So, you have decided to improve your restaurant inventory management strategy. That’s great! Inventory management can help provide better insights, reduce waste, save time and improve your bottom line.
The problem is, choosing the right inventory management software for your restaurant can seem overwhelming. Especially when there are so many options available, from basic spreadsheets to highly automated and analytical technologies.
So how do you go about choosing the right system for your restaurant’s unique needs? Here are four key areas to consider:
- Your restaurant’s needs
When selecting any new technology, the first step is always evaluating your restaurant’s needs. With so many different solutions on the market, it’s critical to find the one that works best with your specific restaurant. To help you better understand your needs, look at these key questions:
- What solution best fits the knowledge and skills of your team?
- Does your team need the mobility of an inventory software app or would a desktop system suffice?
- How much are you wanting to allocate to your restaurant management software?
- Do you want to find a system that will grow with your business or are you okay with upgrading and reimplementing a new software in the future?
- What systems do you want to be able to integrate with your software (i.e. POS. accounting software, barcode scanning system, etc.)?
- Features
Now that you’ve done some analysis into your company’s unique needs, it’s time to compare the available options open for your business.
Every software comes with its own sets of features. Some restaurant inventory management systems come with all the bells and whistles, while others stick to the basics. Some restaurants will want all the functionality they can get their hands on. Other restaurants will find all those extra features just add more complexity, making the solution more difficult to use.
Based on the evaluation of your restaurant’s needs, list out the features you need. Then decide whether there are any additional functionalities you would like to see and compare these lists with the available options.
- Customer support
To maximize the ROI you receive from your inventory management software, expert support is crucial. When technology is combined with industry expertise from those who understand exactly how the software works and what features are best for your business, your bar can significantly improve its profitability. When looking for software, be sure to find a company with great support services.
- Trials and demos
There’s no better way to evaluate whether a software solution is the right option for your business than experiencing it for yourself. When choosing your restaurant inventory solution, make sure that you are either able to see a live product demo or experience it first-hand with a free trial. This will give you a better idea of how it will work with your processes and for your unique needs.
Have you followed the above advice and selected your desired bar inventory management software? Then it’s time to get started! If you’re still in need of some extra advice, book a consultation with Sculpture Hospitality today. Our team of bar inventory management specialists would love to answer any questions you have about choosing a restaurant inventory system that’s right for you.
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