HoReCa Software: Definition, Types, and Best HoReCa Management Software in 2022

Let’s be frank — 2020 hasn’t been the best year for the world’s economy, and the HoReCa segment has taken some of the hardest blows. Regrettably, not all businesses will survive the tide, but many are using this recession to regroup and optimize their operations. One of the smarter ways to do so is by adopting a modern HoReCa software product in your workflow — and we’d like to talk about that in more detail.

What to anticipate in 2024

As we approach 2024, three noteworthy trends are set to make their mark in the HoReCa industry:

Augmented Reality Integration

Expect HoReCa software to leverage augmented reality (AR) in innovative ways. From menus that showcase dishes in 3D to providing virtual tours of the restaurant or hotel. Interactive space saves valuable time and simplifies the exploration of unfamiliar environments.

Drone Technology in HoReCa Deliveries

McKinsey urges to wait for the rise of drone technology, to cater to various last-mile delivery needs. This includes the delivery of prepared food and small packages. Notably, this technology stands out for its cost-effectiveness, thanks to reduced labor expenses, and eco-friendliness.

Blockchain for Food Safety

Blockchain technology will be increasingly utilized to ensure food traceability. Customers will have greater visibility into the sourcing of ingredients, and restaurants can prove the authenticity of their dishes. This transparency will build trust and confidence in HoReCa management.

HoReCa software: what is it?

HoReCa software is software for automating processes in hotels, restaurants, and other catering facilities. HoReCa software is practically indispensable when you need to scale your business. Making money by running a business entirely manually is realistic, but without automation systems of HoReCa software, manageability will always fall in proportion to the growth of business capacity and the degree of involvement of the founder.

HoReCa software for restaurant automation helps to break down the processes in a restaurant into chains and reduce the role of the human factor as the correctness of repetitive actions is determined by the algorithm, not a person.

With HoReCa software, it is possible to:

Types of HoReCa management software

What are the most common types of HoReCa software automation solutions? It really depends on the establishment, but the basic HoReCa software types are as follows:

• HoReCa solutions for the cashier, in which the rank-and-file staff conducts sales in a quick check format and distributes orders to tables.
• Manager HoReCa software where you can create menu items with access levels for the rank-and-file personnel (the ability to delete/correct the already made sales), view sales reports by different filters and categories (what are the hours of peak sales, what dish is the best-selling, etc).
• Warehouse HoReCa software that creates recipes and calculates cost, where you can see the balance and the percentage of writing off.
• HoReCa software for chefs, which displays the composition of the check in the kitchen.
• HoReCa software for booking. It allows restaurants not to write all reservations in a big notebook and adjust online the availability of tables. Overall it can improve turnover by 15-20%.
• Delivery HoReCa software. In the case of contracts with delivery services this type of software isn’t necessary, but if the institution has its own network of couriers, it can help to assign personnel to departures, see delivery time, calculate the fuel, etc.

TOP 4 Trends of HoReCa Software Development in 2022

Competent implementation of trends always has a positive effect on the growth of the establishment's profits and customer loyalty. Despite the pandemic crisis affecting the HoReCa sector, the number of catering outlets continues to grow. Let's take a look at the major trends in 2022.

Delivery

Delivery and takeout, previously classified as additional services, have moved into the category of must-have and are part of the "basic" set of services.

Digitalization, automation, and cloud services

SMM, CRM, SERM, SEO, and API have long become not only an integral part of communication but also a tool for business development. If the establishment does not maintain end-to-end analytics, site statistics, allowing for a better understanding of its target audience, does not track the sources of traffic, and does not evaluate the effectiveness of its actions - it is not viable.

Robotization

The presence of robots in the restaurant and bar industry has long been no fantasy. Such a solution helps restaurateurs to automate routine processes and reduce labor costs: the front of the house can work with guests and the back of the house can solve problems in the kitchen

Mobile applications with a personalized loyalty program

Data from loyalty programs that take into account customer behavior is always more effective with personalized offers and discounts. Most services are automatically subscribed to when you first order through a mobile app. Later, the information collected is used for targeting groups or forming a seasonal menu.

Why you should be going digital

The days of the maître d' taking your reservation over the phone and jotting it down on a piece of paper are long gone. Hotels, restaurants, caterers — everyone is moving to digital, making life easier for themselves and their customers. Here are some of the benefits of having a HoReCa software solution for your hospitality business:

• Automation Less day-to-day manual work for your staff leads to an increase in efficiency and reliability.
• A better user experience Faster placing orders or reservations, fewer human errors, 24/7 availability, loyalty programs, personal customization.
• Streamlined stock control and logistics Whether it’s clean towels or fresh vegetables, your new software will take care of it with ease.
• All of your reports in one place Quick access to financial documents and business metrics gives you better control and simplifies decision making.
• A synchronized approach All aspects of your business work in unison, so there is no room for miscommunication or delays.

