Benefits of restaurant management software

Benefits of restaurant management software


What is restaurant management software?

A successful restaurant depends on many processes that work in sync with each other. Restaurant management software is designed with features to help restaurateurs manage and operate different aspects of their restaurants more efficiently and more profitably.

The following are some restaurant software solutions that can be used to make your operations run smoother:

Front of house solutions enables the guest experience to be the best possible. These systems are seen by customers and include reservations and point of sale.

Back of house solutions are responsible for the retail and manufacturing aspects and provide information about your restaurant’s labour and raw materials. Examples of the back of house restaurant software include employee scheduling and inventory.

Loyalty program solutions provide customers with incentives to return to your restaurant or spend more per visit. Gift cards and guest programs are types of loyalty program solutions.

Corporate and payroll solutions provide financial records for your restaurant. Accounts payable are also part of this solution and maintain financial control, including how funds are allocated to different aspects of your restaurant. Taxes and credit card reconciliation are examples of this aspect of restaurant management.

Human resources solutions enable the restaurant to employ and retain the most qualified employees. Training and terminating employees are part of this solution.

Restaurant management software

Attempting to control the numerous processes required to manage a restaurant without adequate restaurant software results in wasted time, money, and could ultimately lead to the failure of your business.

Restaurant management software & benefits

Below are the most common types of restaurant management software with their associated benefits:

  • Restaurant reservation system
  • Restaurant employee scheduling software
  • Restaurant loyalty program software
  • Restaurant online ordering software
  • Restaurant inventory management software
  • Restaurant point of sale (POS) software

Restaurant reservation system

According to OpenTable, a provider of online reservations, 83% of customers would like to add their names to a waiting list before they arrive at the restaurant. Restaurant reservation systems enable customers to book tables online and via an app and provide the following benefits:

  • Efficient management – You’ll be in a position to establish how many employees are required for different shifts and also organize your kitchen workers based on the number of reservations you receive. Where customers use a restaurant reservation system to book a table, your hosts are able to provide better customer service instead of spending time taking reservations on the phone. You’ll also avoid the embarrassment and possible loss of business resulting from overbooking and double-booking when using a restaurant reservation system.
  • Improved customer experience – Customers in an interconnected world value convenience and having the ability to book a table at your restaurant using an app (or your website) is a way to provide this convenience. A suitable restaurant reservation system should be able to provide your customers with real-time information about table availability. This system should also be capable of saving your loyal customers’ details and special dates, such as birthdays, to make booking a table even simpler.

Restaurant employee scheduling software

The proficient management of your restaurant’s employees is a determining factor in the success of your business. Traditionally, employees were managed using manual processes or Excel spreadsheets. The effects of these methods were headaches from misplaced schedules, frustration when changes needed to be made and wasted management hours as a result of attempting to organize employee shifts.

StorePoint POS-restaurant

Appropriate restaurant employee scheduling software removes the uncertainty and stress that’s associated with manual scheduling and provides these benefits:

  • Greater savings – Labor costs need to be accurately managed to avoid spending unnecessary money. Your restaurant employee scheduling software should provide labour costing functionality. This will help you to schedule shifts with the knowledge of how much labour will cost your business and also compare your predicted costs against your actual costs. Want to find out how much money your organization could be saving with employee scheduling software?
  • Better communication – Given that 81% of employees would prefer to join a company that values open communication, it’s imperative for your restaurant to place a premium on engaging staff. Your restaurant employee scheduling software should include features that facilitate and encourage communication with your team. For example, StorePoint POS can send purchase orders to suppliers, send low stock alerts to management and make sure all members of management know what is happening in the business via reporting send via e-mail.
  • Employee satisfaction – Employees like to feel trusted, so an effective way to provide them with autonomy is to give them some control over managing their shifts. Your restaurant employee scheduling software should make it easy for your team to swap shifts with suitable colleagues. You can set the parameters to determine who’s able to swap shifts to ensure that you’re always fully staffed without exceeding your labour budget.

Set up a call with one of StorePoint’s amazing reps to find out firsthand how StorePoint POS can benefit your restaurant by efficiently scheduling your staff and integrating with the most popular restaurant management software.

