Understanding the basic tech stack of a restaurant

The restaurant industry is evolving beyond paper menus and manual reservation logs. In today’s fast-paced, tech-savvy world, a restaurant’s success often hinges on its ability to leverage digital technology.

The basic tech stack of a modern restaurant is no longer optional: it is an essential component that supports operations, enhances customer experience, and drives revenue. Whether one is thinking about opening a new restaurant or looking to develop the business of an existing one, understanding the essential tools that form the backbone of the restaurant tech stack is crucial.

Tech for getting customers in and managing their stay

The first and probably the most important element of the tech stack is for managing the front of house. In particular, efficient table management is key to optimizing the dining experience and maximizing revenue (per available seat, per hour). Reservation software helps with the following.

• Customers may book tables online.
• Restaurants can prevent overbooking or double-booking.
• Managing waitlists and walk-ins effectively.
• Analyzing table turnover rates and occupancy patterns.

In Finland, popular reservations platforms include Quandoo, TableOnline and DinnerBooking.

Once the customer has arrived, the point-of-sale (POS) system takes centre stage. A modern POS does far more than process payments: it integrates with other tools in the ecosystem to streamline operations. Features to look for include the following.

• Order management, which allows staff to input orders and send them directly to the kitchen.
• Payment processing to support various payment methods like credit cards, digital wallets, or lunch benefits.
• Analytics and reporting, which provides insights into sales trends, customer preferences, and staff performance.

In Finland, popular POS systems include for example Yonoton, Restolution, or Winpos.

Tech for managing resources

Besides managing customer flows and charging for the services customers consume, staffing is one of the biggest challenges for many restaurants. Employee scheduling tools such as Maraplan or Tamigo allow managers to create schedules, manage time off requests, swap shifts, and of course track hours worked for accurate payroll processing and to stay in line with labour law.

In addition to people management, restaurants need to manage their inventory, as running out of key ingredients or overstocking items can hurt the bottom line. Inventory management systems track stock levels, and advanced platforms can even forecast inventory needs based on sales trends and seasonal demand, saving time and money. In Finland, some popular tools include CGI Aromi, Jamix, or PoweResta.

Building out a digitalisation strategy

With these basic digital tools, any restaurateur is well-set to better manage their operations. However, building out a digitalisation strategy does not end here. For instance, depending on the concept, integrating delivery platforms into ones tech stack might be worth it. Or, if the business relies heavily on repeat customers or ongoing contracts, investing in a customer relationship management (CRM) tool might be needed. 

For high volume, high consistency concepts (e.g. fast food), the tech stack might branch out to also include kitchen display systems (KDS). Finally, specific tools exist for marketing and social media management, to e.g. send out newsletters, run & track promotional campaigns, and much more.

A modern restaurant’s tech stack is a carefully curated combination of tools designed to optimize operations, elevate customer experiences, and drive profitability. While adopting new technology may feel overwhelming, starting with these essentials ensures that a restaurant is set up for success. If possible, choose systems that integrate seamlessly with one another – ask vendors directly about this. Most importantly, the chosen tech stack should align with a restaurant’s specific needs. By investing in the right tech stack, the restaurant is not just keeping up with the times —it is setting the stage for long-term growth and success.

As part of Haaga-Helia’s HosByte: Smart Omnichannel Sales in the Hospitality Industry -project, we offer small and medium sized enterprises in the Uusimaa region free consultancy for building out their tech stack. For companies further along their digitalisation journeys, we offer product development opportunities for testing e.g. website integrated chatbots or to boost digital sales through 3D tours of the venue.

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