We could go on, but by now, you can probably guess what we’re trying to say: a HoReCa software solution would give your HoReCa business a solid backbone, as well as save tons of time and money. The next question is: what kind of aHoReCa software system or app should you be after? Keep reading for a quick overview of your options.

Software products for HoReCa

It all depends on the type of business you are running, what aspects you want to improve, and what new heights you plan to reach. But here’s something to think about: you can work from the inside by commissioning a HoReCa software to manage your internal processes or focus on your customers and build an application for them.

We highly recommend that you tackle this from both sides. That way, you’ll know your operations are in order and run at full efficiency, while your customers have a neat-looking app to practice their brand loyalty on. With this in mind, let’s look at some of the choices.

Accommodation services management software

In addition to being fast, secure, and reliable, and all-round HoReCa software for a business specializing in lodging should have:

Of course, a small bed & breakfast facility or a hostel might not need as many HoReCa software functions, but a large hotel chain will likely require all the bells and whistles. That’s one more reason to have your application custom-built.

A restaurant management app

Running a restaurant or a cafe has never been an easy job, and there is always room for optimization. Fortunately, we at Perfsol have some hands-on experience building a management platform for this kind of business. By modernizing and augmenting the previous version of the HoReCa mangement software, we’ve created a system for our Dubai-based client that was capable of:

Hungry customers don’t particularly enjoy waiting, so lightning-fast performance is a must in this case.

A client-side app for your brand

Has the pandemic made you switch to the delivery-only model at your restaurant? You can partner up with the existing delivery services like Uber Eats, or you can have your own app to increase visibility and brand loyalty. Customers who love your food and the way you go about your business will be happy to download an app and enjoy your services on their smartphones. But only if your HoReCa software:

According to this research, businesses with a great omnichannel presence enjoy up to 91% better client retention rates than those unable to deliver a synchronized experience. So making an app consistent with your brand’s values and standards, one that makes the transition between offline and online seamless, may seem like a daunting task. If only you could find a reliable HoReCa software vendor with the fitting expertise and resources…

Horeca Software Development Examples

The needs when creating your own HoReCa software depend on the business model under which the restaurant or hotel chain operates, and the set of tasks solved by this software can constantly change under the influence of various factors, up to such extreme situations as pandemics and lockdowns. In this case, custom HoReCa software can become a competitive advantage: its work can be adjusted, which you can't do with standard HoReCa software from software vendors. Custom HoReCa software can integrate several different types of software required in the company's operations with a single IT solution. HoReCa software may include POS, ERP, CRM, accounting systems, and logistics management systems for couriers. This is convenient both for large networks and for small enterprises, for which the purchase of licensed software for every business task is a large expense. At the same time, it is possible to create HoReCa software for one specific function. So how does the development of HoReCa software work? To find out, let's take a look at HoReCa software projects from Perfsol.

As a software partner for one of the leading chains of hotels and restaurants in Europe, we were entrusted to build a comprehensive platform to cater to the unique demands of the hospitality sector. The venture began with a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform focusing on booking management, check-ins, room allocation, and guest list coordination.

Speaking specifically of the core features of the HoReCa management software we developed, we’d like to highlight the following features:

• Reservation Management
• Menu Customization
• Inventory Control
• Guest List and CRM
• Point of Sale (POS) Integration
• Kitchen Display Systems
• Table Allocation
• Reporting and Analytics
• Multi-Location Management
• Mobile Apps

However, as the project evolved, our client realized the need for enhanced platform performance and capabilities. The new platform excelled with improved performance, scalability, and flexibility. But how did we achieve it?

Besides developing a graceful software solution using a microservice architecture, we have also created an efficient API to link various external interfaces, including Android and iOS applications, POS terminals, and the client's website.

Perfsol's success in custom HoReCa solutions is a testament to how technology can elevate operations and customer experiences. Our hotel & restaurant products empower unforgettable guest experiences, with a particular focus on scalability and efficiency.

HoReCa Software Development Costs

Now let's take a closer look at the price of HoReCa software. You can calculate the price of HoReCa software based on two key factors: the developer's rate per hour and the number of features. These factors are interdependent, because the more features in your HoReCa software, the more time the developers will spend on their implementation. Thus, the higher the final price tag will be.

Let's move on to more specific figures. The average rate for HoReCa software developers in the U.S. and Western Europe is about $ 80 per hour. It takes about 100 hours to implement the functionality of a simple HoReCa software. The development of a complex HoReCa software will take about 1 thousand hours.