Restaurant loyalty program software

According to research, a restaurant can increase profitability by 25% to 125% if it reduces customer churn by 5%. Developing relationships with customers for repeat business is a crucial aspect of operating a successful restaurant. You can use restaurant loyalty apps, like Spendgo, to realize the following benefits:

  • Cost savings – Forrester Research has found that it cost five times more to gain new customers than to keep existing customers. Restaurant loyalty program software provides the opportunity for you to grow your business by reducing the costs associated with acquiring new customers. Incentivizing your existing customers to continue to choose your restaurant makes good business sense.
Restaurant management software
  • Brand advocacy – If your restaurant’s loyalty program software is combined with a referral system, you will benefit from word of mouth marketing. Recommendations from friends continue to be the type of advertising that has the most credibility. As a result, your restaurant will gain new customers from current fans and save you money by reducing the reliance on traditional forms of advertising.
    Better customer relationships – Restaurant loyalty program software helps to cultivate a long-term and personalized relationship with your customers. Sending customized offers on your customer’s birthday and other significant dates helps them to feel valued due to the fact that they’re treated as an individual.

Restaurant online ordering software

Ordering food over the phone can lead to miscommunication especially if the employee who’s dealing with the phone order has to simultaneously attend to customers in your restaurant. Keeping proper phone etiquette isn’t easy when hosts are attempting to juggle other tasks. If customers perceive that they aren’t receiving your employee’s full attention on the phone, they’re likely to order less food from your restaurant. Restaurant online ordering software removes the pressure of ordering over the phone and can result in customers spending 23% more on orders. In addition to cost savings, below are further benefits of restaurant online ordering software:

  • Customer demand – Online orders are about to overtake phone orders so, in order to continue to be relevant to your customers, you should offer handy ways for them to order. Restaurant online ordering software ensures that you’re keeping up with emerging trends.
  • Fewer mistakes – It’s easy for mistakes to be made when telephone orders are taken in a bustling restaurant. Customers will be annoyed if they have to continuously repeat their orders. However, a worse situation is where the wrong order is delivered. Restaurant online ordering software removes the likelihood of errors on the part of your restaurant because the order is in writing and serves as proof of what the customer wants.
  • Customer insight – If you choose to use in-house online ordering software, like StorePoint, you can gain insight into what your customers want by recording and analyzing patterns for each transaction. This information helps you to understand who orders regularly and also allows you to identify your most popular menu items.

Restaurant inventory management software

An inability to efficiently manage inventory could result in your restaurant being overstocked or understocked for essential ingredients. The consequence of having too much (or not enough) stock is that your restaurant will lose money. Restaurant inventory management software prevents wastage, both in terms of food and money and helps to maximize your budget.

The following are also advantages of suitable restaurant management software:

  • Improved supply chain management – Ordering inventory is based on what is actually being used in your restaurant. This accuracy allows you to optimize and automate your supply chain because orders can be done with a click of a button.
  • Better budgeting – You will be in a position to create more accurate forecasts based on the inventory required for different seasons in your restaurant. The accurate projection of food costs reduces wastage and will have a direct and positive effect on your bottom line.
  • Saves time – Restaurant inventory management software frees up time that would be spent managing your inventory using Excel spreadsheets. This system also cuts down on the time spent taking a physical count of your inventory and ensures more accurate results.
  • Reduces theft – Using restaurant inventory management software will help you to identify unusual patterns of stock reduction that may be an indication of theft. This should lead to further investigation to determine the reasons for your missing stock.

Restaurant point of sale (POS) software

POS software provides multiple functions in a restaurant – for example, tracking sales and accepting different methods of payments. POS software is capable of customization to fit your restaurant’s needs and can normally be integrated with other restaurant software to form an end-to-end solution. POS software, like StorePoint, enables restaurants to process credit cards, manage inventory and collect customer data.

The benefits of POS software for restaurants include:

  • Error reduction – Writing down orders for kitchen staff results in mistakes being made because the handwriting may be illegible. With POS software, orders are shown on the screen, so there’s less chance that the person preparing the orders will make errors.
  • Business reporting – Some POS software have the functionality to generate important business reports such as credit card transactions and servers’ sales. Efficient business reporting is essential for making decisions relating to your restaurant’s growth.
  • Increased productivity – POS software manages time-intensive tasks, like table distribution and price lookups. This enables your employees to focus on other jobs that increase productivity and improve customer experience.

Invest in your restaurant

As seen above, restaurant management software and apps have a host of benefits, including saving costs and improving employee morale. The restaurant management software you choose should offer continuous improvements and upgrades to provide you with the best solution possible.

