Restaurant Automation: 24 Interesting Tools
On Habré, the topic of restaurant business automation is not covered very actively. Meanwhile, this is a rather interesting market with a large number of players who develop and sell a wide variety of products.
In today's article you will find 24 tools for automating the restaurant business. In preparing the review, I also tried to evaluate the quality of work of company support services and the speed of response to requests from potential customers, information about this is also presented in the article.
Names of systems clickable
R-keeper
The oldest player in the restaurant automation market. The first version of the R-Keeper program was created back in 1992, at the moment the system is installed in 37 thousand restaurants in different countries of the world.
The system includes various modules (front office for direct work in the restaurant and back office for process and cost control) and applications. Despite its popularity, some users complain about a rather complex and unintuitive interface.
As for the support service, the possibility of support via chat (which would be convenient) is not provided, no one answered several phone calls.
Installation type : the system is installed locally.
License cost : from 77,000 to 180,000 rubles.
iiko
The project, created by ABBYY co-founder David Yan, ranks second in popularity in Russia. The system is characterized by the presence of a large number of different modules that connect to a special server and work through it. There is the functionality of the front and back office.
The large number of modules that are connected for a fee is quite difficult to administer, which leads to an increased likelihood of failures.
There is no support via chat, 24/7 telephone communication is quite operational, but it is connected to operators who are not aware of all the technical subtleties of the system.
Installation Type : Local
Cost: the basic functionality of the program costs 23,990 rubles per server, 19990 for iikoFront (automation of the cash station) and 11990 for iikoOffice (automation of warehouse management)
Jowi
A hybrid automation service that combines cloud and local approaches - the Jowi module is installed in a restaurant, and then the data is synchronized to remote servers. This allows you to maintain the system’s performance even when the Internet crashes.
The system is also modular - there are applications for room managers, waiters who synchronize data with each other (the waiter accepted the order, the cook saw which dish to cook, the manager receives information about the cooking time, etc.)
According to the statistics of the service founder, 3,500 institutions use the program in the CIS countries. A fairly flexible system, for example, it allows you to change various data even retroactively - in the "real world" such a need should arise quite often.
Communication is possible in various ways - I tried to contact several times, received an answer pretty quickly.
Installation Type : Local + SaaS
Cost : $ 150 per month
Poster
Cloud-based automation system running on iPad and Android tablets. The workplace of the cashier or waiter works on the tablet, checks are printed on the thermal printer Epson TM-T20.
The site has an excellent FAQ on working with the product, there is chat support, but when I tried to use it, not a single consultant was online. Maybe some kind of glitch.
Installation Type : Local + SaaS
Cost : $ 24- $ 79 per month
Quick resto
A cloud-based automation system for the restaurant business, which allows you to manage the menu, seating of guests, accept payments and set up printers for printing receipts. The history of the project is described in his blog on Habré.
Of the small flaws (although this is rather hypothetical) - there is no support for Windows, only iOS and Android. To connect peripheral devices you need to purchase a QR Box . In the app menu, dishes come with pictures - beautifully, but in the course of work can distract waiters.
Support works 24/7, responds efficiently and quickly.
Installation Type : Saas + Mobile
Cost : from 2990 rub. / month (1 terminal)
ASTOR
A company engaged in the automation of retail, logistics and food industries in Russia and the CIS. According to the site, a solution for restaurants is used by 12,000 customers.
It is positioned as a system for small and medium-sized restaurants, there are back and front office modules, there are applications for cashiers, room managers, managers, storekeepers, waiters and so on.
There is no instant messaging service, but they do not give any answers about the system’s operation by telephone, offering to familiarize themselves with the presentation.
Installation Type : Local
Cost : From $ 3100
GBS.Market
A system for automating shops and cafes is a fairly simple program for small establishments with an appropriate modest set of functions. Reporting from terminals can be sent to mail.
Contact with someone from the contacts on the site failed.
Installation type : local + SaaS
Cost : 119 rubles / month for 1 PC, 3475 rubles. unlimited tariff
Microinvest
Bulgarian company operating in the CIS. For mobile applications and additional functions, payment is taken separately, there is a module for cooks (on Android). It’s quite difficult to configure, and the interface (like, in general, the site itself) cannot be called beautiful and convenient - the menu is not very convenient with an emphasis on pictures of dishes, when ordering an invoice, the cost of all dishes is not displayed.
Skype and phone support - they do not answer every time, but it is quite tolerable. There is no representative office in Russia, so it is not possible to leave a specialist.
Installation Type : SaaS + Mobile
Cost : 8 499 rubles
iSOK POS STORE
POS-system, originally created for shops, but can be used in a small restaurant or cafe.
It can work both in single mode (1 device - only iPad), and in dual mode, when one mobile device is the main, and the second - the client. Synchronization via the Internet, that is, there is no SaaS model.
The application itself is free, but you will have to pay for some necessary functions, such as setting up a printer and cash desk. Not the most flexible system - for example, there is no possibility of data input "retroactively". The data storage period on trading devices is from 2 to 40 days.
