Restaurant Reservation System: Technology Difference In Pandemic
To help traditional restaurants have an overview and basics of restaurant reservation management, we will introduce one of the most important technologies that traditional restaurants need to apply today: Restaurant Reservation System
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Rose Helen
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As you know, a restaurant is a business form that has a long history of development since ancient times. When food processing becomes more and more complex. There are people who take the time to research and practice skills to create foods with full nutrition and delicious taste. They turn the basic natural human eating into a higher level of entertainment and enjoyment. From there, they create places to provide those delicious dishes and drinks to others. This is the reason for the advent of the restaurant.
In the year 2020-2021, the Covid epidemic has affected not only human health but also caused a great impact on many other industries and business fields. Including restaurant booking online business in particular and tourism in general. Since then, the demand for a new business policy, especially the application of online food management and business technology, has become essential. Up to this point, the technology restaurant business has become an indispensable trend. Suddenly, traditional restaurants discovered a tremendous change in culinary businesses.
Big restaurants or tech restaurants are reaching more and more customers than they are. Make them forced to rush to change. However, the technological barrier becomes their main concern. To help traditional restaurants have an overview and basics of restaurant reservation management by applying IT. In the article below, I will introduce one of the most important technologies that traditional restaurants need to apply today: Restaurant Reservation System.
1. History of Restaurant Reservation
Here's a crucial piece of social culture that almost just a few people consider: the restaurant reservation.
To learn about the history of the Restaurant Reservation, you must start with the following questions: What is Restaurant Reservation? Where did the reservation come from? When did they begin? Where? How? I search on my network of scholars and journalists on Social: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Medium, and despite their best efforts, and some fascinating comments, we could only come up with some plausible stories. Clearly, by the middle of the 20th century, the idea of making dinner reservations was common, as you can see with this chart (made using the words in all the books Google has scanned).
But maybe that was just a change of words. Some Historians and writers showed that the practice of table-reserving predated the modern term for it. They suggested that the old term "engage a table" was used. Besides, we can see that was an earlier term. (Although in case, to "engage a table" sometimes just meant "to sit at a table," not to reserve it ahead of time.)
In history, a number of pretty important social transformations such as the post-WWI "servant problem" (There are too many new industrial jobs available, so it was harder to get people to work as servants). There are many people working in retail and clerical jobs, there were a few others (in cities) who depended on restaurants (of a sort, e.g., the fast foods counter in a cheap small store; diner; etc) for at least one meal/day. So there is a real change in the culture of eating out in the early decades of the 20th century
Then, a culture of increasing consumerism took hold of the world after World War II, leading to an entirely different set of practices around finding places to eat. Many people have been interested in where and when to eat, not just cooking at home.
Analysts said that the most important culture change in terms of restaurant reservations has been how restaurant REVIEWS are written and disseminated. Up to 95% of diners (at least) would have little idea of where the restaurant they wanted to go. And one attractive review of course steers *every*body who reads it to a particular restaurant, where it then becomes very difficult to get a reservation, hence boosting its status (at least for a bit). Since then, the term Restaurant Reservation System has appeared. It is used for high-quality restaurants or dining places, where there are many reviews and many people know.
2. So, What Are Restaurant Reservations?
Restaurant reservations are a contact and arrangement guests make in advance to confirm a position for their meal or party at a specified time. Making a reservation at a restaurant can be done by phone, through a website, third-party reservation sites or apps, at the restaurant in person, or even with a text or message. Convenience and fast are key when it comes to diners getting a seat at their favorite venue and time.
Besides the value to guests, reservations also bring more profits and save costs for the restaurant owner. If you have the right system, reservations can be used to help your restaurant:
Bring more customers through the door
Collect valuable info on guests (new and returning)
Manage your waitlists
Schedule the right amount of staff
Keep staff and guests safe in your venue (in the covid epidemic season)
To start implementing a restaurant reservationbooking system, first of all, you need to understand its Common Functionality
3. Common Functionality Of Restaurant Reservation Systems
1. Billing, Sales, and tax tracking
The restaurant template system helps you track all sales data. Such as your top menu meals, busiest times of sale, bestseller team members, and your profits. They will help you make important business decisions. Your software should also provide detailed reports for tax reporting purposes.
2. Stock and Inventory management
If you know exactly how much product you have on hand, you will determine when and how much to reorder from your vendors. In fact, Some restaurant management system software offers inventory management options (Complete Solution), while others may require integration with third-party other software to help you with this.
3. CRM and ERP in Restaurant Management Systems
Your restaurant staff should be able to easily manage tables, reservations, checks, and menu items through your restaurant management system. You should also be able to control refunds, voids, and comps and view order statuses in only one page. If you operate a bar, your restaurant template system should allow you to pre-authorize credit cards to open tabs.
If your chosen restaurant management system tracks and filters your sales and customer data, you'll have access to a wealth of information to help you grow your business and make better marketing decisions.
In addition, an ERP system will help you optimize all resources and costs during the operation of your business. Check out which resources are giving better results, which resources are wasting to organize and re-optimize the business management process. That will change your restaurant a huge one
4. Marketing, gift cards, and reward programs
Your restaurant needs a system that offers digital marketing tools such as promotions and loyalty or rewards programs. Your restaurant management system may have native marketing tools or require third-party software integration for this. If you're interested in offering gift cards for your restaurant, make sure your restaurant management system can help you manage that as well.
4. Why You Need A Restaurant Reservation System
While restaurant reservation systems have been popular for quite some time now, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this solution software even more valuable. Not only can a restaurant reservations system help you maximize profits from each position, but some systems also aid in capacity tracking and contact tracing – two efforts that are key to tackling the business crisis in the pandemic.
