It can be challenging to choose the appropriate online booking system from numerous options. Restaurant reservation applications simplify the process of making reservations for customers while enabling staff to manage bookings.
What is a Restaurant Reservation System?
A reservation system is a user-friendly platform that enables clients to easily make online and offline reservations. Streamlining the reservation process results in increased bookings and ultimately greater profits for your establishment. In addition to improving customer satisfaction, this software also aids in employee schedule management, time savings, and overall efficiency optimization.
Waitlist tools, table management for hosts, and confirmation messaging are some of the intelligent features typically found in modern reservation software. It is important to evaluate each platform and understand its functionalities before making a purchase decision for your restaurant as different systems may offer varying features.
Best Restaurant Reservation Systems
OpenTable
OpenTable is currently the most widely used reservation system, and with good reason. Its user-friendly design makes it easy for both customers and restaurants to navigate, and it also provides automatic confirmation emails and texts.
Training is provided by OpenTable to help employees become more proficient in using the platform, and 24/7 technical support is available to assist with any issues that may arise. Furthermore, this reservation application encompasses table and waitlist management features.
Key Features
- Reservation system and table management
- Create customer’s profile, be updated on the preferences, and personalize the experience
- Boost the restaurant’s reach with display marketing, SoMe marketing, and manage your ROI of your campaigns
- Get customer feedback, access benchmarking insights, and uncover new opportunities
- POS integrations
- Integration with email marketing platforms, content manager systems, booking, and delivery partners
Yelp Reservation Systems
Yelp is one of the most recognizable names in reservation and reviews systems. Since 2016, Yelp has reserved 92 million seats for customers across the country. When you sign up with Yelp, they send a free iPad to help get started with helpful technology.
In addition, other tools such as a waitlist management tool and automatic reminders for guests are also provided. Nevertheless, as Yelp functions as a platform for reviews, it is important to note that reviews will impact your reservations.
EatApp
Customers can make online reservations anytime through EatApp, but phone bookings are limited to business hours. Additionally, EatApp is seamlessly integrated with social media websites such as Instagram and Facebook, enabling customers to book reservations directly from these platforms or via ads on their social feeds.
EatApp is a reliable platform for reservations due to its partnership with Google and TripAdvisor. Additionally, it provides functions such as table management, waitlist management, and POS integration.
Key Features
- Online reservation that increases number of seats covered and reduces no-shows
- Automatic messages for both confirmation of reservations and customized campaigns
- Use table management that allows you to plan the shift in advance and optimize seating
- Have guest data at your fingertips so you can customize the dining experience
- Repost & Analysis to understand and act on the restaurants performance
- Improve efficiency by automating routine tasks that keep running in the background
- POS integration, phone integration, payment integration, and many more
Tablein
Tablein is a user-friendly platform that effortlessly caters to the needs of both restaurant owners and customers. It provides round-the-clock booking services and renders customer support throughout the year to resolve any technical difficulties. Additionally, Tablein sends out automated SMS or email notifications to confirm and remind customers of their reservations.
Tablein offers the flexibility for restaurants to let customers select their own seating arrangements, along with table management services. Smaller restaurants may find Tablein to be a superior choice.
Resy
With over 200 million users seated, Resy stands as the number one choice for reservation platforms. It brings convenience to its users by offering online reservation booking, waitlist management, and table management solutions.
Resy reduces the number of no-shows by sending guests automatic SMS booking confirmations which require confirmation. Resy also includes POS integration and customized reporting in select packages.
Key Features
- Allow customers to reserve a table at your place through multiple platforms
- Provide regulars with exclusive access to waiting list
- Send automatic confirmation text and reduce no-shows
- Automatically improve seat optimization
- Access the platform across devices
- Make guests feel at home by having their historical data at your fingertips and also build up your CRM from there
- Collect guests survey response about the restaurant privately and get more visibility without the public-facing view
- Get access to reports and analyses to understand and improve the restaurant’s performance
Tock
Tock is a highly-rated platform for making restaurant reservations, which also facilitates the sharing and augmentation of bookings through social media integrations. Notably, Tock enables the creation of guest profiles by its users.
At this platform, patrons have the option to establish a personal account and store details such as dietary restrictions, specific demands, and other likes and dislikes. This feature can enhance the tailored encounter for your guests and escalate repeat business. Furthermore, Tock administers survey inquiries after visits to elicit comments aimed at refining your eatery’s operation.
Hostme
Hostme is an increasingly popular restaurant reservation platform that is gaining traction within the restaurant sector. It provides a range of valuable features such as reservation scheduling, online meal orders, table administration, waitlist administration, POS integration, analytics, and additional functionalities.
By utilizing Hostme, you can effectively organize and streamline your restaurant’s operations. Thanks to its intuitive program, you can enhance your digital presence by offering straightforward reservation options via your website, social media handles, Google, or the popular platform TripAdvisor. Furthermore, this software boasts a wide range of tools that aid in the smooth running of your restaurant, as well as providing your customers with a hassle-free way to book and modify their reservations.
Key Features
- Accept online reservations from your website while you go about your day
- Integration with several websites and apps to improve your online presence
- Eliminate costly no-shows by requesting “Reservation Deposits” or charging “Cancellation Fees”
- Table management so you have a visual assessment of the table status and can track the restaurant occupancy
- Includes online waiting list and possibility to save guest’s preferences
- The server rotation and management feature allows you to equitably assign servers to tables
- POS integration and advanced analytics report to optimize the restaurant’s performance
resOS
The resOS online booking system is designed to cater to all types of restaurants, regardless of their size, providing them with a user-friendly and adaptable platform. Its main objective is to assist restaurants in generating more bookings and ensuring customer satisfaction while remaining affordable. The software prioritizes usability, catering to both guests and staff alike. It offers restaurants automatic table management and takeout services while also providing automatic customer profiles for previous customers who have booked through the system. Additionally, resOS is affiliated with Google, and as a result, the ‘Reserve with Google’ feature is integrated into the software.