Try StorePoint to find out how our latest developments, like food online ordering, can help you run a more efficient and profitable restaurant.

StorePoint POS integration Uber Eats

Uber Eats
StorePoint POS integration Uber Eats


The Restaurant can then either receive the order or it can reject the order depending on the customer. The order then prints normally to the kitchen for either delivery or collection by the customer.

Picture this: You’re craving sushi. You heard about a great new spot a few blocks away from a coworker, and now that the craving has hit, you’re ready to order. You search the name of the restaurant in Google, and their website pops up as the first result. You’re impressed by how clean and easy to navigate the website is, and see a link for online ordering at the top of the home page. Score. You place your order and wait for the food to arrive fresh from a friendly delivery driver.

This could be the experience your customers have when they get hit with a craving for your specialities, but would rather enjoy their meal in the comfort of their own home. For the 89 percent of diners that research a restaurant online before dining, having a user-friendly website can make or break a sale from a hungry consumer. Making the process simple is key to securing the sale.

According to investment bank UBS, delivery sales could rise an annual average of more than 20 percent to $365 billion worldwide by 2030, from $35 billion. A recent study conducted by CHD Expert shows that restaurants will see this revenue from a variety of venues:

  • Takeout for pickup is projected to generate $124 billion in sales this year.
  • Takeout with direct delivery from a restaurant: $32 billion.
  • Takeout with delivery from a third-party delivery company: $13 billion.

What does this mean for restaurants? Adapting to the growing online ordering trends is crucial to the survival of your business. By tapping into the possibilities that online ordering has to offer, restaurants have the opportunity to grow alongside these unstoppable trends.

The Benefits of a POS Generated Report

Reporting benefits of a POS system



Having unbiased sales reports on the back-end is the best way to track what’s happening in your storefront.

1. Don’t Waste Your Time 

There are many ways you could track your daily sales activity. You could keep a running spreadsheet of the reports and update it every time a register closes out. But what happens when you want to pull a cumulative report to see how much sales tax was collected?

Yes, there are ways of keeping track of your daily sales without investing in a POS system. But based on my experience of aiding a client through a sales tax audit, their POS system was priceless. Its ability to quickly pull any reports for a date range is unparalleled when compared to making the reports yourself. Even when you are proficient at using Excel, the work required to compile reports and create V-Lookup tables by hand takes the time that you should be spending on growing your business. 

2. Automation Prevents Mistakes

There is too much human error to account for in a reporting process that isn’t automated. Whether it is an Excel formula that got altered accidentally, a sale rung up after the register was closed (which requires you to try and figure out the over & short by hand), or the numbers that were simply mistyped, the accuracy of your reporting is too important to leave to any one person.

No matter how hard we try, there are going to be mistakes. So if you are still hand-keying information into a spreadsheet, you should stop now because in the end, it will take more time and effort to fix your mistakes than if you had invested in a POS in the first place. 

3. Daily Updates On Revenue

Recording income on a daily basis through daily sales entries is a way to get a snapshot of revenues in an instant. Your data is not 100% accurate by nature, but you can get a rough estimate of where your current revenue stream is in relation to your goals. 

With the option of being able to check in on your progress, patterns in the cash flow could be recognized more easily. 

4. Prevent Problems Proactively

If you have the opportunity to notice patterns, you could be able to pinpoint areas in the business that need attention. Being able to see the patterns in the day-to-day activities as they occur could give you the information you need to proactively handle potential issues rather than waiting for real problems to materialize.

Why POS Systems Are Worth The Investment

Overall, POS reporting is the best way to get an unbiased report on what is happening at the cash register: 

  • If there is something fishy going on, you will know, because verifying the report versus what hit the bank is one of the most effective controls on cash.
  • POS reports save you the time and money you would otherwise waste going back to fix the mistakes that someone made hand-keying the information into a spreadsheet. 
  • You have up-to-date information on your cash flow, which gives you an opportunity to see how you are measuring up to short-term goals, allowing you to address problems as they arise, rather than after the fact.  

If you have the tools to assess where you are in relation to your goals, then that is the first step of keeping your business on track.

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Benefits of POS Item Modifiers



So let us have a look what is a food modifier and what it does. A food modifier is option that pops up, when working in the menu order screen. Modifiers could be forced or could be a choice.

