Top Software Solutions for Restaurant Inventory Management

Supplies & Inventory Management

To say managing restaurant inventory is a big job is an understatement! There are many moving parts to keeping inventory track, whether determining how much product to order or reducing food waste (concepts we explored in the previous chapter). Frankly, it takes an ecosystem of employees, systems, and tools to stay on top of your inventory. 

However, using the right tech and software can help manage your inventory with precision and finesse. Here’s a look at some notable inventory management software available on the market. 

MarketMan

MarketMan is a cloud-based, real-time inventory tracking tool known for providing high-quality reporting on food costs and usage trends, integration with POS and account systems, and AI-powered automation. It’s ideal for commercial kitchens that need robust analytic reports and multi-location support. 

Lightspeed Restaurant

Built with a user-friendly interface, Lightspeed Restaurant delivers automated alerts to inform you about low stock and items with looming expiration dates. It also offers detailed reporting and integration with POS systems. This tool is ideal if you’re looking for straightforward inventory software to synchronize with other digital management tools.

XtraCHEF by Toast

With strong features, including invoice automation, recipe costing, and integration with other Toast software (e.g., POS), XtraCHEF is a reliable tool for financial reporting on inventory. It’s ideal if you’re already using Toast POS (although anyone can use it), as it streamlines inventory processes and reduces manual data entry. 

Crunchtime

Crunchtime is an all-encompassing tool for large-scale kitchen operations, centralized control for multiple locations, and advanced recipe costing. It’s an excellent choice for large restaurants or chains with expansive inventories spread across multiple locations. 

Yellow Dog

Not to be taken lightly by its name, Yellow Dog offers customizable and flexible features, such as multi-department/location reporting and vendor relationship management. If you manage multiple restaurant locations, Yellow Dog can be a good fit. 

MarginEdge

With MarginEdge, you get streamlined inventory tracking, detailed reports on menu profitability, and customizable count sheets. It’s a great tool for enhancing your menu's profitability through precise food cost tracking. 

Upserve

Upserve provides a robust suite of inventory management features, such as POS and account software integration, food cost reporting at the dish and menu levels, and more. If you want to analyze menu performance to optimize your pricing, Upserve can be the tool for you. 

ZarMoney

With ZarMoney, you can access real-time warehouse management, intelligent inventory optimization (using data-driven algorithms), and department-specific reports. This tool is great for prioritizing inventory strategies that help minimize waste and improve your cash flow. 

Restaurant365

Restaurant365 is worth considering if you want deep accounting integration, custom reporting, and automated re-ordering (for low stock). It’s ideal for combining accounting with operations. 

Apicbase

Apicbase is a centralized operations management tool for multiple locations, providing real-time insights into food costs and profit margins. This tool will suit restaurants looking to manage inventory across units and want centralized control over stock and purchasing processes. 

SynergySuite

SynergySuite is a great tool for managing food safety, scheduling, cash flow, and recipe analytics. It's ideal for global restaurant chains operating across multiple continents.

StockTake Online

With StockTake Online, you can monitor multiple locations in real time via a mobile app. It also delivers automated reporting on usage and waste. This inventory management tool is handy in the hospitality sector.