Top 10: Restaurant management software

Updated: August 01, 2023

Restaurant management encompasses the comprehensive set of activities and strategies involved in efficiently running a restaurant business. It involves overseeing day-to-day operations, such as menu planning, food preparation, inventory management, and staff scheduling. Effective restaurant management also requires a focus on customer service, maintaining a pleasant dining atmosphere, and ensuring high-quality food and service. Managers must handle financial aspects, including budgeting, pricing, and cost control, to ensure profitability while maintaining excellent food quality. Additionally, restaurant managers must keep up with industry trends, implement marketing strategies, and manage online reviews and customer feedback to continuously improve the restaurant's reputation and attract new patrons. By balancing operational efficiency, exceptional service, and business acumen, successful restaurant management ensures a memorable dining experience for guests and the long-term success of the establishment. Some of the most popular restaurant management options are listed below.

See also: Top 10 Restaurant software

2019. Restaurant management platform Toast raised $250M



Toast, a leading restaurant management platform, has secured $250 million in funding, valuing the company at $2.7 billion. The funds raised will be used to develop innovative technology solutions that support restaurants in areas such as marketing, recruitment, and operational efficiency. Additionally, Toast aims to expand its presence beyond the United States into new territories. Toast's comprehensive product suite includes point of sale services, reporting and analytics tools, kitchen display systems, online ordering and delivery interfaces, and loyalty programs. The company also manufactures its own hardware, including handheld order pads, payment and ordering terminals, self-service kiosks, and guest displays. To further enhance its offerings, Toast collaborates with a network of approximately 100 partners, such as Grubhub, to seamlessly integrate additional services into its platform when restaurants require them.


2016. Square now allows to charge loyal customers without card swiping



Mobile payment processing service Square has introduced a new feature called Card on File, which enables businesses to charge recurring customers without physically swiping their cards or requesting them. This feature benefits customers as well, as they can visit your shop or restaurant without carrying their cards or cash. They can simply choose what they want and leave, while you effortlessly charge the appropriate amount directly from their cards. To avail this service, customers must initially opt in and provide their card information to your company's Square account. Additionally, Card on File allows businesses to charge remote customers even without an internet payment connection. However, it is important to note that this feature comes at a slightly higher cost for businesses, with a fee of 3.5% plus 15 cents, as compared to the standard 2.75% commission for card swiping.


2015. iPad POS software Lavu raised $15M



Lavu, a provider of iPad-centric point of sale systems, has successfully raised $15 million in new funding, with Aldrich Capital Partners leading the investment. Lavu offers a modern and tailored solution specifically designed for the unique requirements of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, quick-serve establishments, and other businesses in the hospitality industry. Notably, Lavu achieved profitability just two months after its inception. The company operates on a revenue model that includes a licensing fee, averaging around $1,000 per point of sale (POS) terminal, along with a recurring monthly fee based on the restaurant's size. Presently, Lavu is being utilized by over 4,000 restaurants across 86 countries, with regions like Australia, Thailand, and Singapore demonstrating particularly high adoption rates. Unlike Square, another popular POS option for restaurant owners, Lavu does not impose service provider transaction fees. This distinction is crucial, as a 2 percent transaction fee, on average, can quickly accumulate for businesses processing substantial monthly transaction volumes in the tens of thousands.


2010. 3R Restaurant - SaaS service for the real business



Are you considering creating a SaaS service but worried about the competition? It's true that there are already numerous strong players in various categories like CRM, project management, and accounting systems, making it challenging to compete without significant resources. However, you might find success by targeting a specific type of business with a more specialized approach. Take, for example, 3R Restaurant, a SaaS service designed specifically for restaurants. This service simplifies work for restaurant staff and enhances the customer experience. Through the mobile site accessible directly on smartphones, customers can easily view the menu, select and reserve a table, and even order food for delivery. The staff, on the other hand, gains a convenient tool to manage these orders efficiently. Additionally, the system enables sending SMS notifications to inform customers about new promotions and special offers. While this service is priced at €59.95 per month, which is higher than Basecamp, the advantage lies in the relative ease of creating such a service compared to the broader SaaS platforms.