your restaurant business.

2. Select the Right Reservation Software.

Selecting the right reservation software is crucial for both restaurants and customers, as no one size fits all.

Here’s the list of features that should be in the reservation software to enhance customer experience. 

1. An optimal reservation system should include a calendar, timeslot, and waiting timespan facility to check table availability.
2. It must include an in-built booking or messaging option to ease reservations.
3. Features like takeaway, home delivery, menu cards, and smooth cancellation or delay facilities will help you enhance customer satisfaction.
4. A trending system may also have an advanced booking deposit facility to reduce no-shows.

As a restaurant manager, you may be required to analyze overall bookings, services, and sales. Hence, for your ease, the restaurant reservation system should have an in-built account management facility that will ease revenue handling. Besides that, here are some other features that it should have. 

1. The software may also have a table management option in addition to pre-booking. This will help you track dining orders and serve efficiently.
2. An advanced analytics system will help you manage your operations and make timely decisions.
3. You can select a reservation system that allows you to actively promote your brand and make necessary customizations like event handling, customer feedback, and online ordering.
4. Always choose a system that is scalable and can accommodate your evolving restaurant needs.

3. Implementing the Software at Your Outlet.

After you have purchased your software, install the reservation system following the necessary guidelines. Make sure you get the required information for properly integrating your reservation system into existing software if you already have a restaurant management software or inventory tool.

It is necessary to educate your staff about the new restaurant management system, its benefits, and its features. As a restaurant manager, you must provide your staff with a hands-on training session. They can interact with the software for quick learning.

You may also integrate your reservation system with point-of-sale (POS) software. This will save staff time, help roster enough staff, reduce no-show risk, help collect customer data, and improve guest satisfaction.

4. Tell Your Customers About It. 

Your reservation system is a direct point of contact with your customers. So, create an appealing marketing strategy to promote your digital presence. You can optimize your website or landing pages to enhance reach.

Social media has now become a channel for quick communication and marketing. Create engaging posts and stories to reach your target audience. Collaborate with influencers to showcase your new system to a larger audience.

Promoting the new software at your outlet will help dining guests learn more about it. You can offer discounts to encourage guests to make pre-bookings through your new digital platform.

Wrapping Up

Restaurant reservation systems have proved to be a boon for modern restaurant businesses. They not only support customer table bookings but also streamline operational tasks and reduce restaurant owners’ manual tasks. Restaurant booking software assists in optimizing seating arrangements, reducing no-shows, and thereby generating high revenue sales. Restaurant owners must consider implementing a restaurant reservation system to ease tasks and drive guest satisfaction using advanced technology.