Best Restaurant Inventory Management Software for 2023
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
Restaurant inventory management software helps restaurants manage ingredient stock levels, purchase orders (POs), recipes, and menu costs. The best restaurant inventory management software systems sync with or are built into point-of-sale (POS) systems, saving hours of administrative work. These tools cost anywhere from $99 to $152 per month. However, some tools with limited features are available for free.
Based on our evaluations, the best restaurant inventory software is:
- MarketMan: Best overall restaurant inventory software
- Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series: Easiest to use POS-built inventory
- CrunchTime!: Best for inventory and labor cost analysis
- xtraCHEF by Toast: Best for rebates and cost savings
- Revel Systems: Best restaurants that need comprehensive inventory tools built into a POS
- Yellow Dog: Best for commissary kitchens
- Craftable: Best for customizable bar and restaurant inventory tools
Top Restaurant Inventory Software Compared
Minimum Monthly Fee | Compatible POS Systems | Contract Length | Operating System | Vendor Management EDI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$152 | Square, Toast, Lightspeed, MICROS, Aloha, and more…* | Month-to-month or 1 year | iOS or Android | ✓ | |
$59 plus $60 per POS terminal | Lightspeed Restaurant | 3 years | iOS and Android | ✕ | |
Custom quote | MICROS, Aloha, Speedline, SpotOn, Toast, and more…* | 1 year | iOS and Android | ✓ | |
Custom quote | Toast | Not disclosed | iOS or Android | ✓ | |
$99 | Revel Systems | 3 years | iOS | ✕ | |
Custom quote | Lightspeed, Square, Revel, Rezku, Harbortouch, and more…* | Month-to-month or 1 year | iOS and Android | ✓ | |
Custom quote | Toast, TouchBistro, Revel, Lightspeed, MICROS, and more…* | Not disclosed | iOS and Android | ✕ | |
*POS integrations are a summary of popular systems. Full lists are included in the providers’ sections below.
What is EDI? EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange, an electronic communication link between two businesses that do frequent business together. An EDI connection transforms paper processes like placing orders, sending invoices, and making payments into digital ones.
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MarketMan: Best Overall Restaurant Inventory Software
MarketMan
What We Like
- Personalized assistance
- Robust POS and accounting integrations
- Scan invoices for easy order receiving
- Month-to-month or annual memberships
What's Missing
- In-app orders are email-based, not via EDI
- Received invoices must be manually entered by you or the MarketMan team
- Can get pricey if you need a lot of invoice scans
MarketMan Deciding Factors
- Monthly software subscription fee:
- Operator: $152 (includes 20 invoice scans)
- Professional: $211 (includes recipe costing and reporting tools, plus 50 invoice scans)
- Ultimate: $339 (includes two vendor integrations, 300 invoice scans)
- One-time installation fees: None for annual subscribers; there is a $200 setup fee for month-to-month subscribers
- Hardware compatibility: Internet-connected desktop and laptop computers, and iOS or Android devices
- Available POS integrations: Square, TouchBistro, Revel, Aloha, Toast, Lightspeed, MICROS, POSitouch, and more (see integrations section for full list)
MarketMan is a cloud-based inventory and vendor management system explicitly designed to support restaurants. Its full features include physical counting, budgeting, purchasing, order optimization, food costing, and vendor management. This system also supports streamlined ordering via email or vendor integration, and administrative support from the MarketMan team to process scanned invoices. Unlike Lightspeed U-Series and Revel Systems, MarketMan also integrates with a wide range of POS systems, not just one.
MarketMan earned the highest score (4.75 out of 5) out of any restaurant inventory management software we considered. It received perfect scores for general features, advanced inventory features, ease of use, and from our experts. Customer reviews for this system are strong (above 4.5 on most review sites) and, according to a representative we spoke with, Marketman boasts a 97% customer retention rate. The only way the system could have scored higher is if it offered a free subscription tier.
Previously, MarketMan was available for as low as $127 per month. In January 2023, prices for the Operator plan increased by about $30 per month and prices for the Professional plan increased by about $50. This article reflects those updated prices.
Pricing
Marketman’s pricing is transparent; unlike a lot of their competitors. So users know exactly what to budget for. Marketman also offers month-to-month or annual subscriptions, so you can use the system as long as you like. Though you will get a 15% discount on your subscription fees if you pay annually. There are three subscription tiers, and they all include POS integration at no extra cost. Though each vendor integration costs an additional $25 per month.
