Whether for business or personal events, the right food, atmosphere, and service can make an event memorable for guests and successful for restaurants. A seamless catering experience is a critical component of any event, no matter the size. If your restaurant offers a catering option on your menu, or your business solely specializes in catering events, there are plenty of ways to use technology to improve your operations.
Our experts have identified some of the best options for you to consider.
Jump to:
Best for Large-Scale Catering Needs
Best for Event Services
Best Tech for SMBs
Best Enterprise Software
FoodStorm
Best for Large-Scale Catering Needs
Who it's best for
Large-scale catering operations, including grocery stores, supermarket chains, bakeries, delis, QSR restaurants, hospitals, and universities
Things to consider
It’s an expensive option, but it’s worth it if you have the budget. It’s more focused on catering than events.
Where it excels
The FoodStorm team provides training as part of their system implementation, as well as attentive ongoing support.
Feature overview
Never miss a sale with omni-channel ordering capabilities all in one central location
Streamline your business with extensive forecasting and customer communication tools that take you from production to delivery
Increase customer retention and grow sales with email marketing tools, abandoned cart management, and real-time customer feedback
Access live information about upcoming orders and print order dockets in real time with the Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Slash hours of work and improve accuracy with departmental work orders, production logs, delivery reports, and automatic report schedules
Manage payments with PCI compliant online payments, deferred payment capability, and custom invoicing
Onboarding and support
FoodStorm currently offers email support at support@foodstorm.com.
Pricing
FoodStorm is available as a monthly subscription starting at $500. Entry level and enterprise pricing are available upon request. Book a demo to learn more.
Total Party Planner
Best for Event Services
Total Party Planner eliminates manual documents and spreadsheets with an easy to use web-based catering solution. Reduce errors, create and send proposals faster, streamline internal communications, and manage costs all from one simple software platform.
Who it’s best for
Small to mid-market businesses in the event services and hospitality sector
Things to consider
UX and user interface design are a little clunky. Not the most affordable solution on the market. Mobile app is known to be slow in receiving updates
Where it excels
Total Party Planner encompasses the entire event lifecycle, which helps caterers and event managers track their gigs from the kitchen through to their accounts. Standout features include custom-branded reports, client portal access, electronic signatures, and payment processing.
Feature overview
Create professional catering proposals within minutes by choosing from a variety of templates to make your brand stand out from the crowd
Automate back of house kitchen and operations reports with prints created for you
Eliminate all of the manual calculations for quantities, recipes, and profit analysis
Access your events anytime and anywhere from an online dashboard
Maximize profitability with accurate food costing
View past emails and store notes about conversations with a built-in CRM
Onboarding and support
Total Party Planner offers email support at support@totalpartyplanner.com, as well as a self-service online portal.
Pricing
Choose from three available plans. Pay options are month-to-month or annual (which will save you 10%):
|
Tier |
Who it’s best for |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Nibble |
Caterers who want to build custom events and manage their event calendar from one centralized location. TPP, their payment processing system is included |
$99/month for one user, additional $25 per user |
|
Feast |
Caterers who are looking for more advanced event reporting features and additional operations features, including menu quick costing and banquet room management |
$199/month for two users, additional $25 per user |
|
Delicacy |
Caterers who are looking to scale their business with sales pipelines and sales team management tools, along with a customized client portal |
$399/month for three users, additional $25 per user |
Caterease
Who it’s best for
Smaller companies with equipment that have events at various locations
Things to consider
The user interface is a bit cluttered, as many windows can be opened (and adjusted) at one time, and designing queries can be tedious and time consuming.
Where it excels
This platform is great at helping identify conflicts with equipment, staff, and venues without having to go in and check it manually.
Feature overview
Avoid costly mistakes with automatic conflict checks
Keep data-entry consistent and easy with customizable wizards and other tools
Engage in detailed correspondence with customizable prints and email templates
Access a free mobile app for an unlimited amount of users to review event details, consult a flexible dashboard, or view a shared calendar
Onboarding and support
Caterease currently offers phone support, as well as email support at help@caterease.com.
Pricing
There are three tiers of plans to consider, and you can save 20% with annual billing. There is a one-time setup fee ($200 per user) and an additional user fee ($28/month).
|
Tier |
Who it’s best for |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Express |
Perfect for companies just getting started with automation. Book events in moments, design custom event prints and screen displays, track important information, and more |
$68/month |
|
Standard |
Ideal for banquet facilities and caterers with advanced menu management needs. Schedule staff for events, create scalable recipes and equipment packing lists, generate batch prints, and more |
$100/month |
|
Professional |
Perfect for large event venues and other busy operations. Batch email to multiple customers, run advanced queries to track information, establish enhanced security settings, and more |
$132/month |
Flex Catering
Best Enterprise Software
Flex Catering software connects you to customers, streamlines operations, and helps you stay on top of production.
Who it’s best for
Enterprise organizations who are looking to automate their processes
Things to consider
Customers have noted that they’ve had to rework some internal processes to ensure system works, as it’s not a “plug and play” kind of software.
Where it excels
The e-commerce ordering processes remove any room for error.
Feature overview
Improve customer user experience with a branded food interface, advanced online ordering, and food-specific product features
Streamline operations with corporate catering tools and an event management module
Optimize online ordering capabilities with multi-location routing, cut-off times and closures, and delivery/pickup automations
Lead your kitchen/production efficiently with 40+ real time printable reports, including production forecasting and prep sheets
Manage payments with their native online payment solution
Control your wholesale orders with their native fulfillment solution
View production reports, performance analytics, and manage automation flows across your business
Onboarding and support
Each customer has an ongoing support allowance, which can be increased to suit your needs. Within the online customer portal, you can access tutorials and videos on how to use all modules and features of the Flex software.
Note: Extra training incurs an additional charge, and the training is conducted virtually via screen share.
Pricing
There are different product options to choose from, but all pricing is available upon request.
|
Tier |
Who it’s best for |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Ballroom |
Companies in need of completed event and venue management, CRM, automations, menu management, proposal with e-sign, kitchen production & more |
Upon Request |
|
Pantry |
Companies looking for advanced online ordering, CRM, menu management, automations, kitchen production, and more for corporate catering, groceries stores, meal prep, and food businesses |
Upon Request |
|
Off-Premise |
Companies who want all of the above with the add on of food costing, multi-location, and order routing capabilities |
Upon Request |
|
Enterprise |
Large operations and chains in need of a custom solution with a plan tailored to specific requirements |
Upon Request |
We’ve developed a process to find the best POS systems for restaurants to keep things running smoothly. Here’s how we did it.
We conducted surveys and gathered feedback from operators and employees across different service models and segments with experience using these systems on a day-to-day basis.
We also gained insights from our staff of experts who have years of experience in the industry and with restaurant technology.
All of this was supplemented with our own research and participation in product overviews and training sessions with vendors on their products and services.