Forced modifiers allow you to force the server to pick from a preset list of suggested or acceptable items on the menu. They are usually added to the main entrée or a choice of food or beverage that requires specific preparation instructions. This feature forces a set number of item choices to be chosen by the server from the order screen. When Forced Modifiers are attached to a particular product, the server will not be allowed to continue the order until a modifier is chosen or they exit out of the Forced Modifier screen. Forced Modifiers will be attached at the product level.

Exception Modifiers allow you to pick from a preset list of suggested or acceptable items under Exception Modify tab on order screen. This feature is similar to Forced Modifiers with the exception of the server being “Forced” to choose a selection. The server now has options to modify an item or exit modifications and continue with the order.

Benefits of item modifiers are:

Modifiers ensure that orders are correctly placed and send to the kitchen. So cooking instructions and choices are sent correctly to the kitchen. Keeping your customers happy.

Save money as orders are placed correctly as received from customers. No more wastage.

Inventory depletion plays a vital role in the execution of choices during the ordering process.

When using restaurant online ordering modifiers ensure the correct ordering from customers, ruling out incorrect orders, and wasting stock and enhancing the customer experience.

For further information on our restaurant pos systems please visit Home StorePoint Restaurant POS

Kitchen Display System vs. Kitchen Printer?

Originally designed to handle QSR businesses, kitchen video display systems have become increasingly common fixtures in quick, casual and fine dining kitchens alike. Kitchen Display Systems eliminate steps, cut down on errors, improve productivity and speed of service, and drive increased guest satisfaction across all types and sizes of restaurants. Full-colour displays and multiple screen layouts make orders easy to read. The Bump Box is designed to make orders easy to control. And rich reporting keeps you on top of staff productivity at all times.


You can modify any or all of these settings—from changing the IP address of the network adapter to changing the color displayed for soft drinks—from the most familiar of interfaces. The Financial Perspective Kitchen Display Systems have a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than Kitchen Printers For example, StorePoint Restaurant POS, there are two cost elements: all one-time, fixed costs.

1. A perpetual license.

2. Flat screen monitor(s). With printers, there are three costs: two of them go on forever. 1. The cost of the printer. 2. The annual cost of paper: R 2000-00 3. Annual cost of ribbons: R 3000-00 After four years, the cost of printing can be more than triple the cost of a kitchen display system.


Operations’ Point of View


Three Emerging Retail POS Technologies


According to Gartner’s Market Guide for Digital-Business-Ready POS Applications for Tier 2 Midsize Multichannel Retailers, 2016 (content is available to Gartner clients), it’s also important to consider how digital business-ready POS technologies will affect customers’ lifestyles.

For example, customers will start seeing checkout lines as a waste of time when other stores allow employees to check them out from anywhere in the store.

This article will help SMBs understand key retail trends and explain how new POS technologies can help businesses embrace mobile devices, social media and the internet of things (IoT).


Technology #1: Mobile POS

Mobile POS systems integrate with common mobile devices like tablets and smartphones to scan products and process payments. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Retail Technologies, 2016 (content is available to Gartner clients), these technologies will become mainstream in less than two years.

These systems can speed up the checkout process and help employees better interact with customers. They’re also useful for small retailers with limited floor space, as they reduce the need for a dedicated cash register.

Mobile POS systems are more suitable for low-margin items, such as groceries, than high-margin categories, such as apparel and electronic items. These products require proper bagging and de-tagging by store associates.

If a retailer has fixed checkout areas, they should make sure that the mobile POS system integrates with their main POS app.

Benefits of Mobile POS for Small Retailers

Mobile POS systems can help small businesses and retailers in a number of ways:

  • Manage multiple stores and engage with customers in a better way: Mobile POS lets retailers track their sales, profits and inventory levels at different store locations using a unified dashboard on their mobile device. Some options integrate with loyalty management programs so customers can access them from their mobile device.
  • Improved sales and data security: These systems allow sales associates to conduct transactions easily from any location inside the store, thus providing better customer service and making more sales. In addition, transactions carried out through a mobile POS are fully encrypted and do not store card data.

Is Mobile POS the Right Solution for You?

According to a recent survey by Boston Retail Partners, 84 percent of the surveyed retailers plan to deploy mobile POS solutions within the next three years.

Many SMB retailers who called Software Advice were also interested in buying a mobile POS in the near future. Here are some sample conversations:

  • A small retailer with a single-store operation wanted a POS system that could automate their sales and track inventory efficiently. They were also interested in a mobile POS option since they visit about 40 events and shows annually.
  • Another retailer with operations across four stores was unhappy with their existing POS system due to ongoing data loss. They also required better credit card processing and were interested in a mobile POS for sales during trade shows.

