Fast food automation in 2022
Automation of a fast food establishment allows you to improve the quality of work and service at the enterprise. Today, with the help of special programs – automation systems – you can organize the work of fast food, regardless of its scale.

The fast food automation system is a specialized program with which your production will run like clockwork by the best Swiss craftsmen, regardless of its size, sales volume, number of outlets and employees. Also under your full control will be sales, purchases and reporting. In addition, automation programs help to take into account the balance of products in warehouses; simplify the process and formation of an order, technological maps. And that’s not all that such a system is capable of: tracking staff performance, full financial analytics, monitoring the expiration dates of food and beverage stocks – all this and much more under the control of just one program.

The automation system is installed on a smartphone, tablet or computer (some programs are designed only for computers, iOS or Android systems).

Automation programs allow you to save time and money, and virtually eliminate the possibility of making a mistake in your work. Firstly, the influence of the human factor on many processes is reduced. Secondly, the warehouse always has products in the right quantity and, most importantly, fresh, since the expiration date is also monitored. Monitoring the effectiveness of the work of the staff allows you to optimally adjust the process of the work of the team. Thanks to automation, the time from ordering to receiving the finished dish by a satisfied customer is reduced.

In addition, the owner of the establishment will always be able to have an analytical report in front of his eyes in order to understand where and what part of the budget goes, what are the costs and in what part they can be reduced. In addition, net profit is visible, which is important, since it is difficult to track this indicator in catering without special programs.

In a word, if an automation system is installed at the enterprise, the staff is engaged only in their immediate duties, the quality of guest service increases. The reputation of the institution is strengthened. Even without investments in marketing, new customers are already being attracted, which contributes to the development of the company and the growth of its income.

So that you can quickly select an effective and reliable program for your establishment, KP has compiled for you a ranking of the best fast food automation systems in 2022. 

Top 10 systems for automating fast food in 2022 according to KP

1. FUSION POS

Fusion POS is used to optimize and automate the work of various catering establishments, not least in fast food establishments. The program is distinguished by a clear installation and configuration, which together will take no more than 15 minutes.

Editor’s Choice
FUSION POS
The best system for the bakery
Control absolutely all technological and financial processes from anywhere in the world and on any device
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The program works in three modes. The first of which is “Fast Food” – suitable for serving only on orders at the checkout – there is no need to choose a table and a hall. The second “Cafe” – is intended for serving at tables and halls with the possibility of transferring, dividing or combining an order. Finally, the third in the list, but not least – “Delivery”, which is intended for remote customer service. Perhaps one of the most important, if a large proportion of your profit comes from customers who prefer to order food at home through courier delivery.

Fusion POS includes a number of essential modules, including: warehouse management, waybills, technological cards, loyalty system and many others. The service automatically conducts analytics and compiles reports and graphs based on the information collected. At the same time, the number of required modules can be selected depending on the needs of the enterprise. The basic modules include warehouse management, which is very important for any fast food establishment. At any time, you can see online what products and in what quantity are in stock and draw up an invoice. Thanks to the “Critical stocks” function, you can know in advance that a certain product or ingredient is running out and order it in a timely manner.

The menu management function, as well as individual ingredients, dishes and goods, will allow you to create a technological map according to selected criteria.

The interface is understandable even for a beginner without experience, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time learning. But if you have any questions, you can always contact technical support for help, calls within Our Country are free.

Another benefit of Fusion POS is its independence from internet connection failures. In other words, if for some reason your Internet is gone, you can still continue to work. All changes will be synchronized as soon as the connection to the network is restored.

You can control work processes and finances in the control panel in real time. Detailed statistics are also available there. For business owners and executives, there is a separate Fusion Board app for Android and iOS devices. It allows you to control all processes from anywhere in the world.

You can choose the tariff that includes the necessary functions and not overpay for unnecessary ones. After installation, two weeks are given to get acquainted with the service and its functions for free. Then you can choose a tariff with basic functions from 1 rubles per month. 

Advantages and disadvantages

Fast software installation and configuration in 15 minutes; clear interface; the ability to work even if there is no Internet connection; control over the work of your enterprise from anywhere in the world; the ability to choose the necessary functions for your enterprise individually; technical support promptly answers all questions; there is a two-week free period to get acquainted with the functionality and service
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Official site — fusionpos.ru

2. r_keeper

The program differs in that it has a large number of modules that will facilitate the work at any enterprise and automate all processes in a fast food establishment as much as possible. With the help of the cash station, you can keep track of the remaining products in the warehouse. There is a delivery module that allows you to track the quality of the work of suppliers, optimize the costs of a fast food establishment.

