Fierce competition amongst local businesses in the restaurant industry means that you don’t have an option to stay ahead of the game, it’s a necessity. One of the keys to modernizing your restaurant business is through automating processes, by doing so you’ll free your and your teams’ time up so that you can focus more on the customer experience.
As we move into the digital age, restaurant automation is proving to be a massive player in hospitality operations management. With labor shortages, supply chain reliability, and costs rising, restaurants are finding new ways to deal with these issues. 71% of food companies believe that digital transformation is crucial to organizational agility, outranking short decision and learning cycles (50%), empowered teams (27%), and entrepreneurial culture (20%)
Finding ways to automate different aspects within the restaurant will help out with these sticking points and make things less complicated, cutting down on waste and errors.
Automation Restaurant tools can simplify complex processes and streamline repetitive tasks in your restaurant to achieve an efficient and more focused operation. Instead of spending time and money on mundane and repetitive tasks, adapting restaurant automation technologies gives you time to focus on the aspects of your restaurant that rely on human connection and growing your business.
If you are an entrepreneur starting in the industry, a business owner trying to revamp your offerings –a restaurateur in crisis’ or a manager in a corporation calling for greater efficiencies in both throughput or the retention of your brand equity, the integrated automation restaurant tool is typically going to help you achieve your objectives.
6 Best Automated Restaurant Tools
Let’s dive into what we have in store for you - i.e. the best automated restaurant tools to help you streamline business operations. Read on…
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1. Xenia-The Overall Best Automation Restaurant Automation Tool
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As a top automated restaurant tool, Xenia emphasizes back-of-house (BOH) operations.
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology provides managers with an all-in-one solution to improve their daily activities to make more money. Using simple interfaces and complex algorithms, Xenia simplifies and automates daily management tasks, from compliance to training and food safety protocols, and makes them manageable for BOH teams.
Rather than merely organizing your checklist, Xenia employs A.I. solutions to automate and digitize core processes that are critical to maintaining operational excellence.
From managing food safety inspections to ensuring safety, day-to-day operations, and front-ended customer servicing activities, Xenia consolidates numerous critical functions into one easily usable platform.
The end result?
You’re looking at a fully flexible end-to-end restaurant operations management platform that effectively gauges all sorts of ongoing activities for managers to overlook and monitor.
The best part? These operations and extensive workflows can be easily planned, deployed and monitored through a centralized dashboard in Xenia, so you don't have to switch tabs or hop between third-party app integrations over and over again.
Moreover, Xenia also has an A.I.-driven S.O.P Generator tool that makes a huge impact on how restaurant teams can create and standardize their operations throughout various locations. With one simple button push, Xenia can create a custom S.O.P tailored to any business need making operations consistent company-wide.
Key Features
- Temperature Monitoring:: Use a mobile device to automatically check fridge and freezer temperatures at specified intervals and receive warnings when something goes wrong to keep food safe.
- Operational Templates: Create custom restaurant inspection forms, assign scores for employee hygiene and food safety, utilize location stamps for inspections, and scan QR codes to access checklists easily.
- Tasks and Work Orders: Assign and manage restaurant tasks using tools that help you plan and track activities, ensuring they are completed on time and correctly.
- Chats: Improve communication via direct messaging, group chats, and inspection-related remarks, allowing team members to discuss concerns promptly and freely.
- Reporting: Get complete data and statistics on restaurant inspections, manage who has access to different areas of the program for numerous locations, and gain valuable insights to enhance how things function.
- Corrective actions: Address issues identified during inspections by developing plans based on the findings, employing unique rules to tailor actions, and keeping track of what is being done to ensure that it is completed on time and correctly.
Pricing
- Free Forever: Free trial for up to 5 people, with access to all basic features.
- Starter: $99 per month for 15 users with access to all the core features.
- Premium: $199 per month for 15 people, including unrestricted access to all the key features and advanced funtionalities.
