10 Best Restaurant Software & POS Systems for Your Restaurant Management!
Are you looking for restaurant software for your business? You’re in the right place!
Running a restaurant is like running any business. Although restaurant management has its own unique characteristics, the foundation of your success comes from ensuring excellent overall management. The guest’s experience must be impeccable on all levels: quality, waiting time, and service.
But is there enough time? What about those nightmarish schedules? As a restaurant owner, you can optimise your management with software and a few tricks. Maybe it’s time to think about adopting a new restaurant POS system that is adapted to your needs!
For all you restaurant owners out there, we’ve compiled the basics of good restaurant management, and solutions to support you on a daily basis. We also explain why you should choose management software that is adapted to the restaurant industry. Also, you’ll discover our comparison of the best restaurant software! We’re sure that you'll find a new favourite 😉
What software is used in restaurants?
Restaurant management is not easy and can be overwhelming for many business owners. Luckily, restaurant software can be a solution to simplify this process for you.
Restaurant software helps restaurant owners and managers process transactions and run an end-to-end restaurant. From accounting and inventory management to HR management and customer relations, restaurant software allows you to keep track and always stay on top of your business.
What software is used in restaurants? In this article, we will compare the 10 best restaurant software to give you some ideas to choose the right one for you:
- CAKE
- Clover
- Harbortouch
- Lightspeed
- Oracle
- Toast
- TouchBistro
- Revel system
- Square POS
- 7Shifts
The features of restaurant software
Impeccable accounting management
You don’t always have time to keep an eye on your restaurant’s accounting. Don't worry, the restaurant POS system can help you!
- Restaurant software facilitates guest payments by accepting different payment methods: vouchers, restaurant cards, credit cards, cash, etc.
- Check your income and expenses daily: This will help to know your gross margin, cost prices, and keep an up-to-date account book. This way, you can see how healthy your establishment is and what adjustments need to be made.
- Integrated statistical tools to measure the profitability and performance of your business via various key indicators (turnover, average expenditure per cover, average service time, etc.).
- Automatic generation of receipts and invoices
Inventory management
This is one of the main concerns for managers, closely linked to the accounting management mentioned above.
Many businesses use restaurant software to:
- Manage reliable suppliers who value food quality, but also shorter delivery times and your customer relationship
- Schedule regular inventory (every month) to optimise your supplies and reach your target margins
- Forecast shortage problems that make you miss sales and increase waste issues.
Customer management
Restaurant software can store basic customer data such as their names, contact details, and what they order. Many restaurants use it to personalise the experience and ensure that the customer is served quickly and correctly according to their requests.
If it is a takeaway order, restaurant software can help you easily track the information at a glance. When the customer is happy about the service, they’ll come back or recommend your business to their friends. This helps improve customer loyalty and the reputation of your restaurant.
Human resources management
HR is also an essential mission for many restaurant owners. Restaurant software can help you assign tasks to permanent staff, seasonal staff, accountants, etc., and manage your workforce. You can have an overview of the staff working each day and distribute the workforce to meet management, service, and short-term needs.
Comparison table of the best restaurant software
| Software | Features | Pricing |
| CAKE |
|
From $69 per month |
| Clover |
|
Request a quote |
| Harbortouch |
|
Request a quote |
| Lightspeed |
|
Request a quote |
| Oracle |
|
Request a quote |
| Toast |
|
|
| TouchBistro |
|
From $69 per month |
| Revel system |
|
From $99 per month |
| Square POS |
|
|
| 7Shifts |
|
|
10 best restaurant software for your business
1. CAKE
CAKE is an all-in-one restaurant POS system that integrates online ordering, curbside management, reservations, and more. Its intuitive and customisable interface allows you to work seamlessly and accelerate your service.
You can use the CAKE system to keep track of your restaurant management and always stay on top of your business. In particular, CAKE focuses on improving the customer experience by facilitating the order process. Contactless ways to pay, and reservation management make life easier than ever.
Discover all the features of CAKE:
- Customised workflows
- Menu adjustments
- Streamline online orders
- Cake Orderpad (order interface)
- Contactless ways to pay
- Reservation management
- Waterproof hardware
⚡ Pricing: From $69 per month
CAKE
2. Clover
Clover is a restaurant POS system and a cash register software recognised in the restaurant industry for all kinds of restaurateurs. It includes a cash register and a whole series of equipment and tools with automatic updates.
The software is easy to use and equipped with numerous upgradeable features, it is particularly well suited for restaurant owners thanks to its room management, meal ticket processing, expense reports, and bill division functions.
Here are Clover’s key features:
- Different payment methods accepted
- Payment tracking
- Contactless ways to pay
- Online ordering and invoicing
- Sales tracking
⚡ Pricing: Request a quote
Clover
3. Harbortouch
Harbortouch is a complete tool designed to optimise your restaurant business. This user-friendly and intuitive platform centralises all the necessary information you and your teams need to gain efficiency and offer high-quality service to your customers.
Harbortouch’s hardware and software can help your restaurant succeed by providing a complete point-of-sale solution. The strength of Harbortouch is that you don't have to pay upfront costs to use the software.