The challenge is, nowadays, many traditional restaurants still haven’t made the leap from a notebook and pen on the host stand, to a complete reservation management system with computers and technology. In fact, a survey from experts found that over 31% of restaurants were still using a physical log book for reservations. These restaurants are not only missing out on opportunities to fill tables but also to solve a number of other business problems.
Here are the big problems that a restaurant reservation system can help you solve.
1. Empty tables on a slow night
Online booking on restaurant reservationwebsites means that customers have additional ways to discover your restaurant through the platform’s discovery app. For instance, with online reservations, guests can search for restaurants by location, food type, or other criteria, and find your venue for the first time. The platform also lets customers easily book an available table for the specific date and time they want. This process of discovery and making a reservation at a restaurant bookingsystem all happens without you needing to run ads or even pick up the phone, which means you can passively fill those empty tables. You can see more features that help to fill your tables in our Online restaurant booking user guide.
2. High no-show rates
If customers don’t have an easy way to let you know that they’re running late or not coming at all, chances are they won’t reach out. Plus, if they didn’t add the reservation to their own calendar, they might just forget completely. Or get the time wrong. Or the location. So many things can go wrong and leave you with a table sitting there, empty.
A reservation platform gives you the ability to communicate directly with customers by sending out automatic text and email reminders leading up to their reservation time. It’s a quick way to confirm, modify, or cancel a reservation – without you needing to pay for labor costs to call each reservation individually. To read more on this feature, check out our reservations guide.
3. Generic guest experience
With a manual log book, even if a reservation tells you they’re a regular or requests a specific table or dish, these details are difficult to keep track of for a single reservation and even harder for return visits. That means that important guest information – especially for VIPs – could get lost in the shuffle. With restaurant reservation sites, you can use guest profile data to help make them feel special, every time they dine with you. Read our guide to find how out.
4. Manual double-entry of table information
If you’re using a log book or a standalone third-party reservation system, you’ll have to input guest information into your POS every time a guest arrives for their reservation. This includes everything from entering what table they’re dining at, to inputting any special requirements the party has, such as food allergies. With an integrated restaurant reservation management, guest and table info is shared between the platform and your POS, removing the time and errors that come with double entry.
5. Quick & easy scheduling, over or under scheduling
When you don’t have all your reservations in one system, you might not be able to forecast how many guests you’ll be serving in a single shift. A reservation system gives you a better sense of how many tables and guests will be coming through your doors on any given day, making it easier to prepare and modify staff schedules. That way, you have enough FOH and BOH staff for things to run smoothly AND keep labor costs low.
6. Mandatory on-site organization
If your reservations system requires you to be on-site to manage it, you might feel like you can’t leave to handle other business needs, without this key part of your business coming to a standstill. A restaurant reservation system lets you manage reservations remotely, through the cloud so you don’t need to be physically at the venue to take care of business. This means you can add reservations, make changes to the floor plan, include notes about VIP customers, access reporting to see dining trends, and more, simply by logging into your reservations system on any Internet-connected device
7. Tracking venue capacity
As states and provinces have begun to reopen following COVID-19-related closures, many have imposed capacity limits on dine-in seating at restaurants. But if you’re not using a reservation system, it can be difficult to manually keep track of the number of people in your venue at any given time.
Restaurant reservation software gives you a precise way to monitor capacity. For instance, most reservation systems have tools like flow control that allow you to manage the number of covers or parties that can book reservations at a given time. Similarly, you can use reservations software to set maximum capacity limits, which will cap the number of guests that can be seated in your restaurant at any point throughout a shift. As guests leave, the software updates to show your current available capacity.
8. Enforcing social distancing
If you’re still using a log book for reservations, guests have to either call to book a table or come up to the host stand to make arestaurant reservation in person. And in the age of COVID-19, relying on in-person bookings can lead to overcrowding and make physical distancing difficult to enforce.
With self-service technology like a restaurant reservation system, guests can reserve a table in advance through your website, app, or a third-party platform, and even add their name to digital waitlists – all without any face-to-face interaction with your staff. Not only does this reduce any crowding caused by walk-ins, but it also helps you enforce social distancing within your venue by spacing out bookings and digitally tracking capacity.
9. Keeping records for contact tracing
In addition to tracking capacity, many cities have also insisted that restaurants keep track of each diner’s information in order to facilitate contact tracing. However, if you’re just using a simple log book to keep track of your bookings, it’s easy for that information to get lost or damaged – something that can put public health at risk.
Reservation software provides an easy solution to this issue. Diners are already used to giving their name and a phone number and/or email address when making a reservation at a restaurant. If you implement a reservations-only policy in your restaurant, you can easily use reservations software to keep a log of every diner. Even if you’re still accepting walk-ins, most reservation software allows you to create guest profiles on the spot, complete with all the necessary contact information.
Are any of these problems having a negative impact on your business?
Then it’s time to evolve your reservation process with a fully digital, online reservation management system.
5. How Much Does Restaurant Management Software Cost?
Thanks to cloud computing technology and the software-as-a-service (SAAS) subscription model, a restaurant POS (point of sale for restaurants) system is significantly cheaper, easier to use, and more powerful today than it was a decade ago. Although, there are so many different systems and pricing structures. So, it can be hard to determine which system is the best value.
If we want to determine the total POS system cost, we need:
Understand the POS functionality
Run that against the hardware cost, software cost, and payment processing fees, to get to the total value.
The first cost of a restaurant POS system can start at around $799 for a basic handheld tablet package. If your needs are more intensive, you can expect a cost of around $5,000 or more for a full POS system from a to z. However, the hardware isn’t the most expensive part of the long-term investment cost (that would be the software development).