- Multi-Location Packages: Looking for custom plans for your multi-location business setup? Feel free to get in touch with our sales team for a quote.
- Custom: Do you require anything specifically customized to your organization?
Available for up to 5 users
Premium for $99/month for the first 20 users (with free trial period)
Available on iOS, Android and Web
2. MarketMan
Keeping track of what inventory you have can sometimes be a nightmare especially when it comes to s such as meats, dairy, produce, and fish.
Our next automated restaurant tool, MarketMan is an inventory management system that tracks your inventory in real-time which gives you a live look into your current inventory levels and also how much product you have gone through already.
An essential and noteworthy feature of MarketMan is that uses alerts to help you know when supplies are running low so that you never have outdated ingredients. With Marketman, a business will run smoothly because you will not have customers waiting for ingredients.
In addition, MarketMan also makes updating your inventory quantities a breeze when your delivery invoices arrive. Just snap a photo or upload the invoice and MarketMan will automatically update the quantities for you, saving hours each week and the frequent mistakes that occur when doing this manually.
Key Features
- MarketMan gives real-time data on stock levels and ingredient consumption to ensure precise inventory management.
- The system warns users when supplies run short, preventing stockouts and interruptions to restaurant operations.
- Users can simply construct purchase orders within the system, allowing for efficient ordering of required supplies.
- MarketMan makes inventory changes easier by automatically adjusting amounts when delivery invoices are submitted or recorded.
- The tool determines the actual cost of each menu item or dish, assisting restaurants in maintaining profitability.
Pricing
- Operator -$239
- Professional -$299
- Ultimate -$429
3. Restaurant365
Restaurant365 is an automated restaurant tool for managers who need to streamline their financial, operational, and reporting information all in one solution but where it separates itself is through its Analytics package.
Analytics empowers a restaurant's team by providing meaningful insights to make informed decisions and optimize performance.
Another key strength of the tool is its strong sales analysis.
Through the integration of sales information with inventory management, this program easily determines how sales are contributing to your bottom line and how each product you are selling is performing against each other, ultimately leaving you at the mercy of the consumer. This will make it easier for you to quickly know if your sales are growing as they should, and how your sales staff is performing against the budget.
Key Features
- Comprehensive inventory management features enable effective tracking and monitoring of stock levels.
- Restaurant365's payroll management function streamlines payroll processing for restaurant employees, resulting in accurate and timely payouts.
- A point of sale (POS) system enables smooth transactions and quick order processing, enhancing the overall consumer experience.
- Restaurant365's order management tool automates the whole ordering process, from placing orders with suppliers to receiving deliveries and managing inventory.
- Built-in accounting tools enable advanced financial management skills such as budgeting, financial reporting, and spending monitoring.
Pricing
- Contact Vendor
4. Flyby
Restaurants with drive-thru service are very concerned about three things; increasing the speed at which the transactions are made, accuracy leading to customer service satisfaction, and the amount of customer service satisfaction.
The biggest advantage that sets Flyby automation restaurant tool aside from its competitors is the ability to greatly reduce the amount of time that a drive-thru customer must wait in the drive-thru line at restaurants, resulting in a fast and seamless experience.
Additionally, FlyBuy enables managers to approach waiting food court customers with tablet point-of-sale devices that take orders immediately for further enhanced service. By actively taking orders, managers can speed up what would normally be a very time-consuming process. This allows for customers to feel at home while having a personalized experience with staff.
Key Features
- Mobile location technology precisely identifies incoming customers and their position in the drive-thru queue, lowering wait times significantly.
- The tablet-based ordering system allows waiters to approach consumers waiting in line, speeding up the ordering process and increasing customer interaction.
- The advanced customer identification technology rapidly recognizes consumers and enables for the smooth redemption of loyalty points at checkout, promoting customer loyalty and satisfaction.
- Real-time insights and analytics give essential data for managing drive-thru operations, allowing restaurant owners and managers to make more informed decisions and increase productivity.
