As demand for online ordering grows among restaurant consumers, so has the need for independent restaurants to find solutions that let customers browse their menus, select options and pay for their carryout or delivery orders online. There are several restaurant ordering systems available that essentially let you input your menu information to create a simple ordering platform you can include on your own website or mobile app. Here are some of the top restaurant ordering system options to consider.
Restaurant Ordering System Options
MenuDrive
This option is best for the restaurants that want to create a branded ordering experience on their website. To use it, you send your menu, photos and other information directly to MenuDrive and they’ll build an interactive online menu for you. You can choose from a few different payment platforms and connect it to your POS system or email to keep up with the orders. The annual plan starts at $90 per month.
Toast POS
Toast offers a popular point of sale system for restaurants that also includes an online ordering system. This option is most suited to the restaurants that already use Toast POS. The whole system is meant to work together to help restaurants manage all of their operations in one system, to even include online order reports and delivery systems. Pricing starts at $140 per month.
ChowNow
This online ordering system and app is made to work using every format your customers are likely to use. You can set it up so people can place orders on your website, Facebook page and mobile app. So if your restaurant’s customers are especially likely to use their mobile devices or social media to place orders, ChowNow could be an option to consider. The annual plan starts at $119 per month, plus credit card processing fees.
Upserve
Upserve is a full service restaurant management system that also includes options for bars, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries and more. The company’s online ordering system is made to work with its POS system, payments service and mobile app. For small restaurants, pricing starts at $99 per month.
Square Point of Sale
Square’s restaurant POS solution offers an in-person and restaurant ordering system all in one. So basically, all the orders come into the same place so that you can manage them concurrently. This can be a positive feature for restaurants that do a good mix of carryout and dine-in business. However, the company charges a transaction fee rather than a larger monthly fee, so it may not be as cost effective for restaurants that make a fair amount in monthly sales.
Restolabs
Restolabs offers an online ordering system for restaurants that’s packed with a lot of potentially useful features, including Facebook ordering, multilingual support and real-time analytics. It’s a fairly basic interface that allows you to enter your menu and then copy and paste a widget right into your website. The basic package starts at $45 per month.
NetWaiter
NetWaiter is an online restaurant marketing platform that includes embedded online ordering. You can use it to create your own custom mobile app as well as an ordering widget for your website. The monthly plan that includes online ordering starts at $100 per month.
CAKE Point of Sale
From Sysco, CAKE is a full-service POS and management system that includes online ordering. The cloud based system allows you to accept orders online and manage them alongside in-person orders on the same platform. It includes a transaction fee, so it can be a good option for small restaurants just getting started. But the costs will grow the more money you make.
iMenu360
iMenu360 is an online ordering platform that lets you create a custom interactive menu to include on your own website. It’s also made to integrate with various POS systems. The fees include a one-time setup fee of $299 plus $39.99 per month and a small percentage of monthly sales not to exceed $150.
GloriaFood
GloriaFood is a free online ordering platform that you can use to take orders on your website or Facebook page. The service also includes mobile ordering and a table reservation widget. Advanced features like credit card payments are available with premium paid plans as well.
Photo via Shutterstock
Aira Bongco
It is nice that there is something like this that customers can use to order from restaurants no matter where they are.
Tracy Smith
I have been using MenuDrive for over a year and it have been nothing but a headache from day 1. I would not recommend it, it is *very* limited. I am currently looking for a new service at this time.
Tracy – Are you on Future POS by any chance? Take a look at TakeOut7 http://www.takeout7.com
Tracy, check out Orderart.com.au. It’s the industry awarded and fully managed solution for similar subscription cost.
Timothy
Dear Tracy.
We are new comer to this market, but we are trying our best to provide the product which will satisfy both customers and restauratns. Currently our product at the public beta stage (we are gathering feedbacks and improving our system). Feel free to share your opinion about our system. Its called SharingPlatter.com
Bob P.
We offer online menu services and at a great price. We have the platform set for majority of the food shops and also offer the options for marketing. Currently we offer 30 day trial period for food shops who are looking for the online menu exposure. Check us out at LocalMenu.us
We at RestroApp offer a complete food ordering and delivery system.
Yumzy food delivery app strives to make its customers satisfied by giving them the best offers, without making them compromise on the quality of food.
Yumzy is the India’s Best Online Food Ordering & Delivery App that has a good online platform to deliver the best food with all safety measures ensured.
This is a good list of online ordering solutions out there. Many of these solutions lack something or the other. Here’s a list of must-have features that every food business needs.
Must-have Features
Online ordering on website
Facebook and Social Media pages linked to your website
Able to collect payments for orders
Customers are able to add tips
Loyalty program for returning customers
Order scheduling feature when the store is closed
Be able to publish discount coupons
Allow your customers to book a table
Automated Marketing to customers
Restaurant mobile apps
Access to the customer database
Payment processor of choice for business
Affordable for the business
Menu2Order is the best option that checks all the right boxes for food businesses. Create an impression for your brand with a simple and easy ordering experience on the website and mobile apps. They also offer table ordering and QR code for the customers to access the menu online and make it completely contactless experience. You will be asked to send your menu, photos, and other information directly to Menu2order and they’ll build an interactive online menu for you. You can choose from a few different payment options, and if you are unsure about which option to go for you can start with a starter package with no commitments.
It is useful for customers and restaurant owners. Shopurfood also caters to this particular segment and provides an efficient solution to meet the need of and online ordering system.
Folks around the globe moving online because they have found its more convenient and feasible solution to access products and service. We all are aware of the fact how the food delivery market has been exploding for the last couple of years. Due to this, restaurant entrepreneurs are also venturing into the online ordering system that allows them to accept and manage orders online, meet customer’s rising demand and upscale their business operations.
If anyone planning to automate their business with modern solutions, then it is the high time to get started and achieve desired outcomes for your business.