Operator | Professional | Ultimate | |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly fee (paid annually) | $152 | $211 | $339 |
Monthly fee (paid month-to-month) | $179 | $249 | $399 |
Included invoice scans | 20 | 50 | 300 |
Purchase order creation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
POS Integration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Physical counts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Waste tracking | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Recipe management | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Vendor EDI Integration | Add-on | Add-on | 2 included |
POS Integrations
MarketMan integrates with several popular restaurant POS systems, including:
- Square
- Toast
- Lightspeed
- Revel
- TouchBistro
- Clover
- Eposability
- Redcat
- Lolly
- Ordyx
- TabletPOS
- Squirrel
- Qu
- MobileBytes
- Maitre’D
- Lavu
- Kounta
- Gastrofix
- EZ Dine
- Clover
- Aloha
- Tray
- Micros
- POSitouch
- iKentoo
Standout Features
All MarketMan memberships include a dedicated account manager and one-on-one training sessions. Since MarketMan is cloud-based, you can operate it on Windows and Mac computers and Android and iOS mobile devices. You can further streamline your restaurant operation by integrating your MarketMan software with compatible accounting software: QuickBooks, Sage, or Xero.
MarketMan’s standout features include:
- One-on-one setup: When you sign up for MarketMan, you’ll meet your dedicated account representative. Your rep will walk you through your account setup, even assisting with the data entry to get your system running faster.
- Maximum food cost threshold: With MarketMan, you can set a maximum food cost threshold for each recipe. If ingredient costs go up, your MarketMan dashboard will alert you. So, you can either raise your menu price, find another supplier, or adjust your recipe.
- PO management: MarketMan software sends your orders via email directly to sales reps. You can also require the owner, executive chef, or general manager to be carbon-copied on all new orders. To receive invoices, you can input them manually or scan physical invoices with a smartphone, and the MarketMan team will enter them within 24 hours.
- Vendor integrations: MarketMan has prebuilt direct integrations with ten mainline distributors like US Foods and Sysco. So you can place and track orders and request credits directly from your MarketMan dashboard. An Ultimate level subscription includes two vendor integrations. Otherwise, each vendor integration costs $25 per month.
- Staff task tracking: In the MarketMan dashboard, you can assign specific access levels to employees, enabling more staff to assist with large tasks like weekly physical counts. Enlist bartenders, line cooks, servers, and supervisors to count various stock areas. The software will prompt them if any numbers appear erroneous and send you an email if they override these prompts, so you can still keep personal tabs on your stock.
- Cookbook and recipe management: MarketMan can compile all of your restaurant’s recipes into an easy-to-navigate cookbook. You enter ingredients, portion sizes, instructions, and photographs, and MarketMan takes care of the formatting. Your staff can access cookbooks via computers, phones, and internet-connected tablets, or you can print hard copies. The cookbook is an excellent feature for ensuring consistency across multiple locations and creating accurate training materials for your staff.
Alternatives
MarketMan is a powerful, easy-to-use tool. But it currently cannot auto-86 items in your POS as you sell out of them. For that, you’ll need a POS-built system like Lightspeed U-Series or Revel.
Learn more about this system by reading our full MarketMan review.
Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series: Easiest to Use POS-built Inventory for Ease of Use
Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series
What We Like
- Fully integrated into Lightspeed POS
- One-click reordering makes resupplies foolproof
- Order tracking alerts you when suppliers receive placed orders
What's Missing
- Baseline POS is pricier than competitors
- Does not support EDI vendor integrations
Lightspeed U-Series Deciding Factors
- Monthly POS software fees:
- Core: $59, plus $60 per terminal (inventory is additional)
- Pro: $199, plus $50 per terminal (inventory included)
- Pro Plus: $359 plus $40 per terminal (inventory included)
- One-time Installation fees: Optional; custom-quoted
- Hardware compatibility: POS operates on Lightspeed U-Series hardware or iPads; inventory app is available on iOS or Android devices
- Available POS integrations: Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series only
Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series (formerly Upserve) offers the most automation of any built-in POS inventory software we’ve encountered. You’ll get low stock alerts and can reorder supplies from multiple vendors with a single click. Relying on your POS system’s built-in inventory tools is a great way to control your restaurant software costs. The U-Series’ inventory management features are a great fit for small to midsize restaurants that want to automate administrative tasks like ordering and receiving supplies without springing for the cost of a freestanding inventory app.
The inventory tools described here are only available in the Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series. The baseline Lightspeed Restaurant POS has much simpler inventory tracking tools and a lower monthly cost. Pricing for the U-Series POS with these advanced inventory tools starts at $199 per month plus $50 per terminal.
Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series earned an overall rating of 4.33 out of 5 on our restaurant inventory management criteria. It scored well on ease of use and advanced inventory functions. The high-functioning underlying POS also contributed to the U-Series’ strong performance. The system could have scored higher if it communicated to suppliers via EDI, such as xtraCHEF, CrunchTime!, Yellow Dog, and MarketMan do and was slightly less expensive. The three-year contract length like Revel Systems also cost the U-Series some points.