- The seamless connection with loyalty programs simplifies award redemption processes, improving the entire customer experience and increasing repeat business.
Pricing
- Contact Vendor
5. LightSpeed
No industry knows how important efficiency and attention to detail are than the restaurant industry.
This is where Lightspeed can help you. Lightspeed is another top-notch automation restaurant tool, that gives you exceptional payment processing service.
Lightspeed's cloud-based POS system is known for its adaptability across a host of services. Whether you own a bustling cafe, high-end restaurant, or a trendy cocktail bar, Lightspeed POS is capable of molding itself to the individual needs of your establishment to help improve operational pace and customer satisfaction.
With Lightspeed POS, restaurant owners and managers have incredibly powerful functionality at their fingertips to set menus, product options, modifiers, refunds, coursing, and most importantly stock management to exactly how they want it done to ensure their operation runs efficiently and they can deliver to their very specific type of business they run.
Key Features
- Transactions are processed quickly using QR codes, guaranteeing clients receive swift and convenient payment processing.
- Built-in tipping functionality allows customers to express their gratitude for good service.
- Capacity to manage huge transaction volumes without monthly restrictions, providing continuous service even during peak hours.
- Extensive reporting and analytics capabilities, delivering actionable insights to help businesses develop and profit.
- Lightspeed's dedicated team of professionals provides 24/7 support, assuring rapid help and peace of mind for restaurant owners and managers.
Pricing
- Starter -$69
- Essential -$189
- Premium -$399
- Enterprise -Contact vendor
6. Zonal
A customer’s biggest pet peeve when going out to eat is waiting too long for food or getting the wrong meal.
To turn these problems around and have a happy customer, kitchen operations have to be automated, and that is where our next on-list automation restaurant tool, Zonal’s KitchenIQ management system can help managers.
KitchenIQ is only available to Zonal EPoS customers which allows it to be fully integrated into their electronic point-of-sale system, making it completely seamless during operation. Once it has been integrated, KitchenIQ becomes a suite of tools that have been developed to truly optimize kitchen workflows to drive efficiency throughout.
KitchenIQ uses its real-time order visibility to instantly provide data to kitchen staff, which allows for no question when working with the front of the house. This allows all the new orders to come second to the customer’s original order, it helps to minimize errors in delayed orders, and it makes the front-of-house and back-of-house more efficient.
Key Features
- The user-friendly interface enables for intuitive use.
- In the kitchen, computerized order screens offer real-time visibility.
- Improving functionality through seamless interaction with Zonal EPoS.
- Front-of-house workers may view order status to improve communication.
- Capability to identify and resolve bottlenecks for increased kitchen performance.
Pricing
- Contact Vendor
What is Restaurant Automation?
Restaurant automation is using technology and software solutions to streamline and automate the various tasks, procedures, and operations at restaurants.
Automating the operations at the Restaurants will help to increase the efficiency, accuracy, and productivity of the restaurant operations using replacing the manual and repetitive work with automated technology.
Restaurants are seeing their businesses shift in many ways from supply chain disruptions to labor challenges.
One of the largest trends in the industry right now is labor shortages and with full-service restaurants now running with 6.2 fewer kitchen employees, than in years past, you can see why automation would be a major game changer when faced with that kind of limited staff.
The industry considers the implementation of technology to be a near necessity, with 87% of industry operators saying that the adoption of new technology helped them to survive through the pandemic.
Benefits of Automation Restaurant Tools
Simplification of Processes and Optimization of Operations: Restaurant automation makes things easier by simplifying and optimizing operations. From order Management to order fulfillment or tracking, inventory tracking, Automated systems make the task very simple which helps the staff to concentrate on doing exceptional service.
Eliminates User Error: Having automation embedded in its system, restaurants can reduce the probability of human error in operations in processes such as orders, payments, and inventories. Through this, the restaurant can minimize user mistakes, thus allowing the restaurant to have a similar level of items and standards in products.