If buying a bundled POS software subscription with your hardware, you can reduce a part of the upfront hardware costs, sometimes down to free (because they are negligible compared to the cost of the software). You can also lease POS hardware for around $100-$500 per month.
In addition to the basics for a POS system, you may also need to purchase something below:
A barcode scanner
Additional tablets
Receipt printer(s)
A router
Networking cables, or even a server
If you need such extras, your hardware could set you back $3,000-$5,000 or more for one register.
If you are looking for a restaurant reservation system supplier. Helps you reduce costs from both hardware and software. But still builds you up with a strong management system. Do not hesitate to contactthe consultants from CMSmart.
6. Top 6 The Best Restaurant Reservation Software
To uncover POS system industry leaders, we reviewed more than 30 restaurant reservation software providers. We looked at table management, appointment scheduling, timely information updates, and customer communication features. In addition, we try each application to check ease of use and price. After comparing all solutions, we chose 6 the best use cases to ensure your restaurant can get the most from your suitable software selection.
6.1 OpenTable - Best Restaurant Reservation Software
Integrate your restaurant reservation software to 10 POS systems for free.
Pros:
All plans free through March 2021
Free online training
Highly rated mobile applications
Cons:
Extra fees for reservations and payment processing
No phone support
Free POS integration not available with Basic plan
One billion people book through OpenTable each year, and the platform features more than 60,000 affiliate booking partners. That is make it easier to get more your restaurant noticed. In fact, most reservation system software don’t offer restaurant POS solution integrations or charge high fees to integrate. In contrast, OpenTable platform easily connects to popular systems, this is the best choice for restaurants wanting to link their available reservation system to a POS program.
You can use and operate OpenTable via iOS or Android apps or an admin dashboard. To easily track customer spend and visit frequency while create synthesis reports, connect OpenTable to some POS systems, such as:
Aloha
POSitouch
Micros
Upserve
H&L
Impos
Lavu
Squirrel Systems
Toast
Silverware POS
Features:
OpenTable also offers many solutions of integrations with email marketing programs and review sites. They give you plenty of options to oversee restaurant operations and dining experiences.
Other top features include:
Email or push alerts for reservations information
Sent automated email or SMS confirmations to customers
Table management with custom dining, event centers, and bar floor plans
Setup, schedule waitlist capabilities provide guests with estimates time and a text when a position is ready
Info a digital takeout menu with a sharable ordering link on system
Real-time view of shift revenue for staff
Review collection and management customers info from Big sites like Google, Yext, Facebook, and Tripadvisor
Plans and Price:
Basic Plan:
$29 per month
$1.50 per network cover
$0.25 per website reservation, or you can pay $49 per month for free website reservations
Core Plan:
$249 per month
$1 per network include: table management, in-house and online waitlist, POS integration, and real-time inventory
Reservations on your website: Free
Pro Plan:
$449 per month
$1 per network cover for automation tools such as: email campaigns, guest profiles, and customer preferences
As one of top-rate mobile applications, two-way exchange contact, and a customer-centric choice, Yelp satisfies customers' needs while making it easy to manage reservations with advanced technology.
Pros:
Waitlist capabilities
Free iPad
Flat-rate pricing
Cons:
Expensive
Poor Yelp reviews may affect sales
Hard to get eyes on your site on the Yelp platform
As of December 31, 2020, about over 200 million reviews were available on Yelp business listing pages. In 2020, according to the analysis report, the company had 43 million unique visitors by desktop and 52 million unique visitors by mobile. In addition, about over 50% of the company's audience has an annual household business income of more than $100,000. An impressive number!
Features:
Yelp’s solution gives you a dedicated management tool that works effectively on an iPad. However, the consumer-facing mobile apps of this platform receive high usability ratings for:
Giving real-time information updates regarding a guest’s position in a line or estimated wait time
This platform allows customers to add themselves to a waitlist or sign up for a reminder.
Notifying clients by notification messages when a takeout order is ready
Personalizing experiences by tracking client behavior, preferences, history, and special dates
Yelp also supports your staff and helps you optimize service and front of the restaurant
Plans and Price:
With Yelp, you only pay a flat monthly fee with no extra charges. Special, all subscriptions come with a free iPad. The Table Management plan starts at $249 per month and includes features: takeout, reservations, waitlist, and server management tools.
You can also use Yelp Connect for $180 a month if you want to customize your Yelp page. It helps you increase brand visibility, manage photos, and share business highlights. Besides, you can get started with Yelp ads for as low as $5 per day.
6.3 EatApp - The Easiest System to Use For Small Restaurant Reservation System
EatApp may be a fascinating addition to the US market. It is, essentially, the ResyOS of the Middle East, so it developed massive functionality before US restaurants ever got a glimpse of it. EatApp has all the essential features of the opposite reservation platforms like phone and online reservations, the power to simply accept prepaid reservations and operate a waitlist. Since it operates via a mobile app or during a browser, you'll use EatApp on the equipment you have already got, whether that's a laptop or a web-enabled iOS or Android tablet.
Pros
Integrates together with your telephone system so you usually know who is looking
Offers a free trial in 14 days
Occupancy control features are excellent
Cons
24/7 customer support is chat-based
App and therefore the browser-based system is often glitchy if you lose internet access
Online ordering and contactless payment functions are still in development
Features:
Eat App provides all-in-one functionality to oversee table bookings, plan for occupancy limits, and review analytics. Its management applications, visual layouts, and editing tools are user-friendly, earning Eat App the highest slot for simple use.
