Working with food inventory control software is a great way to keep track of your restaurant's supplies, sales and orders. In fact there are very few kitchens that don't have food inventory control systems because of their cost savings. By knowing exactly what you have and exactly what you need, you'll cut down tremendously on over-ordering perishable goods that cut into your bottom line.

But, before you dive right into trying to work with food inventory systems, there are some things you should learn first so that working with them is a pleasant experience. Watching demonstrations and taking courses now will save you a lot of time and headache later when your restaurant has a full board of reservations.

1. Take a tutorial of various food inventory systems in order to gain specific knowledge about their operation.

2. Enroll in training or attend an event where the food inventory control software companies are exhibiting their software.

3. Find forums which specialize food inventory software discussions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself about food inventory control software by taking a guided tour online

Every food control software program has its own nuances and applications which make it slightly different from other food management software programs. Take the time to familiarize yourself with several food inventory control solutions so that you can see which software will best fit into your restaurant or municipal kitchen business model.

I recommend: Check out the website for Cost Guard Foodservice Software. They offer a tutorial of their software broken down into subheadings such as inventory and sales. Also visit the website of Culinary Software Services. They provide in-depth text, screen shots and links to their Chef Tec software which is currently running on the Internet.

Educate yourself on food inventory systems by going to an event or taking a class

The world of food service inventory software is quite competitive. Therefore services that many companies offer are either hands-on training or holding seminars where many workers in the food service industry can come and get trained on their software. Attending one of these events can prove invaluable as the software is demonstrated to you rather than having to figure each thing out through trial and error.

I recommend: Visit the Eatec website, as they produce food inventory management software called Chef Desk. They have a section on their website dedicated to the events where they will be demonstrating the software. Also visit the website for Systems Concepts. They produce software called Food Trak. On their website they list several methods of training from a "boot camp" to on-site training where they come to your business.

Discover discussion boards and forums which specialize in food inventory control software

Discussion boards are great places to locate information in regarding utilization of your food inventory software. Not only will you be interacting with other people who use the software, but it can be a great resource for solving that tricky little problem that is pestering you and saving you valuable time on hold with a customer service representative. Not to mention, some companies charge a service fee for technical assistance.

I recommend: Check out the website for Food Service.com. This is an industry forum with a section dedicated to food service industry software. Also, Web Food Pros is another resource where people in the restaurant industry go to discuss the latest software and all of its applications.

In the past, food and beverage inventory control was a manual process that was labor-intensive, costly and inaccurate. Companies that still use these methods risk decreased profits from inventory loss. Wholesale and retail food and beverage distributors stand to benefit by implementing a food inventory program immediately.

The only drawback of food inventory control systems is that one system does not work for all companies. Since each company has its own unique operating procedures, a program that works well for one food company may be detrimental to another company's productivity. When choosing food inventory systems, consider the following:

1. Food inventory control systems offer a variety of features that can streamline the management process. You should determine which features your business needs, and then find the product that best meets those needs.

2. Food inventory management programs come in a variety of price ranges to fit any budget. Accordingly, each price point offers different features. You might be able to find a product that has the features you need for a bargain price.

3. Technical support is an essential component of any food inventory software, so choose a program that offers quality customer support around the clock.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose food inventory control software that offers the desired features

Food and beverage inventory control systems should always make your job easier. The software you choose should include the features that meet your list of needs. This can help boost your profits.

I recommend: Edible Software offers food inventory software that contains an array of features. Contact Edible Software today for a free demo of its program. RMS Software also supplies a popular restaurant food inventory software program that boasts a variety of features. Try out the RMS Software demo to see if it meets your needs.

Buy food inventory management software that is cost-effective

You don't need to overpay for an inventory control system. They come in an array of prices. You can maximize your cost-efficiency by finding a program that meets both your needs and your budget.

I recommend: IPro develops food inventory control solutions that are custom tailored to meet your needs. Review the IPro restaurant inventory software to see if it fits your budget and your needs. Food Services Solutions also manufactures a food accounting program that may increase user's profits. Browse the features of the Food Services Solutions product to determine if it meets your business' needs.

Look for food inventory control systems software with reliable technical support

Technical support for your new inventory system is a must. You can't afford to have any downtime due to system malfunctions, so look for a software product that comes with fast, reliable technical support to help you reduce downtime and better manage your business.