A mobile POS helped these retailers:

  • Make sales at various trade shows and events. Retailers can meet customers directly at trade shows and conduct sales on the spot. Also, they won’t need to convince customers to visit their stores at a later time, increasing the chance of a sale.
  • Check inventory levels. When a customer asks for a specific product, the associate can use their mobile device to check its availability. If it’s not in stock, they can even place an order for it.

To view the various options, check out our guide to mobile POS systems.

Technology #2: Loyalty Management Systems

These systems enable retailers to reward and interact with regular customers through a centralized system that tracks loyalty points, discounts and gift vouchers. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Retail Technologies, 2016, loyalty management systems will become widespread within two to five years.

These systems can help small retailers encourage and reward customer loyalty. They can help businesses track customer interactions on social media and mobile, and provide appropriate rewards, such as cashback offers or special recognition.

Benefits of Loyalty Management Systems for Retailers

Loyalty management systems can benefit retailers in numerous ways. Here’s how:

  • Increase sales: Loyalty management system capabilities help you build and maintain ongoing relationships with your most loyal customers.
  • Simplify loyalty program adoption: These systems can enable customers to participate in loyalty programs using mobile devices, increasing their adoption.
  • Appeal to millennials: recent study found that millennials are twice as likely to pay a premium if they are earning loyalty rewards.
  • Understand customers’ buying patterns: Retailers can track and understand their customers’ buying patterns. They can offer personalized deals to customers based on their purchase histories and buying trends.

How are Loyalty Management Systems Useful to You?

Thousands of small and midsize retailers already use loyalty management systems or seek to deploy one. Based on a recent survey by Local Commerce Monitor, nearly 24 percent of the SMBs surveyed offer some kind of loyalty program. About one-third of the respondents plan to start offering a customer loyalty program in less than a year.

Chris Luo, VP of Marketing, FiveStars, a loyalty technology company, revealed to Forbes contributor Nicole Leinbach-Reyhle that he believes most retailers that retain customers through repeated sales have better chances to enhance their overall profitability.

Luo is also of the opinion that loyalty programs enhance the overall lifetime value of customers by nearly 30 percent through retention and increase in number of visits and spend.

Retailers can use loyalty management systems in numerous ways.

For example, an SMB crafts retailer in the US that deployed a customer loyalty program had nearly 20,000 customers sign up for the program. The retailer can now identify the most valuable buyers and reach out to them to promote sales events, trade shows and new merchandise.

Technology #3: Digital Wallets

A digital wallet solution securely stores a person’s credentials, such as bank account details, identification cards, loyalty programs and payment cards. Customers can use it in a retail store using their mobile devices.

According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Retail Technologies, 2016, digital wallets will see mainstream adoption in two to five years.

These wallets can also store multiple payment options, and customers can keep track of their loyalty program progress and benefits.

Apple Pay in action

Before making large technology investments, SMBs should determine whether there is customer demand. As the technology becomes more popular and SMBs adopt digital wallet technologies, they should explain the advantages of these systems to more reluctant users. Incentives should be considered in order to drive customer use.

The use of digital wallets can significantly increase sales for small retailers. Customers will appreciate the ease of transactions and the opportunity for customized offers.

Benefits of Digital Wallets for Retailers

Digital wallets can make the transaction process faster and more efficient. They also offer additional benefits:

  • Simplified buying process: Digital wallet technology can ease the shopping experience for customers by securely storing customer’s’ payment card information on the server.
  • Increased sales: Customers usually prefer a streamlined buying process and would return to a retailer if their overall transaction process is quick and easy. This gives opportunities to increase sales as existing customers would repeat their buying.

How are Digital Wallets Being Used?

An apparel retailer that operates in two stores contacted Software Advice regarding a retail system to automate their core checkout processes, manage inventory in the stores and track customers. They need the system to support payments made through Apple Wallet or Android Pay, as well as have e-commerce functionality and back office analytics.

Takeaways and Next Steps

These technologies are already in the wild, and customers will increasingly rely on their ease and convenience. To remain competitive, it’s essential for SMBs to be aware of these trends and develop a plan to adopt them within the next two to five years.

Have a look at our website to see what to keep in mind when it comes to technology for your business that best fits your company’s needs.

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