Getting a restaurant order system is one of the smartest business decisions you can make for your food business to succeed long-term.
The right restaurant food ordering system will help you sell more while increasing customer satisfaction. This translates to higher profits and customer loyalty, which are needed for your business to thrive in the highly competitive restaurant industry. Also, more consumers are now embracing automation and advanced restaurant technology solutions, so adapting to this growing technological trend is necessary to remain in business.
The problem is that there are many food ordering software solutions. You'll likely find it challenging to select the most suitable one for your specific restaurant. To simplify things for you, we’ve prepared this quick guide. You’ll learn what to look for when searching for a restaurant order system and get a few suggestions to consider.
Key Features to Look for in a Restaurant Order System
Restaurant order systems come in different forms. From tableside ordering systems that allow customers to order at their table in-house to external systems that make your offerings available to customers in the comfort of their homes.
To pick the most fitting software for your establishment, look for the following standard features:
User-friendly Interface
The software you select must have a user-friendly, intuitive interface that’s simple to use. It should enable fast collaboration between customers and your staff without significant errors. If it’s a self-service online ordering system, ensure the platform is straightforward enough for individuals with different technical know-how to place orders. Otherwise, it could lead to customers losing interest and backing out when trying to order.
Menu Management & Customization
When exploring your options, ensure the software you pick allows you to manage your menu seamlessly, especially if you run multiple restaurants. The best online ordering system enables you to handle several dine-in rushes, takeout, and delivery orders effortlessly. It’ll help you track orders in real-time and ensure they’re fulfilled without delays.
An efficient food ordering system should also allow you to tailor your offerings according to your business’s evolving service models, seasons, and customers’ growing palate preferences. You should be able to remove, add, or edit items as you wish without requiring coding skills.
Integration and Compatibility
Check whether the online ordering platform you’re considering is compatible with your current business systems, including your inventory management software. You want to streamline your daily operations and ensure your venture runs like a well-oiled machine.
Also, confirm if it can integrate with other third-party apps, such as point-of-sale (POS) systems or email marketing software, without requiring too much effort. An online ordering system that can integrate with several third-party apps will allow you to scale your business operations.
Multiple Payment Gateways
Choose a system that offers multiple payment options and makes processing payments straightforward. It may be UPI payments, credit card usage, or cash. Just ensure every payment method is secure and swift with minimal transaction fees.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Check if the online ordering solution supports customer relationship management. CRM tools help you monitor your customers’ behavior. So you can personalize your services and meet their expectations. You could, for instance, track your customers’ likes, dislikes, spending habits, and more. Then, create tailored offers for them to enjoy their best dishes as they prefer.
Most restaurant operators rely on this feature to enhance customer retention and drive sales growth.
Also, see if the system’s CRM tools will let you implement customer loyalty programs. They’ll help you build trust and earn customer loyalty. Both are essential for repeat business.
Reporting and Analytics
You want to find an online restaurant software with accurate but easy-to-follow reporting and analytics features. You’ll get comprehensive data-driven insights into your menu performance, sales trends, and overall business progress. All this data can guide you to make informed business moves and thrive. For example, if you notice that a specific menu item doesn’t do well, you can get rid of it and focus more on what’s working.
Security Features
Protecting customers’ data is crucial, especially if you provide direct online ordering services. Select a system that has robust security features to avoid data breaches. Specifically, confirm if the system uses verification methods, encryption, and tokenization.
Customer Support
Ensure the restaurant online ordering system you settle for has a dedicated technical support team you can reach anytime to help you fix issues as they arise. Preferably, the team should be available 24/7, especially on weekends. You don’t want to experience downtime on your busiest days.
Comparing Popular Restaurant Order Systems
When comparing the merits of popular restaurant order systems with similar features, a few key factors can help you narrow your list and settle for the best one. These include:
- Assess your business needs. Why are you specifically looking for a restaurant ordering system? What business goal are you seeking to achieve, and how does it fit into your venture’s long-term growth plans? Create a list of the restaurant’s needs you’re trying to meet in order of priority, and let it guide your decision-making process.
- Evaluate cost. Online ordering systems vary in price based on their features and functionalities. Evaluate their pricing structure and go with the option that aligns with your budget. Carefully assess the setup fees, monthly subscription, and any hidden charges to see if you’ll get good value for money.
- Read reviews. Once you have a list of the top restaurant order systems that can meet your needs and are within your budget, read online reviews. Getting feedback from other restaurant operators using them will help you know what to expect. You’ll understand their benefits and shortcomings better and can choose one that’s worth your time and resources.
Top Restaurant Order System Considerations
Now that you understand what features to look out for and how to approach your research process, here are some of the top restaurant order systems to consider:
1. Toast
Toast is one of the most popular restaurant online ordering software designed for establishments of all sizes. Whether you’re a small, medium-sized, or large restaurant, the platform offers pricing plans customized to your needs and size. It also has all the standard features discussed above plus more. Customers can browse menu items, make their orders, and choose various delivery options through an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
2. GloriaFood
If you’re a small restaurant searching for an affordable system with all the basic online ordering capabilities, consider GloriaFood. The platform offers a free plan, which includes nearly all the features required to run a profitable restaurant. You can receive real-time order notifications to track and manage orders effortlessly.
There’s also a straightforward mobile ordering feature to make it easy for new customers to access your services.
3. Square Online
Square Online is perfect for medium-sized businesses looking for an online ordering system that manages both dine-in and online delivery services. The platform provides inventory management capabilities, superior analytics, and customer relationship management tools to help you enhance your customer experience.
You can also create a mobile ordering page that works almost the same way as a mobile app. Or, easily integrate its POS system with your custom-built or specialized software to boost
operational efficiency.
Say you host several events at your venue. To streamline operations, you can integrate Square with third-party venue management platforms like Perfect Venue.
4. ChowNow
If your goal is to enhance your digital presence and make it incredibly convenient for customers to find your offers, ChowNow is one of your best bets. You can use this system on your sales-optimized website or mobile app. There’s also social media integration, among other online marketing tools, to help you create tailored marketing campaigns on social platforms or email.
The service also allows you to connect your restaurant menu to other high-traffic sites, such as Yelp and Google, to increase direct online ordering and help you make more money.
Conclusion
A restaurant ordering system is necessary for your food business to survive into the future. The right platform will help you adapt to the growing restaurant technology and change with the times. This way, you can offer an extraordinary culinary experience and continue making your customers happy.
It will also provide upselling and cross-selling opportunities to help you maximize profit. Our guide will help you find a system that fits your business like a glove.
If you’re a professional venue manager, ensure the online ordering system you choose can integrate with the Perfect Venue site management platform. You’ll be able to create a comprehensive, all-in-one solution that automates mundane tasks and gives you the peace of mind to focus on growing your business.
Check out the free demo to see how Perfect Venue can simplify your daily venue management operations and increase sales.
