A Comparative Analysis of Open Pantry, Restoke, and Marketman: Exploring Their Unique Offerings
Strong contenders for restaurant management systems are finally here and we are seeing huge leaps and bounds in the technology that they can now provide. Open Pantry, Restoke, and Marketman are three prominent players in this space, each offering a unique blend of products, services, and catered towards specific restaurant audiences. This article will delve into a comparative analysis of these three platforms, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and what sets them apart in the competitive landscape.
The Basic Company Profiles
Open Pantry
Open Pantry is an easy-to-use restaurant management software made and designed specifically for chefs. Founded by chefs in Australia, the platform aims to streamline ordering processes, improve cash flow, and reduce waste for restaurants, cafes, and hotels. However, they focus on simplicity and usability as this is the key long term.
Open Pantry offers a suite of features including a menu costing tool. In this feature, users can cost out their recipes, plan ahead with a recipe multiplier and track their food and beverage costs.
Open Pantry offers another tier for power users which includes menu costing, live inventory tracking, POS integrations and in depth reporting. Their latest features include automated ordering in which everything you need from every supplier will be predicted and added to cart with a single click. The platform also integrates with major accounting software and systems, facilitating seamless data exchange and workflow automation.
Open Pantry offers basic ordering for free which focuses on solving the industry's issue with multiple different logins and ways to order from multiple suppliers. It makes it an attractive option for small and medium-sized suppliers and restaurants who are seeking a cost-effective solution. The platform also allows businesses to grow over time by offering additional add-on services that may become relevant, meaning Open Pantry is a long-lasting solution. Its user-friendly interface and emphasis on waste reduction cater to businesses prioritizing sustainability and efficiency, as well, which is all too important in the modern day and age.
Restoke
Restoke is a restaurant process automation and team management software established in 2018. The platform focuses on automating tasks, tracking inventory, and managing staff to optimize restaurant operations and reduce costs, with an emphasis on helping kitchens.
Restoke boasts features like purchase orders, recipe management, food waste tracking, labor scheduling, and performance analytics. It integrates with popular point-of-sale and accounting systems, providing a centralized platform for managing various aspects of a restaurant.
Restoke's claim to fame lies in its supposed ability to reduce food waste by 20-30% and training time by 70%, making it ideal for restaurants seeking significant cost savings and operational improvements. Its user-friendly interface and focus on team management cater to restaurants of all sizes, however, they don’t have dedicated services for wholesale suppliers.
Marketman
Marketman is a cloud-based restaurant inventory management software utilized by over 12,000 restaurants globally. The platform automates tasks like inventory tracking, ordering, invoicing, and recipe costing to streamline operations and improve profitability. Marketman's core features include purchase order automation, real-time inventory updates, recipe costing and COGS reporting, waste tracking, and vendor management tools.
Marketman's focus on recipe costing, COGS reporting, and vendor management makes it ideal for restaurants seeking to optimize their profitability and identify cost-saving opportunities. Its cloud-based nature and scalability cater to restaurants of all sizes, from small cafes to large chains, but this comes at a premium price point which makes the company unaffordable for many.
Product Offerings from Each Company
Open Pantry
Open Pantry specializes in online ordering and food & beverage costings, inventory management and the general streamlining of the back-end of restaurants. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools ideal for restaurants in placing orders, tracking food costs, and inventory levels and integrating with accounting systems.
On the restaurant side of the business, advanced features such as product showcasing, pantry lists, single click order replenishing, menu costing, sales and wastage and food inventory management empower restaurant owners to visualize the cost and profit of their recipes. These smart tools assist in making informed decisions about pricing, reducing wastage, and maximizing profits. Additionally, Open Pantry's interface is designed to be user-friendly for professionals, with intuitive navigation and clear menus. The platform prioritizes ease of use and efficiency for busy restaurants.
Restoke
Restoke focuses on restaurant process automation and team management. Its core features revolve around automating tasks, tracking inventory, and managing staff to optimize operations and reduce waste. Restoke's product offerings cater to the specific needs of restaurant operations, rather than suppliers as well. These products are driven by software which handles recipe and food costing, meaning restaurants can quickly know their margins.
Restoke's interface is designed to be user-friendly for restaurant staff, with a focus on clarity and ease of use. The platform prioritizes accessibility and convenience for busy teams working in fast-paced environments.
Marketman
Marketman focuses on cloud-based food inventory management for restaurants. Its core features involve automating purchase orders, tracking inventory levels in real-time, calculating recipe costs and COGS, and offering vendor management tools. Marketman's product offerings cater specifically to restaurant inventory management needs.
