April 21, 2025
Behind every smoothly running restaurant is a well-managed team supported by the right technological tools.
Restaurant owners face increasing pressure to optimize operations while maintaining quality service. Thus, employee management software has become essential.
According to a recent report by the National Restaurant Association (NSA), the restaurant industry currently employs 15.5 million employees and is expected to reach 17 million by 2030.
These statistics show that implementing the right staff management software is of utmost necessity to streamline operations.
Think about your daily operations.
How much time do you spend scheduling, payroll, and managing staff documents?
These administrative tasks consume hours you could have spent growing your business and enhancing customer experience. The good news is that modern restaurant employee management software can reduce these administrative hours.
From streamlining payroll processes to simplifying staff scheduling, the right solution can transform how you manage your team.
This guide will walk you through essential features, top software options, and practical considerations to make an informed decision.
Let's understand how the right restaurant employee management software can help you streamline your operations and increase profitability.
The backbone of any thriving establishment is its team; effectively managing that team can make or break your business.
Here are a few reasons why your restaurant needs employee management software.
Gone are the days of manual timesheets and complicated payroll calculations. Today's restaurant management software automates these time-consuming tasks, reducing errors and saving valuable hours.
Automated time-tracking systems can save restaurant managers up to 8 hours weekly. Modern payroll systems integrate seamlessly with time-tracking features, automatically calculating regular hours, overtime, and tip distribution.
This integration ensures accurate payments and helps maintain compliance with labor laws and tax regulations.
Restaurant owners report reduced payroll processing time when using integrated management systems.
Staff scheduling has always been challenging for restaurant managers due to its variable peak hours and seasonal fluctuations.
However, smart scheduling tools within management software can analyze historical data to predict busy periods and suggest optimal staffing levels.
This predictive capability helps prevent overstaffing and understaffing, directly impacting the bottom line. These systems also address the costly problem of no-shows and last-minute shift changes.
With mobile apps and instant notifications, employees can easily swap shifts or communicate availability changes while managers maintain oversight and control. Restaurants report a reduction in scheduling conflicts after implementing these solutions.
The restaurant industry faces unique HR challenges, from high turnover rates to complex compliance requirements.
Modern management software helps track employee certifications, manage food safety training records, and maintain important documentation. This centralized approach keeps you ready for health inspections or audit requirements.
Performance tracking and feedback features allow managers to monitor employee progress, identify training needs, and recognize top performers.
This data-driven approach to employee development has improved staff retention rates by up to 25% in restaurants.
At iOrders, we help restaurants integrate our smart restaurant management software from commission-free online ordering to an AI-powered review system.
Our experience has shown that choosing the right staff management software is very important. We help restaurants evaluate their needs and find solutions that integrate smoothly with their existing operations.
Schedule a consultation with iOrders to help choose the right restaurant staff management and payroll software.
Now, let's examine some of the top software options available.
Choosing the right software for your restaurant requires careful consideration of your needs, budget, and operational goals.
We've analyzed the market leaders to help you make an informed decision, highlighting each platform's strengths and unique offerings.
7shifts has earned its reputation by focusing exclusively on the restaurant industry's unique challenges. Their hiring and onboarding tools have revolutionized how restaurants build their teams and have reduced time-to-hire at a significant rate.
The platform's integrated payroll and time-tracking features work together seamlessly, ensuring accurate compensation while minimizing administrative overhead.
Efficient Scheduling: 7Shifts provides intuitive tools for creating and managing employee schedules. The software allows managers to create schedules quickly, minimizing labor costs while ensuring adequate coverage. It offers automated shift reminders, reducing no-shows and ensuring employees know their work hours.
Payroll Integration: The software automates the payroll process by syncing timesheets directly with payroll software, ensuring accurate calculations and timely payments. This integration eliminates manual data entry errors, reducing administrative workload and payroll discrepancies.
Labor Cost Control: 7Shifts allows managers to track labor costs in real-time. It offers analytics and reports that provide insights into staffing trends and labor expenses. By monitoring these metrics, managers can make informed decisions to optimize staff schedules and control operational costs.
Employee Engagement: The software offers features like shift swapping, time-off requests, and team communication, promoting employee engagement and satisfaction. Providing employees more control over their schedules and enhancing communication contributes to a more positive work environment.
Compliance Management: 7Shifts helps restaurants comply with labor laws, including overtime regulations and meal break requirements. It automates compliance tracking, ensuring businesses adhere to industry standards without manual effort.
Mobile Accessibility: With a mobile-friendly interface, 7Shifts allows managers and employees to access schedules, communicate, and manage tasks. This feature is especially beneficial for businesses with multiple locations or mobile teams.