Waste Reduction: The World Wildlife Fund estimates that wasted food in the food service industry, which includes restaurants, accounts for 52% of all food. The automated inventory management system allows restaurants to track their stock with better accuracy and foresee stock needs more effectively. This system allows restaurant owners to predict, based on trends, what their needs will be in the upcoming weeks. They will know what weeks will be busier than others and they know what kind of food will be needed for that specific week of the year.
Reduces Operating Costs: Automation of repetitive tasks and optimal resource usage in restaurants reduces labor expenses and other overhead costs. Automating processes also minimizes wastage of resources, resulting in higher day-to-day efficiency.
Reduced Turn-around Time: With additional automation steps in place, areas such as collecting orders, preparing the food, and taking payment don't require as much time to be completed. This will lead to quicker service to the customers which means better customer satisfaction and higher table turnover rates.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: By automating processes, automating payment systems can eliminate long line waits and reduce order errors with systems that are designed to be user-friendly. These automated systems can assist with providing personalized services and deploying loyalty programs helping to keep your customers satisfied gaining repeat business
AI Back-of-House Systems for Restaurants
Not only can automated restaurant tools help streamline the FOH of your restaurant, but there has been a rise in the amount of AI-powered back-of-house systems that give restaurant owners and managers tools they can use to help streamline their operations and keep the kitchen on course.
Almost all restaurants (96%) now employ automation solutions in their back-of-house operations. AI-powered restaurant management software simplifies these complexities by offering a range of features like templates, checklist/template libraries (e.g., for opening/closing & food safety), standard operating procedures (SOPs), as well as tools for inventory management, labor scheduling, and reporting necessary to keep your team accountable and optimizing workflows.
Inventory Management
The most crucial problem in food service is inventory and supply management for food waste. Restaurant operators can address this with automation restaurant tools integrated into restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems and it will get easy to control wastage. 65% of restaurant owners use computerized inventory management in their restaurants thus they can watch and control supply and they are enable to manage their inventory purchase data through this system and regulate the waste and food costs.
Data-Based Insights
Data analytics capabilities of automation restaurant tools are being used to create valid, data–driven insights in the area of the food industry. Analyzing customers’ habits and market trends will cut off the wasted inventory, and labor costs which in turn improve the competitiveness of a restaurant.
Kitchen Automation
Meal preparation time is reduced and kitchen productivity goes up with AI-driven kitchen automation software. Back-of-house troubles are eased by automated restaurant tools and robotic kitchen assistants, which can prepare food with consistency at the same time as upping the productivity of the kitchen, allowing chefs to focus more on the food at hand.
AI Chatbots
AI-powered chatbots provide instant responses to satisfy client demands promptly, answer questions, process orders, and deliver support 24*7. The instant reply helps in reducing client wait times and creates a hassle-free customer experience across multiple channels. This creates a competitive advantage for organizations.
Work-Order Optimization
Automation restaurant tools have also brought about a change in the way tasks and work order management are being optimized. In the past, this was manually performed by humans leading to issues with tasks and work order management such as meal preparation, cleaning schedules, and inventory management which were being incurred on the time and also errors when executing the tasks. Currently, the automation has made it efficient by having these tasks scheduled and executed in a smart system mode and with no downtime software.
Wrapping It Up
For restaurants to be able to outperform others in such a competitive landscape, restaurants must start to adopt AI-driven solutions such as Xenia and other leading AI tools. With the continuing rapid advancements in technology, using AI is an absolute must for restaurants to be able to achieve sustainable growth and success.
The majority of restaurants (76%) currently use automation in three or more areas of business, and they believe that some positions are more automatable than others.
Restaurants could embrace AI to streamline operations, improve customer experiences, and drive efficiency, putting them at the forefront of innovation and better positioned to compete in a changing market landscape.
AI could boost the restaurant sector, and businesses that apply it can quickly become market leaders for an extended period.
Streamline Food Safety, Maintenance and Daily Operations with Xenia
Xenia unifies food and beverage operations with tools to standardize, track and measure work across every team, asset and facility.