No communication options were found with the developers, but the site has a good FAQ.
Installation Type : Mobile
Cost: free with payment for additional functions
Tavern
A service tailored to work with mobile devices on iOS and Android. There is an application for waiters and an electronic menu with which you can place orders without waiters. It is frustrating that each module costs separate money. According to various estimates, from 2000 to 3000 establishments use the system.
It is impossible to communicate with support in the chat, the client manager answers the phone, who does not know the technical details of the implementation and installation.
Installation type : local + Saas + Mobile
Cost : front office for 13,000 rubles, back office for 11,500 rubles, etc.
Intellect Style
A simple, locally installed program for automating hotels and small establishments. The interface of the waiter module is clearly overloaded - for example, there are a lot of functions that can be activated when working with the account, which can distract the waiter.
Of the pluses - there is a support chat, the minus of which is that the operator could respond and deploy.
Installation type : local
Cost : from 14900 rub.
Guscom.POS
Cross-platform automation complex that includes several modules - among them is a fiscal printer connection module, an application for waiters and an administration service.
There is an instant messaging service in which no one answered me (however, as well as by phone.)
Installation type : local
Cost : on request
"Magic"
Automation system of cash register and management in catering places and entertainment centers. The local module works with the Microsoft SQL Server database, integration with 1C Accounting is possible. There are quite advanced features like video recording of the moment of order editing.
More suitable for restaurants combined with billiards, bowling and other entertainment. According to the site, the system is used by more than 500 clients.
Basic support only by email, in order to know the phone - you need to be a registered and verified user.
Installation type : local
Cost : standard set with equipment for 71900 rubles.
Pos sector
The site immediately writes that there are already more than 4,500 thousand users of the system. Local module with a simple and intuitive interface - it creates dishes, departments, warehouses and similar entities. There is also a browser application for waiters.
The operator answered all the questions in detail, so everything is fine with the support.
Installation type : local
Cost : basic license $ 590 (for 1 computer)
Z-Cash Restaurant Suite
A free system for automating the restaurant business with open source code - plus such a solution in economy, the cons are also understandable (one of them is the complete lack of support).
Installation Type : Local
Cost : Free
PCT: Restaurateur
This system is used by more than 2000 institutions. There is a front and back office (plus an integration module with 1C), an application for the waiter. One month of free maintenance is provided.
Technical support only by mail.
Installation type : local
Cost : from 10,000 to 50,000 rubles.
Gedemin and POSitive
The local module for keeping records " Gedymin " is a universal back-office, to which different programs for the front-office can be connected. SQL database, open source.
For several days, it was not possible to get in touch with anyone.
Cost : a large figure in Belarusian rubles.
As a front office, you can use the local development of the same company called POSitive .
Cost : prices in Belarusian rubles
System "Expert"
The turnkey complete solution includes a sales area module, managerial part, report service, costing and storage modules. It was not possible to wait for the operator’s response immediately, but they answer in detail and on the merits.
Installation Type : Local
Cost : 219,000 rubles
Bit Appetite
The company provides institutions with a range of services for the selection of software for automation (including its own production), its implementation (along with equipment) and support. The number of clients is more than 2500 establishments in Russia and the CIS (including well-known networks like Yakitoriya and Coffee House).
Own developments based on 1C for embedded business processes are quite noticeably behind competing and more modern solutions. Telephone technical support, more complex costing questions - only by mail.
Installation type : local
Cost : complex restaurant automation from 250000
Simple dining room
A program that can be configured for a specific type of institution. It allows you to control the receipt of products, keep track of dishes, track stock balances and so on.
Contrary to the name, the installation and operation with it is not so easy. Best of all, the degree of “simplicity” of interaction is illustrated by the support work scheme: for a user’s problem to be considered, he needs to take a video of the problem, take a screenshot and make a backup copy of the database.
Installation type : local
Cost : 3000 rub.
Bitrest
The program allows you to log all the actions of the staff of the institution, access to reports can be obtained via the Internet, the development company also trains staff. Support is only by telephone and not particularly operational.
Installation type : local
Cost : 45000 rubles
For rest
A convenient program that allows you to create orders, accept payments, draw up the seating layout, provide customers with discounts and view reports.
There are some disadvantages of the interface (for example, the price of a dish is not displayed in the invoice), but not critical.
Phone support, many regional offices. Speed at altitude.
Installation type : local
Cost : 21000 rub.
Helpmix
The system allows waiters to work through a stationary or mobile touchscreen tablet or a regular computer. Warehouse balances are recorded, products are written off in real time, working hours are recorded, time and penalties are recorded. Management can view reports remotely. Internet is not required for work.
Judging by the data on the site, at the moment, more than 50 institutions are clients of the Ukrainian project.
Installation Type : Local
Cost : Basic Kit ~ $ 530
Conclusion
In this review, we examined a significant number of various tools and services, but, of course, there are much more of them, and many projects did not fall into the article. Share in the comments links to interesting automation tools, and maybe in the future there will be material for another article.
Thanks for attention!
