The hospitality sector suffered greatly during the COVID pandemic, leading businesses to reconsider their sales strategies. Many pubs, coffee shops, and restaurants adjusted their approach by offering delivery and takeaway services, in order to keep their operations running.
To facilitate this transition, they adopted online ordering systems. In simple terms, these systems enable businesses to receive orders and process payments from customers through a dedicated application or website. Even though the pandemic’s impact is waning, these services continue to be a crucial support for struggling businesses during the economic downturn.
Now, the logical progression for any hospitality establishment is to establish its own online ordering system to take advantage of the increasing number of users relying on online deliveries. However, given the abundance of available options, it becomes essential to ensure that you select the most suitable system for your business requirements.
Having extensively evaluated numerous products in the market, we have meticulously crafted a comprehensive review that aims to provide you with valuable insights into the top-performing online ordering systems. Our analysis delves into essential factors including pricing, compatibility, and integration, enabling you to make informed decisions about the most suitable solution for your business.
Overview
| Square | The Good Till | Epos NOW |
| Compatibility Apple iPad or Square Register | Compatibility Apple iPad | Compatibility Windows, Android, Mac & iPad/iOS |
| Pricing Standard plan – Free Plus plan – £69/ Month | Pricing £38/ Month | Pricing £25/ Month £379/ Year |
Ideal for: Businesses seeking an affordable solution with a range of valuable features. Square’s Plus plan offers competitive pricing compared to other competitors.
Compatibility: Cloud-based, available for use on iPad or Square Register.
Square POS for Restaurants is part of a suite of cloud-based apps provided by Square, which also includes Square POS for Retail and Square Point of Sale. This platform offers a cost-effective solution, with some features even available for free. Alongside the core POS functionality, Square provides a host of impressive additional sales features, such as customer gift cards, a virtual terminal for phone payments, and an online store builder. These features are particularly beneficial for small businesses that are either starting out or undergoing a complete rebranding process before venturing into takeaway services.
It is important to note that Square POS for Restaurants is designed to work specifically with iPads or Square Register, the latter of which carries a cost of £600 + VAT. While Square Point of Sale is compatible with Android, it may be deemed too simplistic for takeaway operations.
Pricing:
- Free (with certain limitations)
- Plus Plan: £69 per month (30-day free trial)
- Premium Plan: Negotiable monthly cost (30-day free trial)
- 1.75% card processing fee applies.
Ideal for: Small businesses seeking a unified and flexible solution, allowing them to customize their system according to their specific requirements.
Compatibility: Cloud-based, specifically designed for iPad devices.
Acquired by renowned tech company SumUp in November 2020, the Good Till Co is a well-regarded provider of point-of-sale (POS) systems. Their unique software model operates on a modular approach, offering the flexibility to add or remove features as needed. One of their notable add-on features is the online ordering system called Goodeats, seamlessly integrating with their core Good Till Co POS system. To utilize Goodeats, it is necessary to first install the Good Till Co POS system, available exclusively for iPad devices. The Good Till POS software is reasonably priced at just £29 per month. The Goodeats add-on for online ordering comes at no additional cost and smoothly integrates with the Good Till POS menu, enabling customers to conveniently place their orders online. For small businesses, it is recommended to acquire the ‘hospitality’ add-on, which includes valuable features such as table and tab management.
Pricing:
- £38 per month for the Good Till POS system and Hospitality add-on (Hospitality module incurs an additional cost of £9 per month)
- Goodeats online ordering feature is available for free.
Ideal for: Small businesses seeking comprehensive business reporting and insight to optimize cost reduction strategies.
Compatibility: Cloud-based, compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iPad platforms.
This software provider specializes in electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems, catering specifically to small businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors. In addition to EPOS functionality, their offerings extend to encompass reporting, customer relationship management (CRM), and online ordering solutions for takeaway and delivery services.
Epos Now’s takeaway ordering system stands out for its user-friendly onboarding process and included staff training e-modules, ensuring a smooth implementation experience at no additional cost. The product boasts an array of impressive features, including real-time reporting capabilities that cover crucial aspects such as staff performance, customer insights, and inventory management. It offers the flexibility to be used as a standalone system or integrated with a wide range of third-party applications, including payment systems and accounting software.
Pricing:
- £25 per month.
- £379 per year.
Which online ordering platform is the best?
Having absorbed the insights shared in this article, you should now feel equipped with the knowledge to make confident decisions regarding the various available products and their unique advantages for your business. The next step is to carefully consider which of these systems can serve as a fundamental asset in your pursuit of success.
For those venturing into the hospitality sector or exploring Cloud-based POS systems for the first time, it would be wise to seek providers that offer round-the-clock support. Conversely, if financial gains are a priority in your business, prioritizing a service that minimizes costs may be of utmost importance.
We understand that sifting through all the information provided can be overwhelming, which is why we offer a convenient solution through our online ordering system comparison tool. By simply filling out a brief form, you can effortlessly connect with some of the industry’s top suppliers. This streamlined process takes only a minute of your time and saves you hours of additional research.
