Introduction
As the foodservice industry continues to evolve, having the right technology partner is crucial for success. Distribution software allows businesses to manage inventory, process orders, track sales and much more from a single platform. This blog evaluates 15 of the leading foodservice distribution software solutions based on features, reputation and ability to help businesses streamline operations and scale.
Methods of Evaluation
Each solution was evaluated based on core functionality, features, pricing, reputation and customer reviews. Beyond just looking at individual product attributes, factors like number of backlinks, monthly traffic and trends for keyword phrases related to each company were also examined to understand market reception and search interest over time. This multi-dimensional approach provided a well-rounded perspective on how each platform can help businesses reach their goals.
1. Squarespace
Squarespace is a popular all-in-one website building platform that allows users to build fully customizable websites or online stores without any coding knowledge. Founded in 2004, Squarespace offers beautifully designed templates across a wide range of industries that can be easily customized through their simpledrag-and-drop interface.
Pros: Key advantages of using Squarespace include:
– Intuitive drag-and-drop builder for easy site customization
– Robust ecommerce solutions for online stores and sales
– Powerful online ordering and inventory management tools
– Regular introduction of new templates and features
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that advanced customization options for developers may be limited compared to other platforms due to its focus on ease of use for non-developers.
Pricing: Squarespace offers a range of competitive pricing plans starting from $16/month for the Basic plan to $40/month for the Business Advanced plan. All plans include a free domain name for one year as well as 24/7 support.
Some key facts about Squarespace:
– Over 7 million websites built on the platform
– Hosts thousands of domains globally
– Templates cater to industries like photography, restaurants, artists and more
– 24/7 customer support
2. QuickBooks POS
QuickBooks POS is an accounting and point-of-sale software developed by Intuit. It allows businesses to manage sales, inventory, customer and employee data all from one centralized system. QuickBooks POS integrates with QuickBooks accounting software for seamless bookkeeping.
Pros: Key advantages of QuickBooks POS include: Integrated accounting POS, Inventory tracking, Customizable reports, Online ordering. Having the POS and accounting software connected eliminates double entry of data and provides real-time visibility of business performance in one place.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that QuickBooks POS requires an internet connection for some features like customer online ordering and cloud backup of data. This can be an issue if the internet goes down during business hours.
Pricing: Pricing for QuickBooks POS starts at $49 per month for a single user or terminal license. Additional fees apply for software updates. Integrated credit card processing is included. Premium plans with advanced features are available for larger multi-user businesses.
Some key stats about QuickBooks POS include: It is used by over 700,000 businesses worldwide. It offers both online and offline POS capabilities. QuickBooks POS can process over 150 payment types including all major credit/debit cards and digital wallets.
3. Square for Restaurants
Square for Restaurants is a foodservice distribution software created by Square, Inc. to help restaurants manage their business from a single, integrated platform. With Square for Restaurants, foodservice operators can accept payments, manage staff, track inventory, and more without needing multiple systems.
Pros: Key advantages of Square for Restaurants include:
– Seamless online ordering and delivery integrations
– Simple to use yet full-featured POS software
– Loyalty program and gift card functionality built-in
– Excellent customer support across phone, chat and online resources
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the monthly subscription fees increase as sales volumes increase, so it may not be as cost effective for higher-volume restaurants.
Pricing: Square for Restaurants pricing starts at $49 per month with no long term contract required. Additional premium features like delivery management, payroll, and online ordering are available for add-on monthly fees.
Some key stats about Square for Restaurants include:
– Used by over 1 million sellers worldwide
– Process over $180 billion in payments annually
– Integrates with over 200 third-party platforms including major delivery services
– Recognized as one of the best POS systems for restaurants by Business News Daily
4. Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed POS is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) and business management software designed for restaurants, retail stores, and golf facilities. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed provides a comprehensive all-in-one solution to help businesses manage commerce, operations, and growth.
Pros: Some key advantages of Lightspeed POS include: it offers an all-in-one POS solution to manage sales, inventory, customer data, reporting and more from a single platform, it has a flexible and customizable configuration that allows businesses to set up the system to match their specific needs and workflows, it provides powerful reporting and business analytics capabilities to gain insights into financial performance and customer behavior, and it offers robust inventory management features to track stock levels, suppliers, costs, and fulfill online and in-store orders.
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the system requires an internet connection to function, so businesses need to have reliable internet access for both staff devices and customer facing devices like payment terminals.