Pricing
The Lightspeed U-Series inventory tools are only available on the LightSpeed U-Series POS. So you’ll need to budget for the full POS cost along with the cost of the inventory tools. The U-Series pricing is in two parts: a baseline monthly software fee plus a monthly per-terminal fee. The inventory module is included in the Pro and Pro Plus tiers; Core subscribers will need to get a custom-quoted fee for the inventory tools.
Core | Pro | Pro Plus | |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly Software Fee | $59 | $199 | $359 |
Monthly per Terminal Fee | $60 | $50 | $40 |
Sales Tracking and Order Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Sales, Product and Labor Reporting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Inventory | Add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
Recipe Costing | Add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
Custom Reporting | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
POS Integrations
These inventory tools are only available on the Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series POS. Contact Lightspeed for more information.
Standout Features
- One-click reordering: As you sell items throughout the day, the Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series depletes your on-hand inventory count. As supplies dwindle, your POS sends low stock alerts and generates suggested orders from your suppliers. You can review these orders, then submit them all with one click in your back-office dashboard. The Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series is the only tool on this list with a one-click reordering feature.
- Smartphone scanning: You can download the Upserve Inventory App from the App Store and Google Play and transform your smartphone camera into a barcode scanner to receive and count inventory items.
- Color-coded order alerts: Orders change color in your inventory dashboard, so you can see at a glance when a vendor order has been submitted, received by the vendor, delivered, and completed. You’ll see your order status change in real-time as suppliers open and read your order emails and text messages.
- Offline functionality: We all know there is zero internet connection in the walk-in cooler. Lightspeed leverages the POS system’s robust offline functionality to support inventory counts on mobile devices. The system saves updated item quantities in your mobile device’s local cache when you lose internet connection. When you regain internet access, a simple refresh syncs your changes with the cloud. You’ll know your data is updated when the “Changes Saved” banner appears at the top of the screen.
- Comprehensive reporting: Since Lightspeed U-Series inventory software directly integrates with the POS, the reporting features are highly detailed. You can see dynamic food cost and usage reports as well as menu optimization reports that draw your attention to high-cost, slow-selling menu items that drag your menu down.
- Auto-86’ing: Since the inventory tools are built into the POS, the Lightspeed U-Series can automatically 86 menu items that you sell out of. Many freestanding inventory tools like MarketMan lack this feature.
Alternatives
The features in the Lightspeed U-Series are robust, but they only work on a single POS system. If you need an inventory tool that integrates with a POS you already have, look at freestanding tools like MarketMan, CrunchTime!, or Yellow Dog. They all integrate with multiple popular POS systems.
See what else this POS has to offer by reading our Lightspeed U-Series (formerly Upserve by Lightspeed) review.
CrunchTime!: Best for Overall Cost Control
CrunchTime!
What We Like
- 1,000-plus integrations include popular restaurant POS and accounting software
- Syncs with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional database to generate recipes’ nutritional information
- Also offers scheduling and labor cost management
What's Missing
- Prices require a custom quote
- Bigger system than small restaurants need
CrunchTime! Deciding Factors
- Monthly software fees: Custom quote
- One-time installation fees: Custom quote
- Hardware compatibility: Desktop and laptop computers, and iOS and Android smart devices
- Available POS integrations: Toast, Speedline, MICROS, Aloha, Positouch, and more (see integrations section for full list)
CrunchTime! is a comprehensive cost management solution for the restaurant industry. Describing itself as a restaurant operations platform, CrunchTime! includes modules for labor cost management, staff scheduling, and talent development in addition to inventory tools.
This system is popular with large multiunit restaurant groups like Shake Shack and Dunkin’ Donuts. CrunchTime!’s software designers and customer support representatives are all restaurant industry veterans, so you never lose time explaining your pain points or processes. This robust software includes three affiliated smartphone apps for counting inventory, receiving orders, and creating daily food prep checklists. CrunchTime! also includes auto-scheduling and labor cost tracking.
CrunchTime! has not overlooked any inventory functions, and it includes a lot of extras. But that can make this system more machine than a small restaurant truly needs. If you have multiple locations or plan to franchise your concept, though, CrunchTime! is an excellent choice.
This platform earned a 4.28 out of 5 on our restaurant inventory management scoring criteria. It scored well for general and advanced inventory functions. It earned a perfect 5 out of 5 for general and advanced inventory functions. But this system lost points for not offering a free subscription and requiring a custom quote for pricing. If transparent pricing is important to you, check out Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series, Revel Systems, or MarketMan.