Performing simple calculations, you can find out that the development of a relatively small HoReCa software project will cost you** about $ 8,000**. Complex HoReCa software will cost much more, about $ 80,000. However, there is a way to reduce the cost of HoReCa software development significantly. If you cooperate with companies from other regions, the price can be almost halved. For example, based on the experience of the Ukrainian company Perfsol, where the rate is $ 40 per hour, the development of HoReCa software will cost $ 4,000 and $ 40,000 respectively. At the same time, you will get an unprecedented level of quality, strict adherence to deadlines, and experienced professionals capable of creating an HoReCa software project from scratch as well as strengthening the existing team.

How AI is Revolutionizing HORECA (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) Industry

The hospitality industry is constantly evolving and looking for ways to enhance customer experiences, increase efficiency, and maximize profits. One of the most promising technologies in recent years is artificial intelligence (AI), which is being used to transform the HORECA industry. By leveraging AI, businesses in the HORECA sector can automate tasks, enhance customer experiences, and gain valuable insights into their operations.

One of the key ways AI is being used in the HORECA industry is through chatbots and virtual assistants. These tools can provide customers with personalized recommendations, help them make reservations, and answer frequently asked questions. Chatbots and virtual assistants can also reduce the workload for staff members, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

Another way AI is being used in HORECA is through predictive analytics. By analyzing data on customer behavior, preferences, and purchase history, businesses can make more informed decisions on pricing, menu offerings, and promotions. This can help to optimize revenue and increase customer satisfaction.

AI is also being used to improve operational efficiency in the HORECA industry. For example, AI-powered inventory management systems can automatically reorder supplies when stock levels run low, reducing waste and ensuring that businesses always have the products they need. AI can also be used to optimize staffing schedules, ensuring that businesses have the right number of staff members on hand at all times.

Overall, AI is rapidly transforming the HORECA industry, providing businesses with the tools they need to enhance customer experiences, increase efficiency, and maximize profits. As AI continues to evolve, it will likely play an even greater role in shaping the future of the HORECA industry.

TOP 3 HoReCa Software Solutions

Let's take a look at the typical representatives of the HoReCa software market. It should be noted that the word TOP is rather relative, and it’s just typical representatives of this industry are represented below.

Toast POS

This HoReCa software was developed specially for the restaurant business in the USA. Its main tasks are to increase the efficiency of employees and improve the quality of customer service and reduce costs. Its functions include menu management, pricing, and customer ordering. For example, it can be used to generate end-of-order notifications and split customer checks when necessary.

7shifts

This HoReCa software is primarily needed for scheduling employees. It was originally created precisely to simplify the work of restaurant managers because it is very convenient to monitor attendance and schedule shifts. It helps to fully staff the restaurant and avoid overlapping shifts.

TouchBistro

This HoReCa software is specifically designed to automate business processes in a restaurant. The areas it covers are quite extensive. For example, you can use it to manage orders and tables, plan the work of the staff and so on. The HoReCa app can be controlled from a tablet, which allows you to use it from anywhere in the restaurant and even remotely.

HoReCa software example

Sometimes there is simply no suitable HoReCa software on the market for your specific business needs, especially if the company is trying to keep up with tech trends, but is developing in an industry where not everyone needs innovative solutions. This is why clients quite often turn to Perfsol for custom HoReCa apps. A prime example of such software is the SerVme platform.

In this case, our customer from Dubai was looking for technical consultants and a HoReCa software development team to help him overhaul the SaaS platform, optimizing performance and extending it with new capabilities. SerVme is an innovative solution that helps the world's largest hospitality brands deliver memorable, spectacular guest experiences across their venues. We implemented both the front- and back-end of HoReCa software. A significant portion of the work was for the back-end, implementing optimal APIs for communication between the front-ends of our Android application, iOS application, and the website.

Specifically, our task was to enhance the following HoReCa software features of the system:

• seating arrangements management;
• analytics of guest tastes and preferences;
• PoS terminals;
• customized reports creation;
• we also provided technical consulting.

During the development of HoReCa software, we used the following technologies:

Thanks to automation, the customer was able to accurately calculate the number of available seats and increase the flow of customers. As a result of using the new HoReCa software, order preparation time decreased as well as the number of complaints from employees, and customer satisfaction only kept growing.

Perfsol is ready to assist your business in its digital transformation. With our diverse portfolio in HoReCa software and a relentless focus on the client’s needs, we’ll be your perfect partner in creating a management solution for your hotel, restaurant, bar — as well as building a web-based or mobile app.

Let’s get in touch and have a chat! And remember: soon, humanity will beat the virus with its science and resilience, and we’ll once again be able to enjoy safe travel and a good meal in each other’s company.