Restaurant reservation software, the key to a perfect customer experience
More and more customers are reserving a table or ordering a dish from their smartphone or computer, at any time of day.
Waiting for the restaurant to open and picking up the phone to make a reservation is a habit that is being abandoned in favour of digital services. To keep up with this trend and maintain their business, professionals are generally equipping themselves with restaurant reservation software.
What does this tool actually offer? What are its advantages and how should you choose it? Here's a closer look at the best tools. 👇
Why use restaurant reservation software?
Having a reservations management tool offers a number of advantages for both professionals and customers.
Saving time and improving efficiency for restaurant owners
Reservations can be made even when the restaurant is closed, as the tool is accessible 24/7.
Offering different booking methods is a plus for staff, who often have to juggle telephone calls, room service and table service. This lightens their daily workload and reduces errors caused by stress and pressure (misunderstanding times or names during telephone calls, double bookings, etc.).
All orders, whether placed by telephone, online or direct, are centralised in one place and accessible via the restaurant's various media and terminals (in the dining room, kitchen, bar, etc.).
No more notebooks, copies of e-mails or post-it notes!
Reservation software also allows you to :
- see the occupancy rate in real time,
- build up a customer file with qualified data and obtain useful reports and statistics for managing the restaurant and achieving objectives.
To avoid no-shows or unfulfilled reservations, most reservation tools offer automatic confirmation mailings. This feature allows tables to be reallocated to passing customers in the event of a late arrival or no-show.
It is even possible to activate pre-payment or a bank imprint to reduce the number of missed bookings.
A smoother customer experience
As a restaurateur, one of your main missions is customer satisfaction.
By offering several booking methods, you can keep up with current consumer trends and offer your customers greater flexibility and opportunities.
It can be complicated to book during a restaurant's opening hours for many reasons (incompatible working hours, quick lunch breaks, etc.).
Allowing customers to book outside of opening hours during the night and when the restaurant is closed is a real advantage for them.
5 criteria for selecting the best software
There are several factors to consider when choosing restaurant reservation software. Here are 5 essential criteria:
#1 Ease of use
The idea is to save you time by automating certain time-consuming tasks.
Choose interfaces that are easy to use, fluid and ergonomic. If you can test a software application, don't hesitate to do so to see for yourself how it's used and what it's good for.
#2 Functionality
They must correspond to your needs and operating methods.
Some features may seem superfluous to one restaurant owner but essential to another. Take the time to compare the services offered by different tools to select the platform best suited to your needs.
#3 Cost
Cost is an important factor to analyse in terms of functionality, services included (support, for example) and the impact on your business.
Developers usually offer monthly packages or annual subscriptions, which may be fixed or vary according to the number of seats reserved.
Take your budget into account, and make compromises to ensure that the software meets your needs without exceeding your budget!
#4 Integration
The reservations platform must complement your existing tools (cash register software, for example) and communicate with them in order to facilitate the overall management of your restaurant.
#5 Customisation
With some software, you can select modules or functions according to your needs or your sector of activity.
Customisation is therefore a must, because it's what allows you to have a tool that perfectly meets your needs.
The 7 best restaurant reservation software packages to discover
1 of 6
 GloriaFood |  Guestonline |  Reserve With Google |  SumUp |  TheFork Manager |  Zenchef |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For companies with more than 250 employees | For all companies | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about GloriaFood | Learn more about Guestonline | Learn more about Reserve With Google | Learn more about SumUp | Learn more about TheFork Manager | Learn more about Zenchef |
Gloria Food
Gloria Food is an online ordering system that also manages :
- takeaways
- deliveries
- pre-orders
- table reservations.
It centralises requests from a website, Facebook page or mobile application.
What are the key features? 👇
- Orders can be confirmed in real time from a smartphone;
- Gloria Food offers sales-ready restaurant websites with an online ordering system (for restaurants without a website).
The price 💸
Price: free package and optional paid services:
- payment by credit card or online,
- restaurant website,
- advanced marketing promotions, etc.
GloriaFood
Guestonline
Launched in 2007, Guestonline is a customer-focused restaurant reservations management solution that enables you to
- control all reservations
- improve occupancy rates
- attract new customers.