Pricing: Lightspeed POS pricing starts at $49 USD per month for a basic retail or restaurant plan, going up to $149 USD per month for an advanced plan with additional features like multiple locations, cashier assignments, and analytics. Custom quotes are available for complex enterprise implementations.
Some key stats about Lightspeed POS include: used by over 85,000 customer locations worldwide, processing over $20 billion in annual payments volume, available in over 100 countries globally, integration with over 300 partners and apps through the Lightspeed app marketplace.
5. Vend POS
Vend POS, now known as Lightspeed Retail (X-Series), is a cloud-based point of sale and business management software designed specifically for restaurants and foodservice businesses. The software helps streamline operations, manage inventory, enable online ordering and sales across channels, and provide robust analytics.
Pros: Key advantages of Vend POS include its restaurant specific design and features, integrated online ordering and ecommerce capabilities, data-driven analytics and reporting, and comprehensive inventory management tools.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the software is pricier than some competitors. However, Vend POS offers more advanced features tailored for foodservice businesses which may offset the higher cost.
Pricing: Vend POS pricing starts at $99/month for a basic plan and scales up to $299/month or more for advanced plans with added features like loyalty programs, online ordering, and chain management tools. Custom pricing is also available for larger enterprise needs.
Some key stats about Vend POS include: Used by over 35,000 locations worldwide, processes over $25 billion in annual sales, integrates with over 150 third-party platforms and services like Toast, Clover, Square, and Shopify.
6. Upserve POS
Upserve POS is a restaurant-specific point of sale system designed to help foodservice businesses manage front- and back-of-house operations. As a leader in the foodservice distribution software space, Upserve POS provides restaurateurs with an all-in-one solution for processing orders, sales, inventory, and more directly from their mobile devices or web browsers.
Pros: Some key advantages of Upserve POS include:
– Restaurant specific design and features tailored for foodservice businesses
– Omnichannel capabilities including POS, online ordering, and delivery marketplace integration
– Built-in analytics and reporting to provide insights for business decisions
– Inventory management for supplies to streamline ordering and tracking
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the monthly subscription pricing model which requires ongoing costs compared to one-time licensing fees of some competitors.
Pricing: Upserve POS pricing starts at $79 per month for a basic package including a single POS station and supports up to 25 menu items. Additional stations, users, and integrated services like online ordering and delivery are priced as add-ons to the monthly subscription.
Some key stats about Upserve POS include:
– Used by over 15,000 independent restaurants across North America
– Integrated online ordering for delivery and takeout across 30+ marketplaces
– Real-time reporting and analytics to track sales, labor, and other key metrics
– Inventory management to track supplies and automate reorders
7. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is an all-in-one restaurant management software designed specifically for foodservice businesses. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, TouchBistro offers a comprehensive point of sale (POS) system as well as integrated online ordering, inventory management, and robust reporting features to help foodservice operators increase sales, delight guests, save time and money.
Pros: Some key advantages of TouchBistro include:
– Restaurant specific POS designed for foodservice workflows
– Integrated online ordering for takeout and delivery
– Inventory management to track supplies and reduce waste
– Robust reporting on sales, labor, profitability and other metrics
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the platform may have a steeper learning curve for some users compared to other POS systems due to its depth of features.
Pricing: TouchBistro pricing starts at $79 per month for a single location with devices priced separately. Additional locations are $59 per month each. Integrated payment processing is included.
Some key stats about TouchBistro include:
– Used by over 10,000 restaurants worldwide
– Processes $4 billion in annual sales
– Integrated systems reduce labor costs by 20% on average
8. Acumatica
Acumatica is a leading provider of cloud-based financial management, CRM, and ecommerce software. Founded in 2008, Acumatica provides an integrated cloud ERP solution that allows organizations to manage their financials, operations, and customer relationships. With over 300,000 users across a wide range of industries, Acumatica is one of the fastest growing ERP vendors in the world.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of Acumatica include:
– Fully customizable ERP solution that can be tailored to yourunique business needs
– Strong reporting and business intelligence capabilities
– Cloud-based for easy access from any device
– Integrated CRM, ecommerce, financials and more in a single platform
Cons: One potential disadvantage is a slightly higher price point compared to some other mid-market ERP options. However, this is offset by the extensive functionality and customization capabilities.
Pricing: Acumatica pricing is based on the number of users. Starting pricing is approximately $75 per user per month for their core financials and operations modules. Additional modules such as CRM or ecommerce have additional per user fees. They also offer packaged industry editions for industries like manufacturing that include pre-configured functionality at a set price.
