Catering Platforms for Restaurants: 14 Factors to Know When Buying

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, catering platforms for restaurants play an incredibly helpful role in streamlining your catering operations and driving business growth.

Demand for restaurant catering is continuing to increase, with the US catering service industry expected to grow at an annual rate of 7.7% from 2024 to 2030 (Grand View Research).

This brings about the need for software that can handle everything from online orders to client management with ease and precision.  

As a restaurant owner, catering manager, or hospitality business office manager overseeing catering operations, the right catering platform improves backend efficiency and helps you meet the needs of your catering customers. 

This article aims to guide you through selecting catering software that aligns with your catering business’s specific needs.

The goal is to have your catering software seamlessly manage the complexities of catering operations—handling everything from order tracking to customer interactions—so you can focus on growing your business.

Understanding Catering Software 

Catering software is a type of digital tool that simplifies and streamlines various aspects of restaurant-based catering. Core functions include catering order management, delivery tracking, menu planning, and customer relationship management (CRM).  

Effective catering platforms for restaurants integrate these functions, allowing you to manage multiple aspects of your catering operations from a single system. However, there are also specialized systems that focus on doing one thing exceptionally well, providing targeted solutions for specific needs. Here’s a look at some of the different types of catering software available: 

• Order Management Software: Manages and tracks catering orders in real-time, enabling efficient coordination from kitchen to delivery. 
• Delivery Tracking Software: Monitors food deliveries across designated delivery zones, ensuring that catering orders reach customers on time. 
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): A CRM allows your catering company to store and access customer data, preferences, and past order history, making it easier to build effective campaigns based on modern day customers’ expectations. 

8 Major Considerations in Choosing Catering Software 

When evaluating catering software options as a restaurant owner or manager, you should prioritize these eight factors: 

1. Business Size and Scope: Choose software that fits the size and scope of your catering services. A small café offering occasional catering services will have different needs from a large-scale restaurant that serves corporate catering clients. 
2. Integration Capabilities: Ensure the software integrates smoothly with existing systems, such as point of sale (POS), accounting, and online ordering platforms. This makes it easier to manage catering orders without disruption. 
3. Feature-Rich Platforms: The ideal catering platform should be feature-rich, allowing your restaurant staff to manage everything from catering menus to event scheduling. This is especially important if your restaurant specializes in corporate catering, where customized menu options and seamless communication with clients are critical for success. 
4. User Experience: Look for software that’s intuitive and easy to navigate. Your software should come with top-tier customer support, preferably through multiple channels. 
5. Specialized Needs: Choose catering platforms that address your specific needs. For example, if minimizing waste is a priority, certain catering platforms offer integrated inventory management systems that enable real-time tracking of stock levels and help reduce excess inventory. 
6. Customer Interaction: The best catering software will include features that facilitate direct interaction with catering customers. From allowing online ordering to providing live order updates, these tools improve client satisfaction and streamline communication.  
7. Catering Technology: Using software that leverages technology can give your catering business a competitive edge. For example, AI-driven analytics can provide insights into customer behavior, forecast demand, and help you tailor your catering menus to align with recent trends.  
8. Security Features: Look for solutions with security measures that protect sensitive information, including customer details and transaction data. This is especially important for catering companies handling corporate catering events, where data privacy is crucial.

2 Financial Considerations to Keep in Mind 

When investing in catering software, it’s important to select a solution that supports your growth without overextending your resources. Here are two key financial factors to keep in mind: 

1. Cost Analysis: Factor in both upfront and recurring restaurants costs and evaluate the total expenses in relation to the benefits the software offers. Tally up subscription fees, maintenance costs, and any additional service fees against the software’s potential to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and increase customer satisfaction. 
2. Budget Planning: Look for software with scalable pricing models, which allow you to adjust costs based on growth. These flexible price plans let you add features or capacity without a complete system upgrade. 

2 Strategies for Implementation and Training 

Implementing new catering software requires a thoughtful approach to ensure a smooth transition and effective use. Here are two tips on deployment and training:  

1. Deployment Strategies: Effective deployment requires careful planning of the timeline, staff training, and smooth data migration. Start with a test rollout, where only a few employees use the new catering platform, and gradually transition the entire team. This allows the team to become familiar with the system and identify any issues early on. 
2. Training Staff: Organize comprehensive training sessions to ensure all team members are proficient in using the new system. Provide additional resources, such as documentation and video tutorials, to support ongoing learning and help your staff easily reference information as needed. 

2 Important Aspects of Evaluating Success 

To assess the impact of your catering software, look at both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Here’s a closer look at these two aspects: 

1. Performance Metrics: Setting performance metrics allows you to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the new catering software. These metrics may include Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT), Net Promoter Score (NPS), Order Accuracy Percentage (OAP), and Average Order Fulfillment Time (AOFT). 
2. Collecting Feedback: Collect feedback from both staff and customers to qualitatively gauge its effectiveness. Regularly review the feedback to identify opportunities for growth and improvement. 

Wrapping Up 

Selecting the right catering software profoundly impacts your catering business, allowing you to deliver exceptional service, streamline operations, and win over your customers long-term. 

With a clear understanding of your needs, budget, and key functionalities, you can choose a catering platform that supports your business goals. Whether you have a catering business you’re ready to expand or are prepared to start one, now is the time to evaluate your tech stack and consider how a catering software upgrade improves your existing operations and drives growth.   

Getting online is crucial to any restaurant business—especially those offering catering services. To learn more, check out our Guide on How to Maximize Online Ordering. 

Need restaurant catering software that you can count on? Book a demo to see how our catering platform grows your bottom line.