Since 2021, the company has been introducing responsible reservations: 10 cents per meal are donated to partner associations (L'école comestible, La Tablée des chefs, etc.).
What are the key features? 👇
- Centralisation of over 35 online booking channels;
- an ultra-complete customer file with personalised notes (allergies, favourite table, etc.) and attachments;
- an automatic text message confirmation service.
The price 💸
- Price: on request.
Guestonline
The Addition
L'Addition is a cash register with comprehensive management tools designed to reduce the time you spend on certain tasks, thanks in particular to the centralisation of information. It includes a wide range of functions, such as
- reservation management
- order taking
- support for different types of payment,
- payment at the table
- reporting, etc.
What are the key features? 👇
On the reservations side, L'Addition offers:
- Management of a book of reservations and its translation onto the seating plan in the cash register. This minimises errors and makes it easier to anticipate customer needs;
- Simplified implementation of the service, using a simple button to be placed on the site and giving access to a dedicated area;
- an intuitive booking interface for the end customer.
The price 💸
- Price: on request.
Reserve With Google
Reserve With Google lets you schedule bookings from :
- your My Business listing,
- your website
- your social networking pages.
This service works with a compatible scheduling software provider to ensure centralised management of bookings.
What are the key features? 👇
- With "Book with Google", web users can book a table or dish following a search (Google Search or Google Maps). They don't need to go to your website;
- Making a reservation is quick and easy, so your customers will be delighted.
The price 💸
- Price: free of charge.
Reserve With Google
SumUp
SumUp offers a complete checkout system for the catering industry, enabling you to:
- organise reservations ;
- organise deliveries from a single location.
This tool is also used to manage tables and send orders directly to the kitchen.
What are the key features? 👇
- SumUp's cash register pro allows you to create detailed customer profiles;
- You can manage menus and display a precise and legible dashboard or manage stocks (tracking and alerts, etc.).
The price 💸
- Price: from €79 per month.
SumUp
TheFork Manager
TheFork Manager is all-in-one restaurant management software.
It allows you to centralise all reservations from :
- telephone calls
- e-mails
- websites
It can also be used to optimise occupancy rates (promotional offers, loyalty programmes, etc.).
As an added bonus, the tool also sends out text messages and confirmation emails to prevent missed bookings.
What are the key features? 👇
- TheFork Manager lets you manage your TheFork page free of charge.
- It also includes a free mobile payment solution, TheFork Pay, to make it easier to collect payments.
The price 💸
- Price: There are 3 packages:
- Basic at €29 per month,
- Pro at €59 per month and
- Pro+ at €139 per month, with varying functionality for each.
TheFork Manager
Zenchef
The Zenchef restaurant management solution is the result of the merger of Formidable, Resengo and Zenchef at the beginning of 2024.
Aimed at independent restaurants and catering groups, it facilitates reservation management and optimises the entire customer experience.
What are the key features? 👇
- Zenchef is a complete tool for managing :
- reservations, a website,
- digital menus (online or via QR code),
- collections,
- Click & Collect;
- It can also be used to create a personalised customer file and a loyalty programme.
The price 💸
- Price: on request.
Zenchef
Restaurant reservation software: what you need to know
Working with a reservation system saves management time, avoids data entry errors or duplications and optimises the occupancy rate.
It also gives you access to a qualified customer file and enables you to create targeted marketing campaigns (promotions, loyalty programmes, etc.).
To choose the best restaurant reservation software for you, you need to take a number of factors into account, such as the features offered, compatibility with your cash register software and cost (monthly or annual subscription).
Article translated from French
After attaining a master's degree in translation and communication, Coralie stepped into the world of SEO and copywriting, drawn by the magic of words and the art of influencing. With her social media expertise, she effortlessly navigates digital communication. Fluent in English, Japanese and French, Coralie skilfully uses her understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances to engage a broad and diverse audience.
Fun fact: In her free time, Coralie swaps her keyboard for a game controller and an apron, indulging her passions for video games and food. She’s currently on a quest to find the best ramen in Paris. 🍜