By combining 7Shift’s advanced scheduling and payroll features with iOrders’s easy-to-use ordering system, restaurants can boost operational efficiency and service quality, leading to better overall results.
Connecteam stands out for its comprehensive approach to restaurant management. Its GPS-enabled time clock ensures accurate tracking while preventing time theft, a common issue that costs restaurants thousands annually.
The platform's automated payroll system integrates seamlessly with popular accounting software, reducing processing time.
What sets Connecteam apart is its innovative approach to employee engagement. The platform includes customizable alerts and rewards systems that help boost staff motivation and retention.
Restaurant managers report that these features have helped reduce turnover rates. The system's document management capabilities also streamline compliance tracking, making maintaining certifications and training records easier.
Sling excels at simplifying complex scheduling. Its comprehensive scheduling and task management tools help managers create efficient schedules while considering employee preferences, availability, and labor laws.
The platform's conflict detection system automatically alerts managers to potential scheduling issues before they become problems.
The software's payroll integration options work with most major payroll providers, making it a flexible choice for restaurants with existing systems.
Sling's task management features also help ensure consistent service quality by tracking daily responsibilities and special projects.
Jolt's face-ID system brings cutting-edge technology to restaurant management. It eliminates buddy punching and ensures accurate attendance records.
This advanced feature alone has helped restaurants save an average of 1.5% on labor costs. The platform's enhanced task management system ensures no task remains undone even during busy service periods.
Beyond basic time tracking, Jolt offers comprehensive performance monitoring tools that help identify training needs and recognize top performers.
The platform's mobile-first approach matches modern workforce expectations, improving employee satisfaction and engagement.
Remember, the best choice isn't always the one with the most features but rather the one that best fits your restaurant's unique requirements and growth plans.
Now, let’s discuss the essential features you should look for when selecting employee management software for your restaurant.
When investing in employee management software, certain features can significantly impact your restaurant's operational efficiency.
Understanding these key components will help you select a system that meets your needs and provides long-term value for your business.
Modern payroll systems do much more than just calculate wages. Today's integrated solutions handle everything from tip distribution to tax withholding, making payday a breeze rather than a burden.
Advanced systems can process multiple pay rates for employees working different roles and automatically calculate overtime based on local regulations.
These systems also generate detailed reports that give you insights into labor costs and help with budgeting.
By connecting with your point-of-sale system, they can accurately track sales-to-labor ratios, helping you maintain optimal staffing levels and profitability.
For example, restaurants using integrated payroll systems report average labor cost savings of 2-3%, significantly impacting their bottom line.
Effective scheduling is an art form in the restaurant industry. Modern scheduling tools use artificial intelligence to analyze historical data and predict staffing needs based on weather, local events, and past sales patterns.
This predictive scheduling helps you maintain optimal service levels while controlling labor costs.
Time management features go beyond basic clock-in/clock-out functions. They can track break compliance and monitor overtime trends.
These tools can reduce schedule creation time by up to 75%, improving accuracy and employee satisfaction.
The right software streamlines the training process, ensuring consistent service quality across your operation.
Digital training modules can track progress, verify completion, and maintain certification records. This systematic approach reduces training time by up to 40% while ensuring all employees meet your service standards.
Managing documentation in the restaurant industry can be overwhelming. From food handler certifications to employment forms, the paperwork never seems to end.
Modern management systems provide secure digital storage and automated tracking of important documents, ensuring you're always audit-ready.
Smart restaurant employee management systems send automatic reminders when certifications are about to expire or when training is due.
Thus, it helps maintain compliance and reduces the risk of penalties or violations.
Your management software must be accessible on smartphones and tablets. Mobile access allows managers to make schedule changes on the fly and enables employees to check schedules, swap shifts, or request time off from anywhere.
Mobile accessibility increases employee engagement and reduces scheduling conflicts by up to 60%.
The best systems feature intuitive interfaces that require minimal training to use effectively. They should work smoothly on any device while maintaining security and protecting sensitive information.
Remember, no matter how many features the software has, your team will not use it effectively if they aren’t user-friendly.
It’s time to wrap up our discussion.
Selecting and implementing the right employee management software is a significant investment that can transform your restaurant operations.
This decision requires careful consideration of various factors to ensure you choose a solution that meets your current needs and can scale with your business.
Every restaurant has its own operational style, challenges, and goals. Start by analyzing your specific pain points and priorities. Understanding the core needs helps narrow your options to solutions that address your challenges.
Restaurants often overlook important factors like integration capabilities and scalability when selecting software.
With years of experience implementing restaurant technology, iOrders offers valuable insights and support throughout your software selection journey.
Through our extensive work implementing various restaurant systems, we've developed a comprehensive evaluation framework that helps restaurants make informed decisions.
Schedule a call with iOrders today to discuss your payroll and employee management needs.