Our customers love Xenia's robust use cases including:
Food Safety Management
🌡️ Automatic Temperature Monitoring
Xenia leverages temperature sensors that utilize both Bluetooth and LoRaWAN technology to transmit data reliably to your Xenia account. The monitors work continuously in a range of 40°C to 125°C and an accuracy of +/- 0.4°C. When an temperature deviates from a pre-set acceptable range, management is notified to investigate and resolve.
🔎 Smart Inspection Workflows
Xenia's operations template builder has built in conditional logic into each step. This allows you to trigger actions based on a form response such as creating a corrective action on a failed inspection step, sending a notification to management for out of range meter readings, and much more.
✨ Corrective Actions
Operationalize inspections with fast work order assignment arising from a failed inspection step. All corrective data is stored in the checklist submission for auditing and accountability.
📋 Compliance Reports
View live dashboard summaries of tasks, employee performance, template submissions and more. Filter, organize and export compliance reports to PDF and Excel formats to simplify compliance management.
Maintenance Management
🛠️ Work Orders
Create work orders with associated team, asset, location, priority, category and due date. View live progress reports on each work order, chat with teams, and review resulting template submission, images and notes to improve operations.
🧰 Preventive Maintenance
Create a preventive maintenance calendar to ensure asset uptime is not compromised. Attach images, templates, videos and notes to every task and assign to a team or individual for completion.
📲 QR Codes
Generate and attach QR codes to equipment and facility locations to enable fast and accurate inspections and data logs.
📁 Equipment Work History
View work history for every asset and sub asset in Xenia. Review performance data and enable corrective actions to improve your operation.
Daily Operations
✔️ Checklists & SOPs
Create checklists, SOPs, Inspections and Data Logs to power accountability, training and staff clarity on every task.
📆 Recurring Tasks
Create recurring schedules for review meetings, inspections, cleanings and more.
💪 Team Accountability
Defeat pencil whipping and disorganized responsibility assessments by standardizing operations with Xenia. Track time, collect photos, send messages and ensure high quality work.
📊 Team Performance Reporting
Use Xenia's analytics dashboards to view staff work reports. Filter by asset, location, category or due date and export the report in PDF or Excel
Streamline End to End Operations With Xenia's Digital Solutions
Xenia unifies BOH and front-ended food and beverage operations with tools to standardize, track and measure work across food business platforms.
Our customers love Xenia's robust use cases including:
🌡️ Automatic Temperature Monitoring
Xenia leverages temperature sensors that utilize both Bluetooth and LoRaWAN technology to transmit data reliably to your Xenia account.
The monitors work continuously in a range of 40°C to 125°C and an accuracy of +/- 0.4°C. When an temperature deviates from a pre-set acceptable range, management is notified to investigate and resolve.
✔️ Restaurant Checklists & SOPs
Create checklists, SOPs, Inspections and Data Logs to power accountability, training and staff clarity on every task.
🔎 Smart Inspection Workflows
Xenia's operations template builder has built in conditional logic into each step.
Doing so allows you to trigger actions based on a form response such as creating a corrective action on a failed inspection step, sending a notification to management for out of range meter readings, and much more.
🛠️ Work Orders
Create work orders with associated team, asset, location, priority, category and due date. View live progress reports on each work order, chat with teams, and review resulting template submission, images and notes to improve operations.
📋 Compliance Reports
View live dashboard summaries of tasks, employee performance, template submissions and more. Filter, organize and export compliance reports to PDF and Excel formats to simplify compliance management.
📊 Team Performance Reporting
Use Xenia's analytics dashboards to view staff work reports. Filter by asset, location, category or due date and export the report in PDF or Excel
📆 Recurring Tasks
Create recurring schedules for review meetings, inspections, cleanings and more.
💪 Team Accountability
Defeat pencil whipping and disorganized responsibility assessments by standardizing operations with Xenia. Track time, collect photos, send messages and ensure high quality work.
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