The main purpose of the software is to enhance the restaurant’s efficiency. It facilitates guests to reserve a table, convey any alterations, and make a payment in a straightforward manner. Furthermore, resOS aids in avoiding reservation cancellations by offering choices like prepayment, deposits, or imposing a fee for no-show guests, and likewise enables identifying difficult guests with its identification feature. The program supports several languages and can be accessed on both iOS and Android platforms.
ResOS aims to provide restaurants with a seamless solution to manage table reservations without any hassle. This web-based reservation system is reasonably priced and offers unparalleled flexibility and user-friendliness.
Key Features
- Manage booking times and tables with a list, calendar, schedule, or floor plan view, depending on your preference
- Allows easy communication with guests about e.g. preferences or potential changes to the booking
- Allow guest to not only choose the best time to eat at your restaurant but to choose the table they prefer
- Possible to require prepaymentm, deposit and no-show fee
- Process payment through Stripe
- Collect guest feedback after their visit, improve your restaurants service and prevent negative online reviews
- Get notified about a new reservation through SMS, e-mail, or through an automatic phone call from resOS’s robot
- Reserve with Google
- Automatic customer profiles
The Fork
The Fork, which operates in at least 22 countries worldwide, is a Tripadvisor-owned subsidiary that assists restaurants in managing online reservations. Its mission is to enhance your restaurant’s exposure, boost bookings during slower periods, and provide you with a streamlined management solution.
By merging technology with expertise in the restaurant sector, The Fork provides this software after over 13 years of experience. Through this platform, your restaurant can access a wide range of potential customers who not only include locals but also travelers.
Key Features
- Increase the restaurants visibility by being accessible on the Fork app for people looking for restaurants, it’s partners and encouraging customers reviews
- Manage your reservations and send automatic and personalized reminders to customers.
- Floor plan for an optimized table management
- Identify potential no-shows by safeguarding your reservation with credit card imprint
- Enhance your business strategy with customizable reports
- Multi user configuration for different permission settings and authorization manager
ResDiary
ResDiary is a system for making reservations and ordering meals online that aims to help hospitality establishments achieve their maximum potential. Over 9,000 companies in six different continents take advantage of this software. By utilizing ResDiary applications that are available through venue websites, APIs, social media, and third-party sites, these establishments have been able to increase their exposure and secure additional bookings.
The purpose of this software is to offer a comprehensive solution to establishments for managing tables, orders, and events. In addition to the main product, the platform also includes ResDiary Lite, which is a more streamlined version of the software suitable for small restaurants that previously did not require such a system. With ResDiary Lite, these establishments can now accept online bookings and safely handle their capacity.
Key Features
- Table management that can be viewed as grid or list of table plan
- No commission on booking. No matter from which partner platform the guest found your restaurant, there will not be added any fees to the monthly payment
- Manage events enquiries and use the software to identify the best available spaces in your restaurant
- Online ordering system for your restaurant to take online orders
- Cloud-based system so you can access anywhere from any device
- Process payment through Stripe
- Build and manage a fully GDPR compliant database with ResDiary’s tools
How To Choose a Reservation System for Your Restaurant
When deciding, it is important to consider various important elements. Platforms vary significantly in terms of cost, with free options being more economical, though they may lack essential features. It is essential to keep in mind the distinct tools and functions offered by each system to determine the most beneficial one for your requirements. Additionally, ease of use should be taken into account.
Features
Can you explain the functionality of the reservation software? While reservation booking is an essential aspect to consider, various systems offer additional features such as table management, waitlist management, automatic reminders, and confirmation messages through SMS or email.
Many reservation systems for restaurants have the capability to merge with your POS system or social media platforms for seamless sharing of information to promote reservations. Additionally, these tools provide reporting on reservation trends and statistics to enable further understanding of your restaurant business and reservations.
Customer support is another convenient feature to have. In case you are not well-versed in technology or have selected a platform that requires help, having a designated customer service hotline can be tremendously beneficial if any problems arise.
Price
Considering price is essential in business decision-making. While reservation systems are beneficial in boosting profits through customer bookings, their cost shouldn’t exceed budget limits.
Take into account the budget defined in your business plan and establish a cap on your expenses. Afterward, investigate possibilities within your designated price range. A variety of booking systems offer packages at varying prices, a fixed fee, or a fee per reservation.
Ease of Use
Choose an online reservation system that simplifies the booking process instead of making it more difficult. It should not cause additional stress and be easy for you and your employees to manage. The primary aim of such a system is to streamline reservation booking.
Customers value user-friendliness as well. A convoluted reservation process may discourage them from choosing your establishment. Therefore, your restaurant’s booking system should aim to simplify the process, not complicate it. To test its efficiency, attempt to make a reservation using the system as a customer.
Restaurant Reservation App
Is there a mobile application that corresponds to your booking system? Due to the fact that many individuals prefer using smartphones to access the internet, the most efficient restaurant booking systems should include an application that facilitates mobile reservations. Additionally, ensure that the app is user-friendly as a complicated app is just as likely to discourage people as a difficult website.
Final Thoughts
Our desire is for you to discover an online reservation platform that is ideal for your business, regardless of which one it may be. Before committing, thoroughly evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, and expenses of each one.