With the help of the warehouse accounting module, the balance of products in the warehouse is tracked, which allows them to be replenished in a timely manner. The document flow is presented in electronic form, which is much more convenient than the paper version, and all reports are always at hand, wherever you are.

The software will be installed on all the equipment that is in the institution, but only the required interface will be opened on each computer. That is, for example, analytics, revenue, etc. will not be available to the manager. And customer feedback is presented in the loyalty program block, with which you can create discounts and bonuses for customers. The starting price of the service is from 750 rubles per month.

Advantages and disadvantages

A lot of modules, which makes it possible to choose only those that are needed, a clear interface
It is difficult to get through to technical support, almost every question ends with an offer of paid training on working with the program

3. Quick Rest

The automation program includes all the necessary modules for the development and full automation of both fast food establishments and other catering establishments. The main modules are as follows: warehouse accounting, with which you can monitor the balance of products in the warehouse and replenish stocks in a timely manner. The personnel control function will allow you to receive alerts about suspicious transactions online.

Technical support works around the clock and, if necessary, promptly helps to solve all emerging problems. Before you start using the product, you can get a free consultation from a service specialist. Also useful functions include the ability to calculate the cost and write off the technical map. That is, when selling a finished dish, the ingredients that are part of it will be automatically written off from the warehouse. You can analyze all indicators using a separate module. The application is installed on any smartphone, tablet or computer. The starting price of the service is from 5 rubles per year.

Advantages and disadvantages

Round-the-clock and operational support; free consultations on business management and automation
Not very clear functionality, so training is required

4. iiko

A program that is suitable for automating fast food outlets, cafes, confectioneries, bakeries and other catering establishments. Includes a large number of different modules. If the modules are not enough or do not have the capabilities that the enterprise needs, the developers will create them individually.

The program can be installed locally on a computer, tablet or smartphone, or used from the “cloud”. The developer claims that the program uses artificial intelligence technologies, thanks to which many tasks are solved automatically, which makes it possible to profitably save working time.

Also, with the help of modules, you can manage personnel, financial transactions, track inventory in the warehouse. Independent modules are responsible for the delivery and customer loyalty system. 

The developer offers to choose one of the most suitable tariffs with the features that you really need. The starting price of the service is from 1 rubles per month.

Advantages and disadvantages

With the help of artificial intelligence, you can save time, as it solves many tasks on its own; suitable for PC, iOS and Android devices
The most budgetary tariffs include a minimum of features that are not enough for the full automation of the institution

5. SOON

The program is designed to automate various catering establishments, including the sale of fast food. The program includes a large number of useful modules for automation: sales accounting, cash register, inventory control, loyalty system. There are also additional modules: an interactive floor plan, a mobile waiter, a chef’s screen, cooking time, table reservations, Internet acquiring, a stop list with dishes.

In order to get acquainted with the capabilities and functionality of the application, the developer offers to download a demo version that will work for 14 days. Depending on what functions you are going to use, the tariff is selected. The starting price of the service is from 9 rubles per year. It includes sales accounting and cash desk, warehouse accounting, sales analysis, loyalty programs, customer database maintenance and data exchange with FSIS “Mercury”.

Separate paid additions include: a self-service module, EGAIS, OFD for sending checks, an order monitor, a waiter call and food delivery.

Advantages and disadvantages

Round-the-clock online support and availability of representative offices in every city of the Federation
Ready-made offers may not include the necessary functions and you will need to pay extra for them separately

6. YUMA

A system for automating various catering establishments, as well as cafes, restaurants. Includes all the necessary modules for comfortable work of management and staff. There is a back office with which you can manage menus, stock balances, discounts and generate reports.

There is an online checkout, which is needed to receive orders from customers in real time, as well as for self-creating orders by employees, organizing delivery. There is a separate application for courier delivery with which couriers will be able to see and assign orders to themselves, automatically receive all the necessary information on them.

It is convenient that the institution can order from Yuma the development of an application and a website landing page for customers, which will be integrated into the automation system. It will always contain up-to-date information about the organization’s menu, discounts with the possibility of participating in loyalty programs. The starting price of the service is from 28 rubles per year.