Some key stats about Acumatica include:
– Over 15,000 customers worldwide
– Available in over 30 languages
– Over 300,000 users
– Recognized as a visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP
9. ShopKeep POS
ShopKeep POS is a cloud-based POS and back office software designed for restaurants and retail businesses. It offers an integrated POS system, inventory management, online ordering, and powerful reporting capabilities to help businesses streamline operations and gain insights.
Pros: Some key advantages of ShopKeep POS include:
– Integrated POS and back office software for seamless operations
– Inventory tracking across physical and online storefronts
– Powerful online ordering platform to grow online sales
– Detailed sales and inventory reporting for informed decision making
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the software is only available as a cloud-based/SaaS solution, so businesses rely on a stable internet connection for functionality.
Pricing: ShopKeep POS pricing starts at $79 per month for a basic plan with single user access and supports up to 3 stores/locations. Additional features like online ordering and employee management are available in higher tier plans priced up to $249 per month.
Some key stats about ShopKeep POS include:
– Over 20,000 customers worldwide
– Integrations with over 50 third-party platforms including major online delivery services
– Real-time inventory tracking across all sale channels
– Robust reporting with over 40 standard reports
10. Foodservice Director
Foodservice Director is a foodservice distribution software created by Winsight, LLC to help operators manage their foodservice businesses. The software provides inventory management, ordering capabilities, reporting and analytics to help streamline operations.
Pros: Some key advantages of Foodservice Director include: robust reporting and analytics capabilities to gain insights into business performance; integrated inventory management to track stock across locations; flexible ordering tools to place orders from desktop or mobile; mobile apps to allow ordering and reports access from any location.
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the software may have a relatively high setup and monthly fee which could be prohibitive for some very small operators.
Pricing: Foodservice Director offers different pricing tiers depending on the needs and size of the operation. Pricing generally starts at around $100 per month for basic capabilities and scales up based on number of users and advanced features required.
Some key stats and capabilities of Foodservice Director include: strong reporting and analytics capabilities to analyze sales, inventory and profitability; inventory management features to track stock levels across multiple locations; mobile apps to allow staff to place orders and access reports on the go.
11. PAR Technology
PAR Technology is a New York-based software company that provides point of sale and restaurant management software. Founded in 1978, PAR offers the PAR POS System which is a full suite of integrated restaurant solutions including POS, inventory management, kitchen display systems, loyalty programs and more. The PAR POS System is designed specifically for restaurants and foodservice operations to help manage orders, inventory, labor and overall business operations.
Pros: Some key advantages of the PAR POS System include:
– Comprehensive POS suite that handles all front and back of house operations.
– Restaurant specific solutions with features tailored to quick service, fast casual and fine dining operations.
– Powerful reporting tools for in-depth sales and operations analysis.
– Robust inventory management system to track inventory levels and costs.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as a full suite solution, the PAR POS System requires a bigger investment and longer implementation compared to more focused point of sale systems.
Pricing: PAR Technology offers flexible pricing models for the PAR POS System including perpetual and subscription licensing. Pricing depends on the solution modules, number of terminals, supported items and services needed. Generally, restaurants can expect an initial investment between $5,000 to $50,000 with additional monthly or annual support fees.
Some key stats about the PAR POS System include:
– Used in over 100,000 restaurant locations globally
– Integrates with over 30 third party partners for things like online/mobile ordering, delivery, accounting etc.
– Supports over 40 different peripherals like printers, scales, receipt printers etc.
– Features powerful reporting tools to analyze sales, labor, inventory and more.
12. Lavu POS
Lavu POS is a dedicated restaurant point of sales (POS) system designed specifically for foodservice businesses. In use in over 10,000 locations worldwide, Lavu helps restaurants streamline operations, drive sales, and offer superior customer experiences through an easy to use iPad-based POS system.
Pros: Key advantages of Lavu POS include:
– Dedicated restaurant functionality with features like loyalty programs, targeted discounts, and table management
– Intuitive interface designed for touchscreens like iPad
– Integrated applications that sync orders, payments, and inventory
– Powerful back-end analytics to track sales, labor, and more
– Cloud-based so it’s accessible from any location
Cons: While very full-featured for most operations, some potential disadvantages of Lavu POS could include:
– Monthly subscription pricing model may not suit all budgets
– Some advanced features like custom reports or integrations require additional fees
– Requires consistent internet connectivity for full functionality
Pricing: Lavu POS pricing starts at $79/month for a basic single-user plan. This includes the core POS system, support, and basic analytics. Additional fees apply for extra users, advanced features, custom integrations, or hardware.
