5 Ways to Take Control of Your Restaurant’s Ordering and Save Time

Running a restaurant is no easy task. Beyond crafting amazing dishes and ensuring customers have a great experience, there’s a mountain of admin work behind the scenes. Managing suppliers, tracking costs, and keeping orders organised can quickly become overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are five practical steps you can take to simplify your ordering process, save time, and regain control of your kitchen operations.

1. Centralise Your Supplier Communication

Juggling multiple apps, emails, and phone calls to manage supplier orders can be chaotic. It’s easy to lose track of who you’ve ordered from, what you’ve ordered, and when it’s arriving.

Tip: Use a single system to manage all your supplier interactions. By centralising your orders, you’ll save time, reduce errors, and always know where everything stands.

Imagine having all your suppliers in one place, with instant access to prices, order history, and delivery schedules. No more chasing voicemails or digging through emails—everything you need is at your fingertips.

2. Track Spending and Budgets in Real-Time

Keeping an eye on your spending is crucial, but it’s easy to lose sight of costs when you’re busy. Many restaurant owners only realise they’ve gone over budget at the end of the month—when it’s too late.

Tip: Use tools that allow you to monitor your spending in real time. This way, you can identify issues as they happen and make smarter decisions.

For example, one chef noticed they were overspending on fresh produce because they weren’t regularly comparing supplier prices. Tracking costs in one place helped them adjust their orders and stay on budget.

3. Automate Invoice Reconciliation

Matching invoices with orders is a tedious yet essential task. Mistakes can lead to overspending or missed credit notes, costing your business money and time.

Tip: Automate the reconciliation process. By uploading invoices to a system that matches them against your orders, you can reduce errors and free up hours every week.

This simple step ensures that every order is accounted for, and any discrepancies are flagged for review.

4. Compare Supplier Prices Easily

Suppliers change prices all the time, and if you’re not keeping up, you could be overpaying. Regularly comparing prices across your suppliers is one of the easiest ways to save money.

Tip: Ask suppliers for updated price lists regularly, and use tools that let you compare prices quickly. This will help you make informed decisions and get the best value for your orders.

With a platform that consolidates supplier pricing, you can see all your options at a glance and choose the most cost-effective solution without wasting time.

5. Make It Easy for Your Team

A complicated ordering process doesn’t just slow you down - it also makes it harder for your team to help. Training new staff on how to manage supplier orders can take days if your system is overly complex.

Tip: Use tools that are intuitive and easy to use. A streamlined system means your team can get up to speed quickly, and you can focus on running your business.

One app for all your suppliers not only saves time but also ensures consistency, no matter who’s placing the order.

Take Control of Your Ordering Process

Simplifying your ordering process doesn’t just save time - it gives you the control and clarity you need to run a more efficient and profitable business. By centralising your supplier communication, tracking costs in real time, automating tedious tasks, comparing prices, and making things simple for your team, you’ll free up hours every week and avoid unnecessary stress.

Ready to streamline your operations? Orders Made Simple can help you implement these strategies seamlessly. With one app for all your suppliers, real-time tracking, and automated reconciliation, OMS is designed to make your life easier. Fill in the form below to find out more.