Advantages and disadvantages

Convenient and easy to use back office; there is a separate application for the kitchen; smart loyalty system with flexible settings
No trial period; often freezes on Android; long feedback, some users do not have enough round-the-clock technical support, now it works until 22.00

7. DataCrate

DataKart is a system for automating catering establishments of all types. It includes several programs, each of which differs in its functionality and different modules. The main functions are as follows: cash desks with a separate monitor for the visitor, dynamic menu boards that display menus and promotions, a mobile cash desk through which payment and control of all cash transactions are carried out, an electronic queue.

There is a delivery module, warehouse accounting for products and stock balances, a loyalty program with the ability to create promotions, discounts and bonus offers. The use of all standard modules increases the speed of service in the institution. The module for visualizing orders in the kitchen deserves special attention, with the help of which they are all displayed on the screen (up to 12 orders on one monitor).

Advantages and disadvantages

Cash desks with a monitor for the visitor; kitchen order visualization module; there are special offers that allow you to save money
Due to the large number of modules, understanding the program is difficult and training is required.

8. My warehouse

The automation program includes all the following main modules: delivery, food accounting system, a separate application for the cashier. There is a separate application for the cashier, which can be installed on a tablet or smartphone with an iOS or Android system, and if you have an Internet connection, work from a computer by downloading data from the cloud storage.

The support service is available around the clock, there are training webinars that allow you to learn about updates and learn more about all the tools. The loyalty system allows you to conduct customer base analytics, create promotions, discounts, bonus programs.

With the help of the cash module, you can make sales, calculate change, pay in cash or by card, as well as mixed (card + cash). There is a free demo that opens after registering on the site, you can use it for an unlimited time, but it has only basic functionality. The starting price of the service is from 450 rubles per month.

Advantages and disadvantages

There is a free trial period; basic and standard tariff includes additional modules
Support does not respond immediately

9. Tavern

A line of products for the automation of various catering establishments. Online synchronization of bonuses and cashless payments (the first assistant for network establishments where bonuses are used as a loyalty program). In addition to the basic functions for automating the institution and maintaining accounting, there are additional modules, such as: analytics, Traktir-Online (table reservation, pre-ordering dishes, delivery via the Internet). The mobile application is suitable for Android and iOS systems.

Depending on the required functions, you can choose the appropriate program and tariff. For each program there is a demo version that works for free and allows you to get acquainted with the basic features, functionality and decide whether the product is suitable or not. The program can be bought for perpetual use or rented for a certain period. There is technical support, which includes 60 minutes of telephone consultations. The starting price of the service is from 4 rubles per year.

Advantages and disadvantages

You can buy the program or rent it for a certain period; up to 60 minutes of telephone consultations per month
Not suitable for Android devices, by choosing to rent a server, technical support will only be available for 1 month

10. GBS.Market

The program allows you to automate both fast food outlets and other businesses and catering outlets. The product includes all “mandatory” modules, such as:

  • cash (management and control of sales at the point of sale);
  • connection of an online cash register, acquiring terminals and other cash equipment);
  • warehouse accounting program (control of sales, receipts and write-offs of commodity balances in the warehouse of the outlet).

The program has a simple and understandable functionality, updates are regularly received and new features appear.

The developer offers to buy several license options, each of which implies a different period of use. The license implies installation and use only on one computer. There is a separate mode for the cafe, which has a free 30-day period. The starting price of the service is from 240 rubles for one month and from 699 rubles for one quarter.

Advantages and disadvantages

Large trial period – 30 days; has all the necessary modules for automation
The support team does not respond immediately; installation is only possible on Windows

How to choose a fast food automation system

Many fast food automation programs include basic features and additional ones. When choosing the right option, it is important to consider the following criteria:

  • Test period. It is very important to first familiarize yourself with the program, its features and functionality. The trial period is an opportunity to decide for yourself whether such a system suits you or not, before you have made a payment.
  • Technical support. It is equally important to try to contact technical support during this period and evaluate the quality of its work: how quickly they will respond to the message and solve the problem, how well they will do it, etc.
  • Modules. For automation to be as efficient and successful as possible, it is important that the system includes all the necessary components, such as warehouse accounting, a module for a cashier, a manager, and others. This is the minimum required set, each customer defines additional modules for himself. It is important that all additional modules are conveniently connected.
  • System type. Pay attention to which systems and gadgets the product is suitable for (PC, iOS, Android). Also, the program can be installed locally (installation on a computer, smartphone, tablet) or downloaded from the “cloud” (data is stored on the Internet).
  • Pay. It is convenient when you have the opportunity to choose how to pay for the program. If you are sure that you will use the program for a long time, it is most advantageous to choose payment immediately for 6 months, a year or more. If you are not sure that the product will suit you and fully cover all your needs, it is better to pay monthly.

