In the ever-evolving catering industry, managing operations efficiently is key to delivering exceptional services, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining profitability. With the demands of event planning, order management, staff scheduling, inventory tracking, and invoicing, catering businesses are increasingly turning to specialised software solutions to streamline their processes. Catering software can automate many of these tasks, enabling businesses to save time, reduce errors, and optimise operational workflows.
In this blog, we’ll provide detailed reviews of some of the top catering software programs available in the UK. We’ll explore their features, benefits, and how they can improve operational efficiency within the catering industry.
Caternet
Caternet is a UK-based catering software solution designed to streamline event management, ordering, and staff scheduling for catering businesses. It is especially popular with caterers who handle a variety of events and require robust tools for managing operations efficiently.
Key Features:
- Event Management: Caternet allows you to organise events with ease, tracking customer preferences, event details, and required services. It provides a central location to store all event information and manage communications.
- Order Management: The software enables caterers to track orders in real-time, ensuring timely fulfilment and reducing the chance of errors. You can also create custom order forms to capture client requirements and preferences.
- Inventory Management: Caternet helps track inventory levels, preventing stock shortages and waste. It provides real-time updates, so you can manage stock with greater accuracy.
- Invoicing & Payments: The platform supports billing and invoicing, generating professional invoices and enabling businesses to track payments and outstanding balances. It also integrates with payment gateways for smooth financial transactions.
- Staff Scheduling: Caternet’s staff scheduling features enable businesses to organise rosters, assign staff to events, and track work hours effectively.
Benefits: Caternet improves operational efficiency by providing a one-stop platform for event management, order tracking, inventory control, and staff scheduling. Its easy-to-use interface ensures that businesses can streamline their processes, reduce manual work, and focus on delivering excellent service.
Total Party Planner
Total Party Planner (TPP) is a popular catering software solution designed to cater to the specific needs of caterers and event planners. Its comprehensive features support everything from event management and menu planning to invoicing and customer relationship management.
Key Features:
- Event Planning & Customisation: TPP allows you to create customised event plans, including menu options, guest lists, event timelines, and other essential details. It can also generate quotes for clients based on their requirements.
- Menu Management: With TPP, you can manage and customise your menus, including pricing, dietary requirements, and ingredient lists. This feature helps ensure consistency in offerings and reduces the risk of order errors.
- CRM & Client Communication: The CRM tools within TPP enable businesses to track client interactions and preferences, ensuring a personalised experience for each client. Automated emails and reminders help keep clients updated on event progress.
- Cost Management: TPP allows businesses to track expenses in real time, ensuring that catering costs stay within budget. The software integrates with accounting systems for streamlined financial management.
- Mobile Access: TPP provides mobile access to event details, allowing staff to access and update information on the go, making it ideal for caterers working off-site or at events.
Benefits: Total Party Planner is ideal for catering businesses that handle a wide range of events. The platform's comprehensive event planning, cost tracking, and customer management features improve workflow and allow businesses to deliver better, more efficient services. Its mobile access ensures that your team stays connected and organised wherever they are.
PeachWorks
PeachWorks is an all-in-one catering and restaurant management software that helps businesses in the catering sector manage inventory, staff, and sales more efficiently. It's a cloud-based platform designed to improve productivity and reduce waste.
Key Features:
- Inventory Management: PeachWorks offers powerful inventory management tools, allowing caterers to track ingredient levels, manage suppliers, and reduce waste by forecasting future needs based on past usage.
- Recipe Management: With PeachWorks, caterers can create and standardise recipes, including portion control and nutritional information. This ensures consistency in meals and helps control food costs.
- Staff Scheduling: The software includes a scheduling tool that enables caterers to optimise staff rotas based on event requirements. It also integrates with payroll systems for seamless payroll processing.
- Sales and Forecasting: PeachWorks uses historical sales data to help businesses forecast demand and adjust their inventory and staffing levels accordingly. This helps reduce overordering and ensures the right resources are available at the right time.
- Reporting & Analytics: The software provides real-time analytics and reporting, helping businesses monitor sales performance, track costs, and measure profitability.
Benefits: PeachWorks helps catering businesses operate more efficiently by automating inventory management, improving staff scheduling, and providing powerful insights into performance. The software’s ability to forecast demand and optimise resource allocation makes it easier to manage costs and improve profitability.
Simply Cater
Simply Cater is a UK-based catering management software that focuses on simplifying bookings, event planning, and customer management. It is ideal for small to medium-sized catering businesses that need a user-friendly, all-in-one solution.
Key Features:
- Booking Management: Simply Cater allows caterers to manage bookings and client communications in one place. It supports online booking forms and automated booking confirmations, making it easier to manage client interactions.
- Event & Menu Planning: The software lets you create detailed event plans, including customisable menus, dietary preferences, and event timelines. You can also manage guest counts and seating arrangements.
- Billing & Invoicing: Simply Cater’s integrated invoicing tools make it easy to generate and send professional invoices. It also tracks payments and outstanding balances, reducing administrative work.
- Task Management: The software allows you to create event-specific to-do lists, assign tasks to staff, and track their progress to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.
- Client Portal: Simply Cater includes a client portal that allows clients to view their event details, make changes, and communicate directly with the catering team.
Benefits: Simply Cater’s simplicity and affordability make it a great choice for small to medium-sized catering businesses. It simplifies the entire event management process, from booking to invoicing, while improving communication and reducing administrative overheads.
EventOrder
EventOrder is a UK-based catering software that’s designed to handle the complex needs of large-scale catering businesses. Whether you’re managing large corporate events or weddings, EventOrder streamlines everything from order management to staff coordination.
Key Features:
- Order Management: EventOrder allows businesses to manage multiple orders for different events, track each item, and manage special requests in real-time. This reduces errors and ensures timely fulfilment of client orders.
- Custom Event Planning: The software helps create tailored event plans that outline menu options, guest counts, timelines, and special requirements, ensuring that every detail is covered.
- Cost Tracking & Budgeting: EventOrder offers budgeting tools that help manage costs for each event, allowing businesses to track spending and prevent overspending.
- Real-Time Collaboration: The software enables seamless collaboration between kitchen and service staff, with real-time updates on event details, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
- Client Communication: EventOrder’s client portal helps keep clients informed, allowing them to access event details, make changes, and communicate directly with the catering team.
Benefits: EventOrder is an excellent choice for catering businesses managing large events. It simplifies order tracking, event planning, and staff coordination, making it easier to deliver high-quality service while maintaining profitability.
Conclusion
The right catering software can dramatically improve the operational efficiency of your catering business. From streamlining event planning and managing orders to controlling inventory and tracking costs, catering software helps reduce errors, save time, and boost profitability. Each of the software solutions reviewed above offers unique features tailored to different business needs. By selecting the best software for your catering business, you can optimise operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and ensure long-term success in a competitive market.