Some key stats about Lavu POS include:
– Used in over 10,000 restaurant locations globally
– Integrated with over 40+ third party platforms like Toast, Square, and Clover
– Offers inventory management, reporting, and analytics
– Customizable menu builder and floor plan creator
13. Loyverse POS
Loyverse POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed to streamline sales, inventory, and employee management for small businesses. As an all-in-one mobile POS, Loyverse provides essential business tools like inventory and sales tracking, custom reporting, and online ordering all in one easy-to-use platform.
Pros: Key advantages of Loyverse POS include its cloud-based platform which allows access from any internet-connected device, customizable reporting to track sales and inventory trends, integrated online ordering for curbside pickup or delivery, customizable product catalogs and menus, and built-in employee management tools.
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the online ordering and delivery modules require additional monthly fees on top of the basic POS software pricing. Customer support may also be limited for low-volume merchants on the basic pricing plan.
Pricing: Loyverse POS pricing starts at $49 per month for a basic single-user plan. Additional advanced features like online ordering, delivery, multi-store/multi-user capabilities require upgrading to higher-priced plans ranging from $99-299 per month based on store size and functionality needed.
Some key stats about Loyverse POS include: Ability to process payments from any iOS or Android device, integrated online ordering and delivery functionality, over 300 customizable reporting templates, support for over 40 hardware peripherals like barcode scanners and receipt printers.
14. Lakeside Software
Lakeside Software offers a comprehensive foodservice distribution software called SysTrack that helps businesses streamline their operations. SysTrack is a digital employee experience management platform that helps foodservice distributors manage their inventory, orders, reporting and customer support all in one solution.
Pros: Some key advantages of Lakeside Software’s SysTrack include: – Robust inventory management capabilities to keep track of stock levels in real-time – Powerful order management functionality to process wholesale orders efficiently – Extensive reporting tools to analyze sales, inventory and other key metrics – Strong customer support included to assist with any issues
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that as an all-in-one solution, SysTrack requires a bigger investment compared to best-of-breed point solutions. However, the integrated nature also provides consolidated management of the entire distribution operations.
Pricing: SysTrack pricing is based on the number of users and customizable based on specific business needs. Lakeside Software offers both monthly and annual subscription plans along with customized quotes for enterprises.
Some key stats about Lakeside Software’s SysTrack include: – Used by over 3,000 organizations worldwide – Supports over 5 million devices – Over 30 years of experience in digital employee experience management – Annual client satisfaction rating of over 95%
15. Oracle Micros
Oracle Micros, formerly known as MICROS Systems, is a leading provider of enterprise-level foodservice distribution and point-of-sale (POS) software. Founded in 1968, Oracle Micros offers integrated hardware, software, and services solutions that help restaurants, hotels, and retailers streamline operations, drive sales, and improve the customer experience. Their flagship MICROS Simphony POS system is utilized by hundreds of thousands of locations worldwide.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of Oracle Micros’ MICROS Simphony POS system include:
– Robust feature set tailored for restaurants, hotels, and retailers
– Integrated hardware and software solutions for seamless workflow
– Mobile capabilities that allow staff to take orders from any location
– Advanced inventory tracking and control functionalities
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the upfront costs – Oracle Micros caters more to large-scale enterprise customers so initial licensing and installation fees tend to be higher compared to some smaller providers.
Pricing: Pricing for Oracle Micros’ MICROS Simphony POS system varies depending on business size and needs. General pricing starts at $5,000 for a basic point-of-sale system and rises to over $100,000 for a fully integrated enterprise implementation including hardware, installation, training, and support packages.
Some key stats about Oracle Micros and their MICROS Simphony POS system include:
– Over 350,000 locations worldwide rely on Oracle Micros’ POS systems every day
– Available in over 80 countries with support in over 30 languages
– Offers fully integrated back-office, kitchen, and inventory management capabilities
– Over 45 years of experience in the hospitality and retail industries
Conclusion
Choosing the right distribution software is an important decision that requires evaluating your specific business needs and goals. The solutions highlighted in this blog represent some of the strongest options on the market with proven success serving foodservice businesses of all types and sizes. Taking the time to understand feature sets, pricing models and customer experiences can help you select a partner well-equipped to support your growth for years to come.