From the foregoing, it follows that a good fast food automation system should have a free trial period, convenient payment, be installed on different gadgets, and have all the functionality necessary for a particular enterprise.

Popular questions and answers

The editors of the KP asked to answer the most frequent questions of readers Nadezhda Belyaev, an expert in automation of the service sector at Tenzor.

What features should a fast food automation system have?

It is important to remember that customers will be satisfied with the service if its speed and quality are up to par. It is the visitors who make a profit and actually pay the staff for a skilled job, so the owner of the establishment must do everything both for the comfort of guests and their own employees. There are 6 key points:

 

1. Clear cash register. It’s good when a menu with photos of dishes, options for combo sets is displayed on the screen. With a good program, the cashier will make a minimum of clicks and work in one window.

2. Electronic queue for guests. It saves cashiers from unnecessary questions, and guests themselves will navigate the queue screen and pick up their orders in a timely manner.

3. Self-service terminals. Fast food customers are accustomed to self-service. The developers have all the necessary software and equipment for this.

4. Marketing. Guests are accustomed to electronic cards and the accumulation of bonuses. Therefore, we make friends with guests, create loyalty cards, make personal offers and promotions that motivate people to visit the establishment more often and spend more.

5. Delivery. Back in 2019, only 18% of establishments organized delivery, in 2022 – already more than 58%. It is important to be able to collect orders from all channels. You need to be friends with well-known aggregators, be able to pick up orders from your own website. The shipping order path must be short. A smart automation system will also help with this.

6. Kitchen automation. Chefs or assemblers in fast food places a lot of orders at the same time. In order to do everything and not get confused, employees should have an assistant who will control the work. These are production monitors that will help coordinate work. Previously, many used receipt printers, but now establishments are moving away from this: it is expensive, inconvenient and not environmentally friendly.

Why do you need to automate the work of fast food?

In the current realities, no institution will survive without automation. Especially fast food. It is the fastest growing food service sector. No restaurants are growing as fast as fast food, coffee to go and others. Such establishments quickly turn into franchises, so it is important to automate them from the very beginning. Then it will be much easier to grow.

How to start automating fast food?

This process must be approached at the stage of designing the premises of the institution. This is just as important as creating the right design concept, buying furniture and choosing uniforms for staff.

 

You need to choose the right service provider. It is best to work with a company that will not only install the software, but also provide the hardware. Together with the automation supplier, the restaurateur must calculate the costs of equipment and services and include them in the estimate.

 

If there are plans to grow into a network, you need to immediately think about whether the automation supplier has representative offices in different cities so that you do not have to work in different systems. In most cases, everything can be solved online. However, if the personal presence of specialists who can set everything up is important for the owner of the network, you need to choose a system that meets your requirements.

 

For those who are already working and continue to keep records on their knees, automation is needed right now. Most likely, such a business is unprofitable. Prices are constantly changing, there is seasonality, you need to stick to the food cost. Keeping everything in your head or in Excel will not work. Therefore, we need to come to terms with the new reality and entrust part of the tasks to the program.”

What are the main mistakes when automating fast food?

Due to an ill-conceived checkout area and place for issuing orders, the institution may lose many orders. To avoid such situations, it is important to think about how comfortable the guest will be: whether he can quickly find the cashier, the place of issue of the order, and other necessary objects.

 

It is also important to work out technical maps, calculate the cost price, and set a markup. An automation program will also help with this. Do not forget to connect to EGAIS and Mercury, register an online cash desk and connect OFD. All this is simplified if you entrust automation to one company. If you ignore these points, you can run into huge fines up to hundreds of thousands of rubles.

 

Life hack for beginner restaurateurs. This does not apply to automation, but it is also very important. The menu needs to be worked out. Check competitors both in the city and at your location. Remember that now the trend is for local cuisine. Your city doesn’t have to have traditional food. Think it over with the chef. You can use local products outside the box, make an unusual presentation. Our guests are selective and even in fast food you need an exclusive.

Is it possible to use free programs to automate fast food?

As a rule, fast food establishments have a low average check, high traffic and a basic set of ingredients for dishes. Such a business is sensitive to rising purchase prices and falling orders. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to look not for a free automation program, but for one that, for reasonable money, will allow you to quickly serve visitors, control purchase prices and scale to new points of sale without significant costs.

 

You should not hurry with the choice, I recommend testing several options. Many companies give a trial period. During this time, you can feel the system, evaluate the functionality.

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