Along with iOS and Android manager apps, you'll access your reservation and table management system on any desktop employing a browser. Its simple interface makes it easy to find out and use with functions such as:
Drag-and-drop plan editing tools
Choice of 4 views: plan, reservation list, grid view, or timeline
Multiple filters to point out reservations, no-shows, late arrivals, or finished bookings
CRM is searchable by customer name or by adding tags to guest profiles
Capacity settings of 30%, 50%, or 100% to simply manage volume
Eat App integrates with Google, Maps, Instagram, and Tripadvisor, which provides your restaurant higher visibility. Moreover, the plans include many features, like:
Time-slot-based discounts
Space for adding reservation notes
Automated guest confirmation emails or SMS messages
Waitlist and walk-in function, so guests get a text when a table is prepared
Ability to simply accept reservation deposits or charge for event tickets
Customizable reports available on-screen or by printing
Plans and Price:
Choose from two plans and various add-on features to urge the proper combination of functionality for your business.
Packages include:
Pro: $129 per month with an annual payment or $159 monthly for all features and 250 guest confirmations via text per month
Enterprise: Get a custom quote to feature automated guest surveys, a digital menu, point-of-sale (POS) integrations, and phone integration
You can add several features to the professional package, such as:
Automated guest surveys and feedback: $25 per month
Digital menu, contactless dine-in ordering, and delivery: $50 per month
POS integration: $90 per month
Phone integration: $25 per month
6.4 Tablein - Management restaurant reservations program
Pros
Free 14-day trial, no Mastercard needed
Manage restaurant performance
Social media integrations for the marketing campaign
Cons
No POS integrations
No waitlist management
Not for large, high-volume restaurants
Although Tablein isn’t as well-known as restaurant reservation system brands like Yelp or OpenTable, it provides small to medium-sized restaurants with everything they have to require reservations and improve guest experiences. Tablein’s affordable plans, flexible toolset, and some quick setup time make this reservation software stand out from its competitors.
Unlike other programs, you don’t get to download an app for Tablein to figure. Simply open a browser, app on any device, and therefore the responsive platform automatically fits on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Moreover, diners can order or contact to book on your website, Facebook, or Google using any device.
Features:
Tablein is quite easy to use and offers online table management and reservations features, such as:
Diners can select a preferred table or leave special notes before their reservations
Customers receive automatic booking confirmations notifications, reminders, cancellation notices, and feedback requests via email or message.
Managers get reservation information via email or message
Control restaurant capacity by setting limits on time positions or days
In-depth reporting dashboard with exporting
With Tablein, you don’t get to spend hours fixing your reservation software or training your staff. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to use and apply to manage reservations. Top features for simple use include:
Quick table cloning to line up your restaurant layout
Drag-and-drop tools assist you to create one or more floor plans
You can add a vast number of dining areas
View reservations by plan or time-frame
Color-coded reservation status via a table view
Make changes to reservations with drag-and-drop functions
Use the search tab to seek out the guest information
One-click to print your daily reservation list
Pricing:
Tablein offers two plans that accompany all available features. In some cases, text messaging features may cost an additional fee per message. The packages include:
Standard Package: $75 per month for up to 150 reservations
Premium Package: $110 per month for unlimited reservations
6.5 Resy - Best complete Restaurant Reservation System
The name ResyOS is often a touch confusing. Just forget the “OS” part. ResyOS isn't a P-O-S, or point-of-sale, it's a reservation “operating system.” Once you set the confusing name aside, however, what you see is an incredibly user-friendly, cloud-based reservation system that operates on iPads. Since the onset of the outbreak of a COVID-19 pandemic, ResyOS has added a mobile waitlist and an automatic capacity monitor, to assist restaurants to retain revenue streams while adhering to social distancing requirements.
Pros
Easy to use
Lots of POS integrations
Mobile Waitlist allows customers to feature themselves on your waitlist
Cons
Can be pricey for very small restaurants
The online ordering module doesn't include delivery management features
Marketing options might be better
ResyOS Pricing
ResyOS pricing starts at $249 per month for one venue and increases to support the number of locations. Multi-location restaurants will get to choose the $899 enterprise membership. Integrating together with your POS comes at a further $100 per month cost for Basic and Pro subscribers.
ResyOS Features
Included in data baseline system: Detailed diners profiles, table management, table mapping, and online and in-house reservations are all a part of the baseline system. Event bookings, prepaid ticketed options, and basic online ordering functions, also as a mobile waitlist function also are included.
Some Optional add-on features: If Upgrading to Pro and Enterprise packages, you will unlock additional reporting features, personalized guest messages, and customized post-meal surveys.
Standout features: the web ordering function creates a superb, cost-effective contactless payment solution for restaurants that require one.
Reporting and back-office: ResyOS has all the reports that a reservation system needs, allowing you to simply see your expected cover counts, available table inventory, and shift summary.
What Makes ResyOS Great for Reservations
ResyOS is our greatest overall restaurant reservation system because it's so flexible and straightforward to use. the varied subscription tiers make sure that restaurants of all sizes can find the right fit and avoid paying for functions that they don’t need and won’t use. ResyOS integrates with most POS systems.
If you're considering any reservation systems that provide pre-payment features or a ticket-based reservation model, then you've got Tock to thank. Even a couple of years ago, this feature was uncommon in other reservation systems, and now it's available almost everywhere. This is often only one example of the way Tock sets trends for the restaurant industry.
After COVID-19 pandemic closed restaurant dining rooms, Tock developed online ordering and delivery functionality in a short time. Tock focuses on solutions like prepaid reservations and ticketing for special prime events. Pricing starts at $199 per month. Prepaid reservations, tickets, and online orders even have MasterCard processing fees applied, but the platform allows you to feature those fees to the customer end.
Pros:
The trend-setting platform is usually developing new solutions
Credit card processing and online ordering are often paid by customers
Customer support is very reviewed
Cons:
Traditional, over-the-phone reservations are often a touch clunky.
