10 Best Restaurant Ordering System Software Features (2024)

Many restaurants offer items that customers can customize. Modifiers include things like condiments, different side order options, and the removal of parts of a menu item (e.g. no lettuce on a burger.)

The best POS systems prompt servers to ask about modifiers or upselling (e.g. adding sides to an item to create a combo meal) so that customers get exactly what they want and your restaurant makes more money on orders.

With seat and table management, you can assign order items to a single check, split items by seat, split a check evenly by the number of people at the table, move a guest from one section to a table, and more. Toast POS offers great seat and table management features, especially for restaurants with multiple sections.

Related: Read our Toast POS review.

Good menu management software allows you to:

• Create different menus and pricing for online and in-person orders
• Schedule time-sensitive menus (e.g. a breakfast menu) and limited-time promotions
• Create different menus and pricing for different locations (if applicable)
• Generate menu item performance reports to determine which items are worth keeping and which are not
• Connect your inventory management so inventory quantities automatically decrease as menu items are made

Good inventory management software:

• Connects to your menu manager
• Automatically decreases inventory as menu items are fulfilled
• Removes items and modifiers as inventory runs out
• Has liquid inventory tracking
• Generates item wastage reports
• Includes inventory rotation to reduce spoilage

Related: These are our best restaurant inventory management software recommendations.

Many handheld restaurant POS systems allow servers to bring card readers to the table for payment. Customers can insert a card or use their mobile device to pay, sign a bill, leave a tip, and choose whether to have a receipt emailed or sent to them via text or email.

Some of the best systems also prompt customers to join a loyalty program on-screen.

A kitchen display system (KDS) is software combined with a screen that replaces kitchen ticket printers. Orders and modifiers show up on a tablet screen placed at kitchen stations. Kitchen staff can open and close tickets depending on order priority, 86 items when inventory is unavailable, manage online and delivery service orders, and more.

Related: Choose from our best kitchen display systems to decrease order mistakes and increase efficiency in your kitchen.

Customer relationship management (CRM) software allows you to identify and target repeat customers in marketing campaigns. For example, you can send marketing emails with discounts and promotions, send loyalty program promotions, including free birthday items, and create marketing campaign reports.

Related: Reward your regular customers with one of our best loyalty programs.

Servers may receive notifications on handheld devices or a tablet POS system for when a customer has arrived to pick up their order, incoming online orders, and table availability, among other things.

With a POS system like TouchBistro, customers may receive text or email notifications about pickup or delivery orders, waitlist updates, reservation reminders, discounts and promotions, and more.

Related: Read our TouchBistro POS review.

Many businesses now accept digital wallet payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay on handheld restaurant POS and countertop POS devices. Digital wallets provide a convenient, contactless way to pay.

Email and text receipts allow customers to record their spending and reduce your printing paper requirements. They can also include marketing opt-in messages, a loyalty program signup link, feedback surveys, and prompts to follow your restaurant on social media.

We highly recommend you get your customer’s permission to send marketing materials before building them into marketing campaigns; otherwise, customers may feel your marketing is spammy.

Restaurant POS systems such as Toast and TouchBistro include built-in reservation and waitlist management. Your restaurant can automatically or manually accept reservations, place customers on a waitlist, restrict waitlist times, view approximate wait times, receive reservation reminders and confirmation messages, and receive a notification when their table is ready.

Related: Read our TouchBistro vs Toast comparison to determine which POS system is better for your restaurant.