Since our last update: CrunchTime! has enhanced its reporting and staff management features, adding the following functions:
- Streamlined user interface: The updated dashboard is icon-based, with a more modern look that is more intuitive to navigate.
- Schedule template effective dates: This addition allows you to generate a staffing template for a specific time period, such as a holiday weekend, and apply it only when relevant.
- TalentLink integration: This integration allows restaurant owners to auto-assign training modules from a central training database to relevant employees and track their progress.
Pricing
CrunchTime! provides custom price quotes to prospective customers. You’ll need to contact the CrunchTime! sales team directly.
POS Integrations
CrunchTime! integrates with more than 1,000 different platforms. Currently, it lists the following POS integrations:
- Agilysys
- Franpos
- Heartland XPIENT
- Maitre’D
- Mashgin
- MICROS
- Aloha POS
- NEXTEP Systems
- NorthStar
- Par
- POSitouch
- QuickService
- SICOM
- SpeedLine
- SpotOn
- TASK
- Toast
- Vista
If you don’t see your system listed, reach out to CrunchTime!. It may have an integration in development.
Standout Features
- Detailed analytics: You can customize your CrunchTime! dashboard and alerts to track which data you see. POS integration allows you to track profit and loss (P&L) in real time, so you can make critical business decisions in time to impact your bottom line.
- CrunchTime! Impact: This attached mobile reporting app shows you up to 50 KPI metrics on any mobile device. You can set custom alerts and view data from multiple locations from a single dashboard. Impact works on Android and iOS devices, including Apple Watches.
- Physical count on mobile devices: Your staff can count inventory on any Wi-Fi-enabled device by logging into the CrunchTime! site. You can also download the Counter app from the Apple App Store or Google’s Play store to process physical inventory counts.
- Task-specific apps for team management: You can extend your restaurant’s efficiency with custom-designed smartphone apps for each area of your restaurant. In addition to the traditional counting app, CrunchTime!’s Line Check app helps your kitchen and management team perform quality control checks. Kitchen Sync generates detailed prep lists and syncs with your inventory to track products as they are prepared. You can further expand your CrunchTime! system with employee scheduling and team messaging through the TeamWorx app.
- Order automation and forecasts: Your CrunchTime! system can generate suggested orders based on your par levels and historical use. The system will also use your actual sales data to forecast future needs. Detailed forecasts tell your kitchen team how much food to prepare to meet expected traffic levels, preventing waste and spoilage.
Alternatives
If you’re not wrangling a staff of 40 or more or juggling multiple locations, you’ll probably be happier with inventory software that’s built into your POS, such as Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series or Revel Systems.
See more inventory options by reading our guide to the best inventory management for small businesses or trying one of our 10 free inventory templates.
xtraCHEF by Toast: Best for Rebates
xtraCHEF by Toast
What We Like
- Integrates with top-ranked Toast POS
- Includes vendor EDI integrations for orders and payments
- Integrates with Buyer’s Edge platform
What's Missing
- Pricing is not publicly listed
- Currently only integrates with Toast POS
xtraCHEF Deciding Factors
- Monthly POS software fees:
- Starter Kit (pay-as-you-go): $0
- Starter Kit (standard): $69
- Essentials: $165
- Custom: Custom quoted
- One-time installation fees: Optional, starting at $299
- Hardware compatibility: Internet-connected computers and iOS and Android mobile devices
- Available POS integrations: Toast
xtraCHEF by Toast is a user-friendly cloud-based restaurant inventory and vendor management tool. This system integrates directly with the Toast POS, which regularly appears as one of our top restaurant POS recommendations. In addition to EDI connections to vendor ordering and payment portals and scan-to-enter invoices, xtraCHEF by Toast also offers automated rebate alerts via an integration with Buyer’s Edge. So, the system tells you exactly where and how you can save money on your supply purchases.
xtraCHEF by Toast earned a 4.25 out of 5 on our restaurant inventory ranking system. It earned high marks for its many automated inventory and accounts payable features and EDI vendor integration. However, the lack of non-Toast POS integrations and barcode scan inventory counts lost the system some points. That’s not to say that you can’t use xtraCHEF unless you have a Toast POS. You certainly can. You just won’t get the full benefit of xtraCHEF’s detailed margin variance and actual vs theoretical inventory reports without POS integration.
Pricing
This inventory tool currently only integrates with the Toast POS. Although you could use xtraCHEF without POS integration, you’ll get the most benefit from using it with the POS. The pricing below is for the Toast POS. The xtraCHEF inventory module is offered at custom-quoted rates, so you’ll need to contact xtraCHEF for pricing information.
