10+ Best Restaurant Scheduling Software & Apps in 2024

1. User-friendly ease of access via the app
2. Customization ability in creating shift locations based on our outreach partnership sites
3. Very affordable option to address our needs
4. Feed features - helpful communication tool

When I worked for RWJBarnabas Health, we purchased Deputy to manage the scheduling, shift details, and communications for the outreach sports medicine team. We utilized it for two years. Our pain points included lack of per diem employee access to outlook schedules and disjointed communication platforms. Key benefits of use included an easy centralized scheduling system that was customizable to make our contracted partners along with an easy-to-navigate app for the end-users

1. Lack of / difficulty with integration to our other hospital systems
2. Feed - while it was a useful tool, at times, it was clunky; notifications were not always pushed through
3. Not all settings and functions are intuitive and easy to find - especially with differences between the web-based version and the app version

I have also used "When-I-Work" as a comparison. I preferred the app interface of When-I-Work. However, I preferred the web-based interface of Deputy, which was much more user-friendly.

1. Cost - very affordable option, we paid per user
2. Volume of users - was an effective schedule management option for 30-40 users with varying access levels
3. Chat function - should seek a platform with a consistent messaging function, both with individual messaging and group messaging

Deputy was receptive to ideas for enhancements during calls with customer service, and the overall experience and user-ease improved during the two years we utilized this service.

Single or multiple-location entities in need of customizable location details

1. Easy to use: The software offers a friendly user interface.
2. Everything in one place: the software has all the features gathered on the front page that allows you to manage everything at once.
3. POS integration: 7shifts offers integration with POS and any other sales and finance-related software.

I advised the organization to use 7shifts after we reached more than 15 employees at the restaurant. At first, we were using an HR administration automation tool that our tech team was working on but since the working schedules and shifts in the restaurant were different from the hotel staff I had to come up with a solution. Because we were facing some internal communication issues and the restaurant manager was having a hard time keeping up with the attendance, 7shifts was a great tool that helped us manage the attendance ratio to simplify the internal communication between the staff, the check-in and check-out, and last but not least, tasks and logbook. We have been using it for 3 months now.

1. The mobile version doesn't support some features like notifications and leaves
2. You can't sort employees or shift based on dates or other criteria
3. The reports are hard to read and understand. You need to be a professional to do so.

I prefer that software that is simple but covers most of the important areas needed. The pricing is so much more reasonable than any other software that offers the same services. I would like to add that the software is easy to be implemented and to be customized for any business.

As a current user, I would say the most important criteria is the type of business you are running since the software is oriented toward the restaurant industry so when you are assigning shifts the job types you will find in the software are: server, host manager, waiter, etc. If you are not a restaurant, I would suggest using a more generalized app like QuickBooks time or When I Work.

Since I only started using it for 3 months, I don't have much information but with each update, the software became more and more user friendly and the one thing I could say that evolved is the customer support since they added a 24h line to help with any bug.

Yes, the application would be a great fit for any company that operates in the food, beverages, and restaurant industry. And also, it's good for an organization with a few staff members, since the software is free for any business with 10 or fewer employees. It will also fit businesses that hire people seasonally.

1. Buddy Punch has a very intuitive user interface.
2. It is a complete tool with time tracking, scheduling, and leave tracking, and it has great payroll integration, allowing us to retire other inefficient, legacy, and more manual processes.
3. It offers good pricing and is value for money, considering the functionality you receive in return.

We were using a timesheet system already. It was a free, open-source system, but as we grew and our needs became more complex, the system could not keep up. The reporting was not good enough, and it didn't have enough automation. It also lacked employee location-based time tracking, which was becoming essential now that our employees were going remote. Buddy Punch provided greater automation, more self-service, and location-based time tracking. I have used it for about 18 months.

1. There wasn't an option for phone support. Online chat is good for simple problems but not as effective for more complicated issues. Typing takes a long time, so a phone support option would be helpful.
2. If you make an error when punching in or out, it is not easy to go back and fix it.
3. The software can be a little slow and glitchy at times.

It offers great value for money. You get a lot of features for the price. I found the chat and email support fast and responsive, better than others, though I would still prefer the option of phone support. The scheduling tool and geofencing apps are the best available for a time-tracking tool.

Geofencing is becoming essential if you have a remote or field team.

Feature-rich time clock and scheduling functionality is crucial, especially in this hybrid and remote working world where people work flexibly. Collaboration is key.

The geofencing functionality has become more robust and easy to use. The scheduling tool has also gradually increased its functionality.

Organizations with field and remote workers can benefit from Buddy Punch.

