- Free Version: Available for teams of up to 10
- Pricing: Premium plan $24/seat/month (with free 30-day trial period)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use SafetyCulture?
SafetyCulture works great for restaurant analytics as the platform allows you to gather and present data accurately and effectively. Through the platform, you can dive into sales data and staffing information, and even collect data on menus to understand what items are selling and what aren’t. With SafetyCulture, restaurant managers will have an easier time tracking recipes, analyzing restaurant performance, and enhancing overall operations.
Features:
- Enhance the auditing procedure with standardized digital checklists and gather data sets specific to restaurant operations.
- Manage storage facilities and assets through automated sensors that send alerts whenever environmental conditions don’t meet the set standards.
- Identify restaurant operations improvement opportunities by drilling down on data and insights using the platform’s analytics dashboard.
- Diversify data sources to ensure a holistic oversight of restaurant operations by integrating other Business Intelligence (BI) tools in your system.
- Enhance information and report sharing to facilitate effective communication across restaurant operations by exporting data in various formats such as Word, PDFs, Weblink, and more.
Why Use ApicBase?
ApicBase is specifically designed for managing restaurants, making it a great platform for gathering restaurant-specific data such as information on inventory, recipes, suppliers, and more. It helps restaurant owners streamline their operations and make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and profitability.
Features:
- Data gathering and restaurant analytics
- Recipe management
- Order management
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Contact vendor for pricing (demo available upon request)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use MarketMan?
MarketMan is great for managing restaurant inventory and gathering data on operations to improve your workflows. The platform gives managers a comprehensive view of operations, while still allowing them to dive into the fine details, making it a great option for restaurant analytics.
Features:
- Inventory tracking
- Invoicing
- Recipe costing
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at 239/month (demo available upon request)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Toast?
Toast is a platform specifically built for restaurants, giving managers a comprehensive view of operations with customizable plans that you can tailor to your needs. Toast is an integrated system, so on top of gathering data analytics, you can also control Point-of-Sale (POS), front of house, and back of house.
Features:
- POS integration
- Menu and inventory management
- Sales and labor analytics
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at $69/month (demo available upon request)
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
Why Use Otter?
Otter is primarily a management platform for restaurants, but it also comes with powerful data analytics features that gives restaurants a better view of operations. This provides owners with a comprehensive suite of tools to manage orders, track deliveries, and analyze performance data.
Features:
- Order management and delivery tracking
- Performance analytics
- Sales and marketing tools
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at $29/month
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use UpMenu?
UpMenu is a mobile ordering system for restaurants that also collects various sales data that restaurants can use to enhance menus, recipes, and operations. Not only does the platform gather data, but it also helps restaurants save time with repetitive tasks and orders.
Features:
- Sales analytics and reporting
- Online menu and order management
- Customer engagement tools
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at $49/month (with a 7-day free trial)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Lightspeed?
Lightspeed is a restaurant management platform that gives restaurant owners everything they need to oversee and enhance operations. The platform can serve as a POS system, gather sales data, and find critical areas of improvement in your operations.
Features:
- POS integration
- Inventory and menu management
- Workforce management and scheduling
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at $89/month, billed annually (with a free trial)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Avero?
Avero is designed for data collection, allowing restaurants to gain insights into what customers want, how they can improve operations, and more. That way, restaurants can leverage data to maximize profitability, employee performance, and guest satisfaction.
Features:
- Sales and financial reporting
- Labor optimization and management
- Food and beverage cost control
- Free Version: Yes
- Pricing: Starts at $300/location/year
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use TouchBistro?
TouchBistro is a cloud-based restaurant analytics software with a suite of applications designed to help businesses easily manage the daily tasks of a restaurant’s operations. Increase productivity, efficiency, and profitability by making data-driven decisions and optimizing inventory, staff, and recipes.
Features:
- Recipe and menu engineering
- Advanced inventory management
- Employee scheduling and performance tracking
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at $69/month (demo available upon request)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
What is Restaurant Analytics Software?
Restaurant analytics software is a digital tool designed to help restaurant owners and managers analyze and optimize various aspects of their business. This analytics solution provides actionable insights through data-driven reports that can enhance decision-making, streamline operations, and ultimately increase profitability.
Importance
When running restaurants, it’s important to keep a close eye on performance to find ways to improve sales and push the company forward. This is why using a platform for restaurant analytics is critical for modern restaurant operations. Here are some key benefits restaurant owners can expect when adopting the use of this tool:
Data-Driven Decisions
One of the primary advantages of restaurant analytics software is the ability to make data-driven decisions. By providing accurate and comprehensive data on various aspects of your business, these solutions empower restaurant owners and managers to make informed choices that can lead to increased efficiency and profitability. With the right analytics software, you can identify trends, monitor performance, and make adjustments based on real-time data.
Improve the Customer Experience
Another significant benefit of using restaurant analytics software is the improvement of customer experience. By analyzing customer data, you can gain insights into your clientele’s preferences and behaviors, enabling you to tailor your services and offerings to better meet their needs. This, in turn, can lead to higher customer satisfaction and increased loyalty, ultimately resulting in more repeat business and improved revenue.
Key Features
While it’s best to select platfortms based on the needs and goals of your restaurant, there are certain features you must have when adopting this type of software. Here are some of these key features:
- Sales and revenue analysis
- Menu optimization
- Staff performance tracking
- Inventory management
- Customer behavior analysis
- Social media and review monitoring
- Reservation and table management
How to Choose the Right Restaurant Analytics Software
Choosing a restaurant analytics platform is hard, and it’s critical to take the time to find the option that best suits your business’ needs. To make it easier for you, here’s a quick comparison of all the software featured above:
| Restaurant Analytics Software | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
| SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/seat/month* | Yes |
| ApicBase | No | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
| MarketMan | No | Starts at $239/month | Yes |
| Toast | No | Starts at $69/month | No |
| Otter | No | Starts at $29/month | Yes |
| UpMenu | No | Starts at $49/month | Yes |
| Lightspeed | No | Starts at $89/month* | Yes |
| Avero | Yes | Starts at $300/location/year | Yes |
| TouchBistro | No | Starts at $69/month | Yes |
* billed annually
Leon Altomonte