Starter Kit (Pay-as-You-Go) | Starter Kit (Standard) | Essentials | Custom | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Software Fees | $0 | $69 | $165 | Custom quote |
In-person Processing Fee | 2.99% plus 15 cents | 2.49% plus 15 cents | Custom quote | Custom quote |
Reporting and Analytics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Menu Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Digital Ordering | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
Loyalty | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | ✓ |
xtraCHEF Inventory | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
POS Integrations
The only POS integration that xtraCHEF publicly lists is with the top-ranked restaurant POS Toast. With a free Starter POS subscription and pay-as-you-go hardware available at no upfront cost, it is a low-cost way to add a POS with excellent inventory management tools to your restaurant operation.
Standout Features
- Rebate program: xtraCHEF includes a unique tool that none of the others on this list offer—a manufacturer’s rebate program. Your xtraCHEF system will check your orders against manufacturers’ rebates available on the Buyer’s Edge platform. These rebates help ensure you’ve gotten the best price on absolutely everything and earn some cash back whenever possible.
- Visual interface: xtraCHEF’s dashboard is designed to be visual first. Reports condense complex cost analysis into easy-to-read charts, so there is no chance to misread your metrics. Recipe entry and order count screens are similarly pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate.
- Invoice scanning: Like MarketMan, xtraCHEF includes invoice scanning tools for easy invoice entry. Unlike MarketMan, however, with xtraCHEF there is no limit to how many invoices you scan each month. The more you scan, the more intelligent your xtraCHEF system becomes. Scanned invoices also provide the basis for building your ingredient inventory, speeding your setup time.
- EDI functions: Like MarketMan, CrunchTime!, and Yellow Dog, xtraCHEF includes a full EDI connection to place orders and place payments with suppliers directly from your xtraCHEF dashboard.
Alternatives
Like Lightspeed U-Series and Revel, xtraCHEF by Toast only integrates with one POS system. In this case, it is Toast, which frequently tops our annual ranking of the best restaurant POS systems. But if you are not in the market for a POS and only want inventory tools that integrate with your existing POS, then try MarketMan, CrunchTime!, or Yellow Dog.
See all that the Toast POS can offer by reading our full Toast POS review.
Revel Systems: Most Complete POS-built Inventory
Revel Systems
What We Like
- Customizable user permissions let you delegate inventory tasks
- Supports internal supply transfers
- Robust reporting
- Smartphone counting and receiving app
What's Missing
- Underlying POS requires three-year contract
- Inventory app is only available in iOS
Revel Deciding Factors
- Monthly POS software subscription fee: $99 per terminal
- One-time Installation fees: Starting at $674
- Hardware compatibility: iOS and mobile devices
- Available POS integrations: Revel Systems
Revel Systems is an iPad POS with tools for restaurants and retailers. The restaurant inventory tools are some of the most comprehensive available in a restaurant POS. Like Lightspeed U-Series, Revel’s inventory tools are built right into the POS. Unlike Lightspeed, however, Revel does not charge extra for them. Revel’s inventory is slightly less automated than Lightspeed U-Series is but includes excellent reporting tools, a smartphone counting app, and customizable user permissions with blind inventory counts so that you can delegate physical counts confidently to your team and trust their accuracy. Revel has the most sophisticated user permissions of any of the POS-built inventory management tools listed here.
Revel Systems earned an overall score of 4.2 out of 5 on our inventory software rating system. This software scored well for ease of use and both general and advanced inventory management functions. However, the lengthy three-year contract and lack of a free subscription tier cost Revel some points.
Pricing
To get Revel’s inventory tools requires getting the Revel Systems POS. Pricing for the POS starts at $99 per terminal monthly, with a two-terminal minimum. The system also requires a three-year contract. But inventory management is included in the baseline system. So, depending on your needs, the Revel POS could be less expensive than Lightspeed U-Series or Toast.
POS Integrations
This inventory module only integrates with the Revel Systems POS. For full pricing and more information, visit Revel Systems.
Standout Features
- Customizable user permissions: Revel Systems supports highly customizable user permissions. You can give individual users access to specific functions like inventory counting without giving them access to every report or managerial function. So, you can assign weekly liquor counts to bartenders and dry goods counts to line cooks without compromising overall information security.
- Blind inventory counts: You can choose to block the “expected count” column on inventory counting worksheets to prevent your team from copying and pasting old counts. This function is also a great way to prevent fudging numbers to hide theft and breakage.
- PO and vendor management: You can create POs in Revel Systems’ management dashboard and email them directly to suppliers. Revel’s PO interface is slightly less automated than Upserve’s. You can generate POs from low stock alerts in Revel, but the system doesn’t do it automatically. But like Upserve, receiving a PO in Revel’s back-office dashboard allows you to update your on-hand quantities as you receive new products.