Maybe more robust than some restaurants need
Less familiar to customers than other systems
Plan and Price:
Considering its massive functionality, Tock is out there at a really affordable price. The baseline reservation module is out there for $199 per month. Though, if you're running a pop-up restaurant, or only have to use a ticket-based reservation model for a vacation or special event, its events plan is out there with no subscription fees. You'll only pay $0.99 per ticket plus Credit card processing fees.
Tock Fees & Add-ons:
Plus Membership: $199 per month
Pro Membership: $699 per month
Online Ordering: 3% per order
Prepaid Reservations and Tickets: Plus members - 2% per reservation, Pro members - 0%
POS Integrations: Toast and Upserve. hospitable developing more; ask about your specific POS when getting a demo.
Processing Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Tock Features:
Included in Data Baseline System: Includes reservation, table, event, and guest management solutions. Including unlimited covers, users, and devices. Tock also offers in-built two-way SMS texting together with your customers through the app.
Optional Add-on Features: besides simple reservations, tock also allows online ordering and delivery functions, and ticketing functionality for special events like wine dinners or holiday services.
Highlight Features: Customers can book anytime, from the app, any browser, on any device, or on Facebook, Instagram, and Google. Detailed customer profiles are often arranged into specialized lists for marketing, discounts, or other purposes. Diners can add themselves to a digital waitlist to receive easily notified when a reservation comes available.
Back Office and Reporting: Tock’s reporting features are powerful. The system synthesizes tons of data into easy-to-navigate snapshot reports that show you at a look what to expect in an upcoming shift. Fully configurable guest tags and automatic Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn profile integration allow you to ascertain exactly who is dining with you.
In Conclusion
As you know, Restaurant Reservation Systems are more than a list of customer names, contact, and what time to expect them. Nowadays, restaurant reservation systems include mobile waitlists, ticket-based reservations, fully pre-ordered and pre-paid meals, as well as robust databases of customer details. These useful tools help to organize your daily service, optimizing your arrange position capacity, and tracking your customer’s likes, dislikes, and special requests.
To find the best restaurant reservation software systems for customers, we reviewed more than two dozen providers. We supply service: compare tiered pricing plans for overall affordability, types of features, and volume limits. In addition, we also considered web browser services and mobile applications’ functionality to ensure ease of use for customers and restaurant teams. By looking at highlight features and add-on capabilities, customize capabilities, we determined specific software solutions best for certain use customer's cases. So, if you have a need to set up a restaurant reservation system for your business, don't hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected]
See more: The best restaurant apps that help you schedule and manage bookings effectively
Thanks for reading.
Rose Helen
Shop Owner
Rose Helen is a highly accomplished Ecommerce Project Consultant with a strong background in managing and guiding successful e-commerce projects. With her exceptional expertise and strategic mindset, she helps businesses achieve their goals in the digital marketplace.
With years of experience, Rose Helen possesses an in-depth understanding of e-commerce platforms, technologies, and best practices. She works closely with clients to analyze their needs, develop tailored strategies, and execute effective project plans that drive growth and success.
As an Ecommerce Project Consultant, Rose Helen excels at overseeing project lifecycles, from inception to completion. She ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with the highest level of quality. Her exceptional project management skills enable her to effectively communicate with stakeholders, manage resources, and mitigate risks throughout the project journey.
Rose Helen is a strategic thinker who leverages her extensive knowledge to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation. She provides valuable insights and recommendations to optimize e-commerce processes, enhance user experiences, and increase online sales.
With her strong communication and collaboration skills, Rose Helen builds strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders. She fosters a collaborative environment, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project execution and alignment with business objectives.
Beyond her technical expertise, Rose Helen is dedicated to delivering exceptional client service. She goes above and beyond to understand her clients' unique requirements and provide them with personalized solutions that drive tangible results. Her commitment to client success is evident in her approach and the long-term relationships she builds.
Rose Helen's passion for e-commerce, coupled with her extensive experience and project management skills, makes her a valuable asset for organizations looking to thrive in the digital landscape. With her guidance, businesses can navigate the complexities of e-commerce projects and achieve their objectives with confidence and success.
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As you know, a restaurant is a business form that has a long history of development since ancient times. When food processing becomes more and more complex. There are people who take the time to research and practice skills to create foods with full nutrition and delicious taste. They turn the basic natural human eating into a higher level of entertainment and enjoyment. From there, they create places to provide those delicious dishes and drinks to others. This is the reason for the advent of the restaurant.
In the year 2020-2021, the Covid epidemic has affected not only human health but also caused a great impact on many other industries and business fields. Including restaurant booking online business in particular and tourism in general. Since then, the demand for a new business policy, especially the application of online food management and business technology, has become essential. Up to this point, the technology restaurant business has become an indispensable trend. Suddenly, traditional restaurants discovered a tremendous change in culinary businesses.
Big restaurants or tech restaurants are reaching more and more customers than they are. Make them forced to rush to change. However, the technological barrier becomes their main concern. To help traditional restaurants have an overview and basics of restaurant reservation management by applying IT. In the article below, I will introduce one of the most important technologies that traditional restaurants need to apply today: Restaurant Reservation System.
1. History of Restaurant Reservation
Here's a crucial piece of social culture that almost just a few people consider: the restaurant reservation.
To learn about the history of the Restaurant Reservation, you must start with the following questions: What is Restaurant Reservation? Where did the reservation come from? When did they begin? Where? How? I search on my network of scholars and journalists on Social: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Medium, and despite their best efforts, and some fascinating comments, we could only come up with some plausible stories. Clearly, by the middle of the 20th century, the idea of making dinner reservations was common, as you can see with this chart (made using the words in all the books Google has scanned).