I like that the Zoom platform is user-friendly and easily accessible through web or mobile apps. The reminders of upcoming meetings are extremely helpful for when I am zoned in and lose track of time. It has also provided us with the flexibility needed to remain hybrid and collaborate internally and externally.

Prior to 2019 we only used Zoom for virtual meetings. At the end of 2019 we transitioned to the full platform. When we transitioned we were looking for a more structured platform for our growing organization. We wanted something that was user-friendly for our staff and would allow us to communicate effectively. It worked out great going into the pandemic and already having a virtual plan.

One con to Zoom is the inability to fax directly from the platform. They have created an integration, but this requires an add-on feature that I believe is separate from the platform itself. Another con which is outside of their control is that it is internet based and if you don’t have good service your call/meeting may get dropped. (this is outside of their control)

Compared to the platform we previously used, zoom has more features and is easier to use. Being able to have our phone system and meeting platforms combined provides ease for our staff. Our staff can now use one app versus two which is what they were previously doing. Zoom also continues to come out with more features that are extremely helpful. Most recently the AI feature that provides a read-out from recorded meetings.

Think about the needs of your company and the budget. Consider the growth you are expecting within the year you are purchasing so you can get the proper amount of licenses.

There have been updates to the platform that have added more features. These added features have allowed us to save time on some of our processes. The AI features that are being added are truly showing that we can save time and be efficient as well as effective.

Zoom is a good platform for any size organization. When we first began using the platform we had 25 staff members and we now have 55. Zoom is able to grow with you to meet your needs.

• The simple layout that shows the schedule clearly
• The ability to make quick adjustments to the schedule
• The overall user experience is intuitive

It's difficult to maintain all of the scheduling between our internal team. It's also difficult to track the productivity of other team members in a globally diverse team when some team members don't operate on set schedules. Planday tackles both of those problems with one product. We use it to track the timeshare of the team members as well as coordinate with select team members..

• The site has some longer load times when signing in after a long time
• The color scheme of the website could be better (Personal opinion not that there's anything wrong with it)

It provides a very intuitive experience to manage the entire shift process, from scheduling, tracking time and executing payroll

You should think about the number of members on your team that need to be on the shift and also the type of shift system that you have.

The product is constantly adding new features.

It's good for all organizations that have a shift system.

1. User-friendly interface in both the app and the web-based platform
2. Easy to manage a high-volume of team members
3. Solved our problems of needing a centralized scheduling system for multiple locations and a reliable time-keeping app

I utilized when-i-work while employed with JAG Physical Therapy. I have 8 months' experience utilizing the system. It was purchased to be a schedule management system to schedule, track time and attendance, and communicate with our hourly employees. The pain points leading to purchase included a need for an all-access central scheduling system that can accommodate multiple site locations. The key benefits included the ability to keep track of time off, employee availability, and manage shift swaps with a few clicks.

1. The chat feature is clunky. We chose to utilized WhatsApp instead for security purposes
2. Difficulty with integration into ADP payroll system
3. Various aspects of the clock in/clock out logistics, with GPS tracking. This led to extra work when people forgot to clock in or out and had to manually enter

I preferred When-I-Work's App vs Deputy, however preferred the web-based interface of Deputy. It was easier to find settings for changes, easier to copy and duplicate shifts in a series with customization.

1. Cost - When-I-Work is an affordable choice for what you get
2. Other systems in your workplace - check for the ability to integrate
3. Comparison of chat features vs other options - have to find what works best for you. Would be better if when-i-work was encrypted.

It became more user-friendly over the 8 months I utilized the app. The customer service team was helpful in solving challenges that arose.

Any multi-location entity

It makes it easy to sign in anywhere. It is easy to track how many hours you worked. It is easy to guide through the website/app.

I used Homebase for about 3 years. One of the main reasons our company bought Homebase was because everyone kept forgetting to clock-in through a machine at work so our company wanted to make clock-ins more convenient. I liked it when we transitioned to it, we were able to clock-in whether we were in office or remote. It helped track everyone's work time accurately. It also sent in our hours to payroll according to the scheduled pay time.

Sometimes people still forget to clock in with the app. When I used it about 2 years ago, I wish it sent us notifications to remind us to clock-in or out. The platform does go down sometimes.

I like Homebase because it is made for everyone to use. It is extremely easy to navigate Homebase.

I have more pros than cons for Homebase. I highly suggest the platform. It is organized and easy to navigate.

It is easier for managers or bosses to manage employee hours through the dashboard. It has more visibility on who is on time and who is late.

Medical offices, small organizations, remote workers