- Shelf-to-sheet counts: Revel Systems allows you to create physical count sheets that reflect the layout of your restaurant’s storage areas. You can drag-and-drop listed products to arrange them in the same order they appear on your shelves to speed up your physical inventory counts.
- Smartphone counting app: Revel’s Stocktake smartphone app allows your team to take physical inventory counts on iPhones. Divide your restaurant into manageable, easily counted sections, and assign specific count sheets to any trusted employee. Via the Management Console, you can view counts while they are in progress, so you know when you can begin month-end or other accounting procedures.
Alternatives
If you want a POS-built inventory system that is more automated, look at Lightspeed U-Series. If you want additional cost-saving tools in a restaurant POS, then xtraCHEF by Toast is a good option. And if you need an inventory app that integrates with your existing POS, look at MarketMan, CrunchTime!, or Craftable.
Learn more about what this POS can do for your restaurant by reading our full Revel POS review.
Yellow Dog: Best for Commissary Kitchens & Pour-limited Bars
Yellow Dog
What We Like
- Monthly subscription available
- Easy internal transfer of raw ingredients or prepped food items
- Integrates with Freepour for scan and scale bar inventory counts
What's Missing
- Pricing is only available with a custom quote
- Live customer support is not 24/7
Yellow Dog Deciding Factors
- Monthly software fees: Custom quote
- One-time installation fees: Custom quote
- Hardware compatibility: Desktop and laptop computers and iOS and Android smart devices
- Available POS integrations: Lightspeed, Square, Revel, Rezku, Harbortouch, Clover, and more (see integrations section for full list)
Yellow Dog’s inventory management software is a free-standing inventory software solution similar to MarketMan, and CrunchTime!. Yellow Dog’s unique functions for labeling and distributing prepped ingredients make it an excellent fit for large-scale catering operations that rely on a central commissary kitchen, especially large food truck fleets. Integrations with pour control apps also make this advanced system a good fit for bars that use controlled pouring tools.
Yellow Dog earned an overall score of 4.11 out of 5 on our restaurant inventory software criteria. It earned points for its massive array of general and advanced inventory tracking functions but lost points for price and customer service hours. While Yellow Dog does provide comprehensive online training tools, its live customer service team is not available 24/7.
Pricing
Yellow Dog’s pricing is custom quoted. You’ll need to contact Yellow Dog for more information.
POS Integrations
Yellow Dog supports two-way interfaces with some POS systems, but only one-way interfaces with others. The main difference is that a two-way interface supports auto-86’ing in your POS, while a one-way interface does not.
Two-way interface integrations include:
- Agilysys
- Aireus
- Arryved
- Book4Time
- Clover
- Concept
- ForeTees
- foreUP
- Gateway
- Gilbarco
- GoTab
- Infor POS
- Jonas Club Software
- KMIT
- Maestro POS
- MM Hayes
- Quickcharge
- Aloha
- Nextep
- MICROS
- POSitouch
- ResortSuite
- Revel
- SalesVU
- Shopify
- Silverware
- SpotOn
- Springer Miller
- Square
- Squirrel
- VenueNext
- Vivaticket
One-way interface integrations
- Brink
- Brunswick
- Club Caddie
- Clubessential
- Club Prophet
- Focus
- Digital Dining
- Dinerware
- Heartland Restaurant
- Jonas Encore
- Lightspeed
- Mashgin
- Northstar
- Ready Theatre Systems
- Rezku
- RPOWER
- Future POS
- POSitouch
- Restaurant Manager
- SkyTab
- Siriusware
- SMS Teres
- Toast
- Total Touch
- Truffle
- Volnate
Standout Features
- Connect to suppliers via EDI: Like xtraCHEF, CrunchTime!, and MarketMan, Yellow Dog Inventory integrates directly with most popular restaurant suppliers via EDI. This integration downloads your vendor invoices automatically and adds them to your inventory system. Set up invoices to be processed automatically or require manager approval before posting. Any new products are added automatically to your Yellow Dog system. It will also send you an email to alert you to cost fluctuations.
Rugged hardware: You don’t have to rely on smartphones for mobile inventory counting. Yellow Dog sells inventory counting devices that are as user-friendly as smartphones but much more secure and drop-resistant. If you don’t want to spend the money, though, you’ll find Yellow Dog’s inventory counting and reporting apps available on both iOS and Android devices. - Detailed barcode label printing: Yellow Dog’s barcode printing system supports design templates for an unlimited number of barcode label types. You choose what information to include, from ingredients and price to nutrition information, expiration date, and graphics. Print detailed sales labels for grab-and-go items or shelf labels for your storerooms to speed inventory counting.