Source
But maybe that was just a change of words. Some Historians and writers showed that the practice of table-reserving predated the modern term for it. They suggested that the old term "engage a table" was used. Besides, we can see that was an earlier term. (Although in case, to "engage a table" sometimes just meant "to sit at a table," not to reserve it ahead of time.)
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In history, a number of pretty important social transformations such as the post-WWI "servant problem" (There are too many new industrial jobs available, so it was harder to get people to work as servants). There are many people working in retail and clerical jobs, there were a few others (in cities) who depended on restaurants (of a sort, e.g., the fast foods counter in a cheap small store; diner; etc) for at least one meal/day. So there is a real change in the culture of eating out in the early decades of the 20th century
Then, a culture of increasing consumerism took hold of the world after World War II, leading to an entirely different set of practices around finding places to eat. Many people have been interested in where and when to eat, not just cooking at home.
Analysts said that the most important culture change in terms of restaurant reservations has been how restaurant REVIEWS are written and disseminated. Up to 95% of diners (at least) would have little idea of where the restaurant they wanted to go. And one attractive review of course steers *every*body who reads it to a particular restaurant, where it then becomes very difficult to get a reservation, hence boosting its status (at least for a bit). Since then, the term Restaurant Reservation System has appeared. It is used for high-quality restaurants or dining places, where there are many reviews and many people know.
2. So, What Are Restaurant Reservations?
Restaurant reservations are a contact and arrangement guests make in advance to confirm a position for their meal or party at a specified time. Making a reservation at a restaurant can be done by phone, through a website, third-party reservation sites or apps, at the restaurant in person, or even with a text or message. Convenience and fast are key when it comes to diners getting a seat at their favorite venue and time.
Besides the value to guests, reservations also bring more profits and save costs for the restaurant owner. If you have the right system, reservations can be used to help your restaurant:
To start implementing a restaurant reservation booking system, first of all, you need to understand its Common Functionality
3. Common Functionality Of Restaurant Reservation Systems
1. Billing, Sales, and tax tracking
The restaurant template system helps you track all sales data. Such as your top menu meals, busiest times of sale, bestseller team members, and your profits. They will help you make important business decisions. Your software should also provide detailed reports for tax reporting purposes.
2. Stock and Inventory management
If you know exactly how much product you have on hand, you will determine when and how much to reorder from your vendors. In fact, Some restaurant management system software offers inventory management options (Complete Solution), while others may require integration with third-party other software to help you with this.
3. CRM and ERP in Restaurant Management Systems
Your restaurant staff should be able to easily manage tables, reservations, checks, and menu items through your restaurant management system. You should also be able to control refunds, voids, and comps and view order statuses in only one page. If you operate a bar, your restaurant template system should allow you to pre-authorize credit cards to open tabs.
If your chosen restaurant management system tracks and filters your sales and customer data, you'll have access to a wealth of information to help you grow your business and make better marketing decisions.
In addition, an ERP system will help you optimize all resources and costs during the operation of your business. Check out which resources are giving better results, which resources are wasting to organize and re-optimize the business management process. That will change your restaurant a huge one
4. Marketing, gift cards, and reward programs
Your restaurant needs a system that offers digital marketing tools such as promotions and loyalty or rewards programs. Your restaurant management system may have native marketing tools or require third-party software integration for this. If you're interested in offering gift cards for your restaurant, make sure your restaurant management system can help you manage that as well.
4. Why You Need A Restaurant Reservation System
While restaurant reservation systems have been popular for quite some time now, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this solution software even more valuable. Not only can a restaurant reservations system help you maximize profits from each position, but some systems also aid in capacity tracking and contact tracing – two efforts that are key to tackling the business crisis in the pandemic.
The challenge is, nowadays, many traditional restaurants still haven’t made the leap from a notebook and pen on the host stand, to a complete reservation management system with computers and technology. In fact, a survey from experts found that over 31% of restaurants were still using a physical log book for reservations. These restaurants are not only missing out on opportunities to fill tables but also to solve a number of other business problems.
Here are the big problems that a restaurant reservation system can help you solve.
1. Empty tables on a slow night
Online booking on restaurant reservation websites means that customers have additional ways to discover your restaurant through the platform’s discovery app. For instance, with online reservations, guests can search for restaurants by location, food type, or other criteria, and find your venue for the first time. The platform also lets customers easily book an available table for the specific date and time they want. This process of discovery and making a reservation at a restaurant booking system all happens without you needing to run ads or even pick up the phone, which means you can passively fill those empty tables. You can see more features that help to fill your tables in our Online restaurant booking user guide.
2. High no-show rates
If customers don’t have an easy way to let you know that they’re running late or not coming at all, chances are they won’t reach out. Plus, if they didn’t add the reservation to their own calendar, they might just forget completely. Or get the time wrong. Or the location. So many things can go wrong and leave you with a table sitting there, empty.
A reservation platform gives you the ability to communicate directly with customers by sending out automatic text and email reminders leading up to their reservation time. It’s a quick way to confirm, modify, or cancel a reservation – without you needing to pay for labor costs to call each reservation individually. To read more on this feature, check out our reservations guide.
3. Generic guest experience
With a manual log book, even if a reservation tells you they’re a regular or requests a specific table or dish, these details are difficult to keep track of for a single reservation and even harder for return visits. That means that important guest information – especially for VIPs – could get lost in the shuffle. With restaurant reservation sites, you can use guest profile data to help make them feel special, every time they dine with you. Read our guide to find how out.