Harbortouch’s main features are:
- Menu updates
- Customer database management
- Fast bar operation
- Inventory management
- Flexible pricing options
- Messaging tool
⚡ Pricing: Free trial, then you must request a quote for full pricing
Harbortouch POS
4. Lightspeed
Another example is Lightspeed, a new generation of touch screen cash register software, adapted to all types of restaurants. A true all-in-one tool, it combines the cash register, inventory, delivery, and takeaway service on a single platform. Lightspeed is famous because of its intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
Here are the powerful features of Lightspeed:
- Real-time inventory management
- Integrated seating plan organisation
- 100% customisable menu creation
- Kitchen display screen directly connected to the cash register software
- Synchronisation with major delivery suppliers
- Customer loyalty tools
⚡ Pricing: Free trial, then you must request a quote for full pricing
Lightspeed
5. Oracle MICROS POS
Oracle is a global leader in POS hardware, software, open integrations, and innovation. It provides a powerful cloud-based point of sale (POS) system not only for restaurants but also for hotels, resorts, casinos, stadiums, arenas, and more. Since it is a cloud-based system, you can access the data from anywhere, anytime, and on any device.
Specially built for the restaurant industry, Oracle allows restaurant owners to deliver seamless and quick service to their customers. All you have to do is focus on your customers and not on the technology.
Oracle POS system’s main features:
- Online ordering and delivery
- Table management
- Reservation management
- Gift and loyalty program
- Reporting and analytics
- Inventory and employee management
⚡ Pricing: Free trial, then you must request a quote for full pricing
Oracle MICROS POS System
6. Toast
If you ask us “what is the most flexible restaurant POS system?” The answer is definitely Toast. This system is built for you and can adapt to every need. More than 57,000 restaurants love Toast because of its availability, its strong performance, and its low-cost delivery. From a quick-service restaurant to a full-service restaurant, Toast can provide you with the best features.
Here is why users love Toast:
- Tableside service
- Online ordering and delivery
- Analytics & reporting
- Menu management
- Client support
⚡ Pricing: Request a quote
Toast POS
7. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is an all-in-one restaurant management system that provides all you need to run an end-to-end restaurant. TouchBistro will help you to increase sales, improve client service, and eliminate manual tasks so that you can save time and money.
In particular, TouchBistro has the most intuitive reservation and table management interface, letting customers easily find their table. Different from other restaurant POS systems, TouchBistro allows you to integrate your favourite apps into TouchBistro.
Discover the features of TouchBistro:
- Floor plan and table management
- Menu management
- Reporting & analytics
- Staff management
- Integrations: Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, Deliverect, etc.
⚡ Pricing: Request a quote
TouchBistro
8. Revel systems
No need for cumbersome hardware, all you need is Revel systems! Why can we say that? What makes Revel different from other POS systems is that it offers you a cloud-based iPad specially designed for restaurant management. It is also the first iPad POS system on the market.
Revel provides a lot of powerful features from accounting and inventory management to customer service. In particular, this system offers a virtual restaurant experience that allows you to discover other tools from Revel’s restaurant software collection.
These features make Revel systems different from others:
- Conversational ordering (Simplify order input based on spoken orders)
- Discount generator
- Inventory management
- Reporting & analytics
⚡ Pricing: Request a quote
Revel
9. Square POS
Whether it’s a restaurant, a book store, or a retail store, Square POS has an offer that suits your needs. It even provides an online solution so that you can easily use it remotely. This POS system is an ideal solution for small businesses because it is easy to use, and it helps you build a free website to take orders, sell goods, manage inventory, and book appointments.
What are the features of Square POS?
- Take tableside orders and payments
- Sync all orders from anywhere
- Free online site for delivery and pickup
- QR code ordering and self-serve payments
- Mobile app
⚡ Pricing: Request a quote
Square Point of Sale
10. 7Shifts
If you are looking for the best restaurant scheduling and team management software, 7Shifts is the solution for you! Like an ERP but for restaurants, this system helps you manage your team’s schedules, timesheets, communication, tasks, and tips in one place.
7Shifts three simple steps to always stay on top of your restaurant management:
- Set up your restaurant
- Create a schedule
- Click to publish the schedule and notify the employee
The features of 7Shifts:
- Create schedules
- Dashboard
- Time clocking
- Team communication
- Task management
- Payroll integrations
- Staff engagement
⚡ Pricing: Request a quote
7shifts: Restaurant Scheduling
How to optimise the management of your restaurant?
After the basics mentioned above, here are some other essential criteria to ensure effective restaurant management:
Meticulous and consistent sales analysis
A good sales analysis allows your business to accurately forecast cash flow. A rigorous follow-up of your activity, thanks to dashboards and performance indicators (KPI) should not only improve the loyalty of your customers thanks to adapted offers, but also exemplary competitiveness.
You can observe in particular:
- the offers with the best margins,
- the popularity of your dishes,
- the most profitable days/months/periods, etc.
Using a restaurant POS system adapted to your business’s needs
There isn't a single best restaurant software on the market. There is only the one that suits your business the best. In order to correctly choose your restaurant software, your chosen solution must meet several basic criteria:
- They match your restaurant’s size and type
- The notoriety of the software,
- The ease of use (ergonomics, graphics),
- The possibility to connect from different devices,
- The basic restaurant POS management software functionalities: accounting, inventory management, shift scheduling, customer management, payment tracking, etc.
Key takeaways
Can restaurant software replace humans? The answer is NO. We can’t totally depend on machines. As a manager, you must therefore surround yourself with competent personnel and equip yourself with the appropriate tools.
You will finally be able to devote yourself to tasks that generate added value: managing your teams, maintaining your supplier and customer relationships, thinking about development strategies, communicating, etc. By adopting restaurant management software, you can avoid burn-out, boost productivity, improve your brand image, and increase your team’s motivation!