- Commissary kitchen support:
If you supply multiple locations with prepped food from a central kitchen—commonly called a commissary kitchen—you have unique product tracking needs. Yellow Dog allows you to create internal transfers of prepared items like fresh juice blends that deplete your commissary inventory based on the attached ingredients. The recipient location, however, will be internally invoiced for the final, prepped item. - Freepour integration: Yellow Dog is the only system on this list that integrates with Freepour, an app that counts liquor with barcode scans and an integrated scale. Because of this, there is no chance that your liquor counts will be off. You can know exactly how much wine, beer, and spirits you have served, down to the last drop. The scan and scale combination also speeds bar inventory counts since your staff won’t have to second-guess how many ounces each open bottle contains.
Alternatives
Yellow Dog is a positively massive tool that supports restaurants, hospitals, and stadiums. So, it may be more machine than your restaurant needs. If you want something smaller and just as functional, check out MarketMan. If you want full POS integration—similar to Yellow Dogs’ two-way integrations—you’ll be better off with a POS-based system like Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series, xtraCHEF by Toast, or Revel. Revel comes the closest to matching Yellow Dog’s functionality.
Learn more about bar inventory by reading our guide to bar inventory with a free inventory template.
Craftable: Best Customizable Restaurant Inventory
Craftable
What We Like
- Separate tools for bars and restaurants; you’ll pay only for what you need
- Payments module supports physical checks, echecks, and automated clearing house (ACH) transfers
- Bar count tools include scales and bottle scans to increase accuracy
What's Missing
- Bar and restaurant tools are priced separately, so costs can add up
- Full pricing requires a custom quote
Craftable Deciding Factors
- Monthly software fees: Custom quote
- One-time installation fees: Custom quote
- Hardware compatibility: iOS and Android devices, any internet-connected computer
- Available POS integrations: Toast, TouchBistro, Revel, Lightspeed, MICROS, and more (see integrations section for full list)
Craftable is an inventory app built to support bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels. The platform includes two inventory apps—Foodager and Bevager—that include specialty tools for food-focused and beverage-focused businesses, respectively. Users can use both apps or only one. Pricing is custom-quoted based on your needs.
You can add extras like POS integration for a one-time fee, while others (like invoice processing) are charged per use. This flexibility ensures that large operations get the tools they need while small operations avoid paying for tools they don’t use.
Craftable earned a 3.91 out of 5 on our scoring criteria. It scored well for its general features, including a smartphone counting app that lets you count open bar bottles with a simple drag-and-fill gesture. Although Craftable would have scored higher if it did not charge for basics like POS integration and live sales tracking.
Pricing
Craftable supports two platforms for counting food (Foodager) and for counting bar supplies (Bevager). You can use only one or both, though the apps are priced separately and prices are custom-quoted. Each is offered at four different subscription tiers, which include slightly different functions:
Standard | Premium | Pro | Director | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inventory Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ordering and Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Menu Costing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Automated Stock Depletion | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced Reporting | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Automated GL Coded Bills | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Contract Price Control | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
In addition to the foundational inventory tools, you can add more features at a la carte prices:
Add-on | Fee |
---|---|
Inventory Import | $150 (one-time fee) |
POS Integration | $200 (one-time fee) |
Accounting Integration | $200 (one-time fee) |
Invoice Processing | $1.99 each |
Physical Check Payments | $1.49 each |
Echeck Payments | 99 cents each |
ACH Payments | 49 cents each |
POS Integrations
- Square
- SpotOn
- Lightspeed
- Aloha
- Cake
- Clover
- Digital Dining
- Dinerware
- Heartland
- Lavu
- 2TouchPOS
- Maitre’D
- MICROS
- MobileBytes
- Ordyx
- PAR
- POSitouch
- Restaurant Manager
- Revel
- HungerRush (formerly Revention)
- Rezku
- Salido
- Squirrel Systems
- Tevalis
- Toast
- TouchBistro
- Union
- WineDirect
- Agilysys
- Boom
- Aireus
- Brigade Society
- SmartTab POS
- Jonas Club Software
- Tabit
- Shopify
- Silverware POS
Standout Features
- Robust accounting integrations: Craftable integrates with the widest range of accounting software of any system on this list. You can choose from Acumatica, Aptech, Bill, Compeat, CYMA Accounting, Epicor, Sage Intacct, M3, Microsoft Dynamics, QuickBooks, QuickBooks Online, Realtime, Restaurant 365, InfoSync, Oracle NetSuite, Northstar, or Data Plus.
- Bar and food inventory tools: Craftable supports two separate—and popular—inventory platforms; Foodager and Bevager. Foodager includes tools for managing food inventory and Bevager has specialized tools for bar operations. You can use both together or only use one, so only pay for the tools you need.