I recommend: SMC Data Systems distributes an assortment of food management computer programs, and the company believes strongly in providing quality customer service. VIP Solutions also manufactures food inventory systems. You can read VIP Solutions customer testimonials about its popular real-time support and contact the company for a product demo.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Audit the performance of your food inventory control software by performing a spot check of your inventory against the system's logs.

Food inventory control software can help your company better track food products and end unnecessary wasting of inventory. With your food inventory management software, you will be able to adjust your numbers based on shipments, purchases and returns.

Food inventory systems are typically in place for restaurants, catering firms, grocery stores and manufacturers. When learning the basic rules of food inventory control software for beginners, you will look at the different features of available programs as well as how you can use them for your company.

1. Determine how to best use food service inventory software. Some software features may not apply to your company, so you will want to first figure out how you plan to use the food inventory program.

2. Purchase food inventory management software. As a beginner, you should make comparisons between multiple vendors of inventory programs.

3. Consider beverage inventory control software. Most food inventory system programs will incorporate beverage into the package, but you can look for separate versions as well.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide the viability of food inventory systems

Before you contact suppliers, you will want to visit sites to see exactly how food inventory control software works. Most inventory programs will organize your food selections and include information on location, quantity and prices.

I recommend: Restaurant Resource Group explains the importance of food inventory software. Inventory Star retails a restaurant food industry software program. Go to the site in order to view screenshots and read about the benefits of inventory control. POS Help Desk provides similar information along with data on the benefits of a food inventory program. The site contends that users should save an average of 2% to 5%of food costs.

Learn from suppliers of food inventory management programs

Suppliers can give you all of the facts about their particular food inventory system. Once you purchase software, you should receive training materials on how to use their particular tracking system and how to make stock adjustments.

I recommend: SMC Data Systems manufactures a food management inventory software program that is ideal for multiple types of professionals in the food service industry. Sign up to receive a free demo packet or download their fact sheet in PDF. Plan Your Profit has the software FoodCo to manage your food inventory.

Determine if you need beverage inventory control software

In some cases, a food inventory program may not be needed. Liquor distributors, bars and liquor retailers can instead benefit from a beverage inventory program. With these programs you will maintain better employee accountability as well as be able to quickly determine how much liquor you should plan for reorder.

I recommend: Alcohol Control has a low priced bar inventory system available to users. The site shows samples of beverage inventory recaps, liquor inventory worksheets, inventory calculations and inventory values. For a beverage and food inventory software, you can look at the features of iBarControl.

Any restaurant, food service operation, or other business that has a good stock of food and drink inventory and a limited space to put it could potentially profit from food inventory control software. New handy software applications can keep a tally of what's sitting around, and help plan for its use or divestment. Knowing about key terms for food inventory control software products and practices can help business leaders brainstorm about how to improve inventory handling.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Demo or demo package

Many food inventory control software suppliers offer demo packages to clients so that they can view details about how a particular set of software works. Demos may include visual mockups, lists of features, or specific data on specifications and compatibility.

I recommend: See an example of a food inventory control software supplier offering free demos at this Food Software page.

Menu costing

One thing that food inventory control software programs do for restaurant and food service managers is called menu costing. Menu costing is the analysis of the cost of each particular item that goes onto the plate. Evaluating both internal (cost of procurement) and external (plate cost) can really help a manager identify strengths and weaknesses in a menu.

I recommend: See a visual example of menu costing software tools at Restaurant Inventory.

Inventory worksheet

An inventory worksheet is a type of spreadsheet document that lists various aspects of a food or beverage inventory in a handy file system. Many food inventory control software applications include worksheets for better inventory management.

I recommend: See details on an inventory worksheet for beverage handling (details at bottom of page) from Bar Controls.

Trial version

Some food inventory control software makers or distributors also offer a trial version so that a user can see what they are in for before buying the full license. A trial version can be a good way to hedge your bets against the likelihood that the tool may not work well for managing a food service inventory.

I recommend: Utility Soft has an example of a trial version of software for food service warehouses and other storage facilities.

Stock adjustment

Stock adjustment is when a food service manager decides there needs to be a change in what is kept on-site for daily operations. Food inventory control software can also help with stock adjustments by detailing current inventories and other aspects of what's going on with a busy restaurant or food service venue.

I recommend: See a lot more about stock adjustment from Food Connex.

Spot checks

Sometimes it may be necessary to physically check the remaining food inventory against the software tally. This is often called a 'spot check.' Spot checking is one thing managers can do to help make inventory control with software more effective.

I recommend: See more on spot checks and other practices for controlling food inventories in a restaurant at this Chef's Page.