4. Manual double-entry of table information
If you’re using a log book or a standalone third-party reservation system, you’ll have to input guest information into your POS every time a guest arrives for their reservation. This includes everything from entering what table they’re dining at, to inputting any special requirements the party has, such as food allergies. With an integrated restaurant reservation management, guest and table info is shared between the platform and your POS, removing the time and errors that come with double entry.
5. Quick & easy scheduling, over or under scheduling
When you don’t have all your reservations in one system, you might not be able to forecast how many guests you’ll be serving in a single shift. A reservation system gives you a better sense of how many tables and guests will be coming through your doors on any given day, making it easier to prepare and modify staff schedules. That way, you have enough FOH and BOH staff for things to run smoothly AND keep labor costs low.
6. Mandatory on-site organization
If your reservations system requires you to be on-site to manage it, you might feel like you can’t leave to handle other business needs, without this key part of your business coming to a standstill. A restaurant reservation system lets you manage reservations remotely, through the cloud so you don’t need to be physically at the venue to take care of business. This means you can add reservations, make changes to the floor plan, include notes about VIP customers, access reporting to see dining trends, and more, simply by logging into your reservations system on any Internet-connected device
7. Tracking venue capacity
As states and provinces have begun to reopen following COVID-19-related closures, many have imposed capacity limits on dine-in seating at restaurants. But if you’re not using a reservation system, it can be difficult to manually keep track of the number of people in your venue at any given time.
Restaurant reservation software gives you a precise way to monitor capacity. For instance, most reservation systems have tools like flow control that allow you to manage the number of covers or parties that can book reservations at a given time. Similarly, you can use reservations software to set maximum capacity limits, which will cap the number of guests that can be seated in your restaurant at any point throughout a shift. As guests leave, the software updates to show your current available capacity.
8. Enforcing social distancing
If you’re still using a log book for reservations, guests have to either call to book a table or come up to the host stand to make a restaurant reservation in person. And in the age of COVID-19, relying on in-person bookings can lead to overcrowding and make physical distancing difficult to enforce.
With self-service technology like a restaurant reservation system, guests can reserve a table in advance through your website, app, or a third-party platform, and even add their name to digital waitlists – all without any face-to-face interaction with your staff. Not only does this reduce any crowding caused by walk-ins, but it also helps you enforce social distancing within your venue by spacing out bookings and digitally tracking capacity.
9. Keeping records for contact tracing
In addition to tracking capacity, many cities have also insisted that restaurants keep track of each diner’s information in order to facilitate contact tracing. However, if you’re just using a simple log book to keep track of your bookings, it’s easy for that information to get lost or damaged – something that can put public health at risk.
Reservation software provides an easy solution to this issue. Diners are already used to giving their name and a phone number and/or email address when making a reservation at a restaurant. If you implement a reservations-only policy in your restaurant, you can easily use reservations software to keep a log of every diner. Even if you’re still accepting walk-ins, most reservation software allows you to create guest profiles on the spot, complete with all the necessary contact information.
Are any of these problems having a negative impact on your business?
Then it’s time to evolve your reservation process with a fully digital, online reservation management system.
5. How Much Does Restaurant Management Software Cost?
Thanks to cloud computing technology and the software-as-a-service (SAAS) subscription model, a restaurant POS (point of sale for restaurants) system is significantly cheaper, easier to use, and more powerful today than it was a decade ago. Although, there are so many different systems and pricing structures. So, it can be hard to determine which system is the best value.
Run that against the hardware cost, software cost, and payment processing fees, to get to the total value.
The first cost of a restaurant POS system can start at around $799 for a basic handheld tablet package. If your needs are more intensive, you can expect a cost of around $5,000 or more for a full POS system from a to z. However, the hardware isn’t the most expensive part of the long-term investment cost (that would be the software development).
If buying a bundled POS software subscription with your hardware, you can reduce a part of the upfront hardware costs, sometimes down to free (because they are negligible compared to the cost of the software). You can also lease POS hardware for around $100-$500 per month.
In addition to the basics for a POS system, you may also need to purchase something below:
If you need such extras, your hardware could set you back $3,000-$5,000 or more for one register.
If you are looking for a restaurant reservation system supplier. Helps you reduce costs from both hardware and software. But still builds you up with a strong management system. Do not hesitate to contact the consultants from CMSmart.
6. Top 6 The Best Restaurant Reservation Software
To uncover POS system industry leaders, we reviewed more than 30 restaurant reservation software providers. We looked at table management, appointment scheduling, timely information updates, and customer communication features. In addition, we try each application to check ease of use and price. After comparing all solutions, we chose 6 the best use cases to ensure your restaurant can get the most from your suitable software selection.
6.1 OpenTable - Best Restaurant Reservation Software
Integrate your restaurant reservation software to 10 POS systems for free.
Pros:
Cons:
One billion people book through OpenTable each year, and the platform features more than 60,000 affiliate booking partners. That is make it easier to get more your restaurant noticed. In fact, most reservation system software don’t offer restaurant POS solution integrations or charge high fees to integrate. In contrast, OpenTable platform easily connects to popular systems, this is the best choice for restaurants wanting to link their available reservation system to a POS program.
You can use and operate OpenTable via iOS or Android apps or an admin dashboard. To easily track customer spend and visit frequency while create synthesis reports, connect OpenTable to some POS systems, such as:
Features:
OpenTable also offers many solutions of integrations with email marketing programs and review sites. They give you plenty of options to oversee restaurant operations and dining experiences.
Other top features include:
Plans and Price:
Basic Plan:
Core Plan:
Pro Plan:
6.2 Yelp - Best For Consumer-Facing Reservations
As one of top-rate mobile applications, two-way exchange contact, and a customer-centric choice, Yelp satisfies customers' needs while making it easy to manage reservations with advanced technology.