- A la carte pricing: With add-in pricing for invoice processing, POS and accounting integration, and digital payments, users can control their subscription costs with Craftable. If you have a tight month, you can save on your subscription fees by inputting your invoices manually and printing your own checks. If you would prefer to automate these tasks in Craftable, you’ll only pay for what you use.
- Offline functionality: You can take physical inventory counts on any web-enabled device from a tablet to a laptop or smartphone. You can run counts by logging into your account on the Foodager or Bevager websites or using the iOS and Android smartphone apps. If you lose internet connectivity during a count, a “sync” button will appear on your counting screen.
- Flexible vendor payments: Craftable’s Payments module lets you set up automated payments to your vendors. You connect a bank account, then you can pay your suppliers via ACH payment, which takes three to four business days, paper check—subject to mail delays, or electronic check, which is immediate. With this module, it is virtually impossible to miss a payment.
Alternatives
Craftable has lots of great tools. But you have to put them together yourself. If you want more of an all-in-one solution, we recommend POS-built inventory management software like Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series, xtraCHEF by Toast, or Revel Systems. If you aren’t in the market for a full-in POS, though, try MarketMan instead; it integrates with several popular restaurant POS systems.
Learn more about inventory by reading our guides to inventory metrics like inventory turnover ratio, and learn the difference between perpetual versus periodic inventory.
Methodology―How We Evaluated Restaurant Inventory Management Software
We compared 15 popular food inventory software tools based on what’s essential to restaurants: ease of use, price, stock tracking, and vendor management. We also considered our retail and restaurant experts’ personal evaluations of each software.
Based on the above criteria, MarketMan is the best restaurant inventory management software. MarketMan received the highest overall score according to our grading system for inventory software (4.75 out of 5). Based on our personal experience testing inventory software and working in and with restaurants that manage inventory every day, MarketMan is also one of the top software that we recommend.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria:
15% of Overall Score
30% of Overall Score
We looked for essential inventory functions, like supply levels that sync with sales in real time. We also looked for customizable inventory tracking sheets that match the layouts of your storerooms. Software that fully integrates with restaurant POS systems, is cloud accessible, and supports detailed reporting earned the highest marks.
30% of Overall Score
To support automated restaurant operations, we looked for inventory software that enables physical counts via barcode scanning and direct vendor ordering via EDI.
15% of Overall Score
Because restaurants typically count inventory in early mornings, late nights, or otherwise outside of regular business hours, we prioritized solutions that offer 24/7 customer support. Any systems that offer one-on-one installation support or training also earned high marks.
10% of Overall Score
Restaurant Inventory Management Software Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do restaurants make inventory lists?
Restaurant inventory lists are typically based on your restaurant’s recipes. So, the best place to start creating a restaurant inventory list is to write out all of your food and beverage recipes. From there, list all the ingredients in each recipe. Forecast how much of each item you think you will sell in a week and use this total to generate your order pars.
You can also use your restaurant inventory list to count your physical inventory. To make your counts faster, list your ingredients in the order they are stocked in your storage rooms and walk-in refrigerators. To make your counts even faster, use an inventory app like the ones ranked in the article above.
What is the best system to measure the stock in a restaurant?
The best system for measuring your restaurant stock is a weekly physical inventory count combined with real-time inventory tracking in your POS. Weekly physical counts, combined with real-time ingredient-level inventory tracking lets you see discrepancies between what you ordered and what you’re selling immediately. By tracking your stock so closely, you’ll be able to identify waste, theft, and breakage in enough time to impact your bottom line. For real-time inventory tracking, our top recommendation is MarketMan.
Do I need an inventory management system for my restaurant?
Every restaurant needs an inventory management system, whether that system is a monthly count tracked on a spreadsheet, or a full-spectrum inventory management app. You will never be able to control your costs successfully without some type of inventory tracking. You need to know how much of the food and beverage you buy is getting sold before it spoils. The only way to know that is to count it.
What does a restaurant inventory management system do?
A restaurant inventory management system tracks incoming and outgoing food, beverage, and paper products in a restaurant. This tracking helps restaurant managers and owners see their actual costs for individual ingredient types and make adjustments to their restaurant operations that can increase profit margins. A restaurant inventory management system can show you how much food is wasted due to spoilage, what ingredients cost you the most money, and where you need to raise prices to cover your costs.
Bottom Line
MarketMan received the highest score across our grading system for general inventory features, advanced features, ease of use, and our own expert review. MarketMan has tools for restaurants of all types. This cloud-based restaurant inventory software tool is full-featured and affordable for independent restaurants. The features are all packed into a user-friendly, browser-based system that you can access from any internet-enabled device. It also integrates with a range of restaurant POS systems to further streamline your operation. To see the system in action, visit MarketMan to schedule a demo.