Marketman's interface is designed to be user-friendly and accessible for restaurant staff of all levels. The platform prioritizes clear visuals, intuitive navigation, and mobile-friendly functionality for ease of use on the go.
Pricing and Membership Options
Open Pantry offers a free-to-use basic plan with essential features of connecting with local wholesale suppliers across various categories such as Fruit & Veg, Meat, Seafood, Dry & Frozen Goods, Coffee & Tea, Beverages, Wine, Spirits, and Dairy. Additional features, such as menu costing, sales & wastage management, live inventory and automated ordering, and reporting tools and integrations, are available for around $199 per month. Open Pantry stands out with its feature-rich freemium model, providing businesses with a wide array of functionalities. With the flexibility to upgrade, it presents an appealing option for budget-conscious businesses, distinguishing itself from competitors like Restoke and Marketman that predominantly rely on subscription-based pricing.
Restoke offers tiered subscription plans based on the number of users and features required. Their pricing starts at a lower point compared to Marketman but scales higher for larger operations. Their base plan goes for $79 per month which doesn't include many of their useful features. Their membership fees for their expert plan start at $179 per month and $200+ for pro.
Marketman offers tiered subscription plans based on the needs of your organization. Their pricing starts at a higher point compared to Restoke and Open Pantry but scales more competitively for larger restaurant chains. Their operator package starts at a large $239 per month, followed by their professional plan at $299 per month. Those seeking the plan with all the bells and whistles Marketman has to offer have the option of investing in their Ultimate plan for $429 per month.
The User Experience and Interface
Open Pantry
Open Pantry's website is clean and straightforward, with a focus on functionality over flashy design. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate for restaurant professionals Customer reviews for Open Pantry generally praise its user-friendly and secured interface, efficient ordering system, and helpful customer support.
Also, Open Pantry's web-based platform offers accessibility for users with various devices. Mobile compatibility allows for on-the-go access and management, improving convenience for busy teams.
Restoke
Restoke's website and app feature a modern and visually appealing design. The user interface is intuitive and organized, making it easy for restaurant staff of all levels to learn and use the platform. Some users would like to see more comprehensive inventory management features and improved customization options on the homepage, however, stressing that the company’s focus on aesthetics may have taken away from the usability of the site.
Marketman
Marketman's accuracy in inventory tracking, detailed reports, and improved cost control are praised by users, though the site is noticeably not as “beginner-friendly” as Open Pantry and Restoke’s respective websites. Accordingly, some reviews mention a steeper learning curve compared to competitor platforms and occasional technical glitches.
Marketman's customer support is commended for its responsiveness and helpfulness. Overall, user reviews tend to be positive, with users appreciating the platform's advanced features and data-driven insights once they acclimate to the interface.
Open Pantry, Restoke, or Marketman: Which is right for you?
Determining which of the three covered platforms is right for your business can feel impossible, but summarizing the key points and differences can help. Open Pantry caters to restaurants with simplified ordering with a free-to-use basic plan, making it uniquely ideal for budget-conscious businesses on both sides of the order fulfillment process.
On the other hand, Restoke excels in automating tasks reducing food waste, and optimizing operations for restaurants of all sizes. However, this comes at a higher price point. Marketman focuses on cloud-based data-driven insights, recipe costing, and vendor management, ideal for larger restaurant chains seeking enhanced profitability and cost control.
The choice between these platforms depends primarily on your specific needs and budget. Open Pantry is an excellent option for small and medium-sized businesses due to the free basic plan and the fact that both restaurants and suppliers can benefit from the software. The robust and friendly user-interface caters to beginners, though advanced features allow the platform to grow with your business which is something Restoke noticeably lacks.
For larger restaurant chains, Marketman's scalability and advanced features cater well to larger operations seeking comprehensive food inventory management and robust data insights. There are no features for wholesale suppliers, though, and the price point for Marketman starts at a premium, meaning an organization must have a large budget to utilize the software.
The online grocery market for restaurants is expected to continue its rapid growth, fueled by technology advancements and the increasing demand for efficiency and cost optimization. Automation, AI-powered inventory management, and data-driven analytics are likely to be key trends shaping the future of this industry.
By understanding the unique features and benefits of companies like Open Pantry, Restoke, and Marketman, you can make an informed decision about which one best suits your specific needs and helps you navigate the evolving landscape of restaurant operations.