Pros:
Cons:
As of December 31, 2020, about over 200 million reviews were available on Yelp business listing pages. In 2020, according to the analysis report, the company had 43 million unique visitors by desktop and 52 million unique visitors by mobile. In addition, about over 50% of the company's audience has an annual household business income of more than $100,000. An impressive number!
Features:
Yelp’s solution gives you a dedicated management tool that works effectively on an iPad. However, the consumer-facing mobile apps of this platform receive high usability ratings for:
Plans and Price:
6.3 EatApp - The Easiest System to Use For Small Restaurant Reservation System
EatApp may be a fascinating addition to the US market. It is, essentially, the ResyOS of the Middle East, so it developed massive functionality before US restaurants ever got a glimpse of it. EatApp has all the essential features of the opposite reservation platforms like phone and online reservations, the power to simply accept prepaid reservations and operate a waitlist. Since it operates via a mobile app or during a browser, you'll use EatApp on the equipment you have already got, whether that's a laptop or a web-enabled iOS or Android tablet.
Pros
Cons
Features:
Eat App provides all-in-one functionality to oversee table bookings, plan for occupancy limits, and review analytics. Its management applications, visual layouts, and editing tools are user-friendly, earning Eat App the highest slot for simple use.
Along with iOS and Android manager apps, you'll access your reservation and table management system on any desktop employing a browser. Its simple interface makes it easy to find out and use with functions such as:
Eat App integrates with Google, Maps, Instagram, and Tripadvisor, which provides your restaurant higher visibility. Moreover, the plans include many features, like:
Plans and Price:
Choose from two plans and various add-on features to urge the proper combination of functionality for your business.
Packages include:
You can add several features to the professional package, such as:
6.4 Tablein - Management restaurant reservations program
Pros
Cons
Although Tablein isn’t as well-known as restaurant reservation system brands like Yelp or OpenTable, it provides small to medium-sized restaurants with everything they have to require reservations and improve guest experiences. Tablein’s affordable plans, flexible toolset, and some quick setup time make this reservation software stand out from its competitors.
Unlike other programs, you don’t get to download an app for Tablein to figure. Simply open a browser, app on any device, and therefore the responsive platform automatically fits on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Moreover, diners can order or contact to book on your website, Facebook, or Google using any device.
Features:
Tablein is quite easy to use and offers online table management and reservations features, such as:
With Tablein, you don’t get to spend hours fixing your reservation software or training your staff. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to use and apply to manage reservations. Top features for simple use include:
Pricing:
Tablein offers two plans that accompany all available features. In some cases, text messaging features may cost an additional fee per message. The packages include:
6.5 Resy - Best complete Restaurant Reservation System
The name ResyOS is often a touch confusing. Just forget the “OS” part. ResyOS isn't a P-O-S, or point-of-sale, it's a reservation “operating system.” Once you set the confusing name aside, however, what you see is an incredibly user-friendly, cloud-based reservation system that operates on iPads. Since the onset of the outbreak of a COVID-19 pandemic, ResyOS has added a mobile waitlist and an automatic capacity monitor, to assist restaurants to retain revenue streams while adhering to social distancing requirements.
Pros
Cons
ResyOS Pricing
ResyOS pricing starts at $249 per month for one venue and increases to support the number of locations. Multi-location restaurants will get to choose the $899 enterprise membership. Integrating together with your POS comes at a further $100 per month cost for Basic and Pro subscribers.
ResyOS Features
What Makes ResyOS Great for Reservations
ResyOS is our greatest overall restaurant reservation system because it's so flexible and straightforward to use. the varied subscription tiers make sure that restaurants of all sizes can find the right fit and avoid paying for functions that they don’t need and won’t use. ResyOS integrates with most POS systems.
6.6 Tock - Best for Prepaid Reservations
If you're considering any reservation systems that provide pre-payment features or a ticket-based reservation model, then you've got Tock to thank. Even a couple of years ago, this feature was uncommon in other reservation systems, and now it's available almost everywhere. This is often only one example of the way Tock sets trends for the restaurant industry.
After COVID-19 pandemic closed restaurant dining rooms, Tock developed online ordering and delivery functionality in a short time. Tock focuses on solutions like prepaid reservations and ticketing for special prime events. Pricing starts at $199 per month. Prepaid reservations, tickets, and online orders even have MasterCard processing fees applied, but the platform allows you to feature those fees to the customer end.
Pros:
Cons:
Plan and Price:
Considering its massive functionality, Tock is out there at a really affordable price. The baseline reservation module is out there for $199 per month. Though, if you're running a pop-up restaurant, or only have to use a ticket-based reservation model for a vacation or special event, its events plan is out there with no subscription fees. You'll only pay $0.99 per ticket plus Credit card processing fees.
Tock Fees & Add-ons:
Tock Features:
In Conclusion
As you know, Restaurant Reservation Systems are more than a list of customer names, contact, and what time to expect them. Nowadays, restaurant reservation systems include mobile waitlists, ticket-based reservations, fully pre-ordered and pre-paid meals, as well as robust databases of customer details. These useful tools help to organize your daily service, optimizing your arrange position capacity, and tracking your customer’s likes, dislikes, and special requests.
To find the best restaurant reservation software systems for customers, we reviewed more than two dozen providers. We supply service: compare tiered pricing plans for overall affordability, types of features, and volume limits. In addition, we also considered web browser services and mobile applications’ functionality to ensure ease of use for customers and restaurant teams. By looking at highlight features and add-on capabilities, customize capabilities, we determined specific software solutions best for certain use customer's cases. So, if you have a need to set up a restaurant reservation system for your business, don't hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected]
See more: The best restaurant apps that help you schedule and manage bookings effectively
Thanks for reading.
Rose Helen
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