The right catering system can make a world of difference for your business. From ordering corporate lunches to managing deliveries, there are dozens of on-demand catering feature options on the market. However, wading through all your options can be daunting.
EzCater, a popular catering partner, offers comprehensive software solutions built to streamline business catering and is the first choice for many brands–but is it the right fit for you?
Let’s examine ezCater, its main features, and common pros and cons. This in-depth ezCater review will help you decide if ezCater is the right catering system for your business needs.
What is ezCater?
ezCater is a cloud-based catering management software solution launched in 2007 by Briscoe Rodgers and Stefania Mallett. As the name suggests, ezCater’s goal is to simplify catering for both customers and catering businesses.
ezCatering works as an online marketplace and delivery website for catering companies.
The software connects users to local caterers, offering a variety of fast catering options for local companies and more catering jobs for local caterers.
ezCater provides users with catering management software, a comprehensive catering system that streamlines customers' orders and deliveries. The software also features growth strategies and customer management features to help your catering business build positive and lucrative relationships with customers.
As of 2024, ezCater is one of, if not the, biggest corporate catering marketplaces in the United States. The software hosts more than 79,000 restaurants and has completed over 150 million orders.
ezCater Main Features
With current restaurant technology and hospitality advancements, consumer demands have increased and software companies are doing their best to keep up. Let’s see what ezCater has to offer and whether it’s worth the hype.
Online Catering Marketplace
ezCater has built a large following over the last 15 years. The online catering marketplace is filled with thousands of catering businesses from all across the country. There is also a large variety of food options to choose from. There is a size and price option for any catering event.
Easy Ordering
One of the biggest issues event and venue managers struggle with is finding the right catering for clients.
ezCater simplifies the process. All local ezCater partners are available on a centralized dashboard, where users can browse through dozens of restaurants or search for specific catering options. This is especially helpful if you’re feeding groups with dietary restrictions.
Once you’ve found your ideal catering company, you can simply order through the software, share any other restrictions, and enjoy on-time delivery.
Order Tracking and Delivery
One of ezCater’s main selling points is its dedication to on-time and accurate delivery. The goal is to mark food preparation off your to-do list, freeing up your time to effectively manage your event venue.
After ordering from ezCater, you’ll receive an order confirmation and tracking details. You can monitor the catering process and ensure everything is running smoothly. Other order management features include customer chat, which keeps you in touch with the caterer and allows for last-minute changes or checkups.
Catering Reviews and Ratings
To guarantee only the best service and experience for customers, ezCater implemented a review and rating system.
Users can rate catering companies, leave ezCater reviews about the service, food, and delivery, and offer constructive feedback. This ensures only the best service for first-timers and increases the trust between consumers, caterers, and the platform.
Transparent Pricing
Beyond food costs, catering software often has additional fees. Not being aware of these fees ahead of time can be a big blow to your budget.
Fortunately, ezCater is transparent about pricing. Users are presented with per-head costs, delivery fees, and service fees before the final order. There should be no surprise fees after you have placed your order.
ezCater Pros and Cons
While ezCater has very useful features, it’s important to examine the software objectively. Based on hundreds of ezCater reviews, here are the pros and cons of the platform.
Pros
- Large Variety of Food Options: Because ezCater taps into the catering market, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of local food types to choose from. Whatever food you need for your event venue, you are more than likely to find it on ezCater’s catering marketplace.
- Customer Service: ezCater provides 24/7 customer support and provides fast and accurate help to caterers and customers.
- Responsive and Accessible Software: ezCater software is available as an app and a web-based platform. As long as you have access to the internet and your account details, you can access the marketplace and review your orders–making it easy to manage orders even if you’re on the go.
- Clear Pricing: The transparent pricing and upfront costs allow customers to effectively budget for events.
Cons
- Limited Availability: While ezCater has thousands of restaurants on its platform, availability is limited in more rural areas. Event venues that aren’t in densely populated areas don’t have as many options as those in urban areas.
- Limited Customization: ezCater software offers a variety of order customization for small and medium-sized orders. Unfortunately, the customization capabilities are limited on larger orders.
- Restaurant Minimums: Restaurants can set a minimum order amount. This can be a struggle for groups that don’t want to spend a couple hundred dollars for a small event.
- Unreliable Delivery: ezCater doesn’t control delivery times. The catering companies do. There are cases where restaurants don’t deliver the catering at the right time. Always read catering business reviews to gauge how reliable they are.
The Verdict: Is ezCater Worthwhile?
Like most software, ezCater has it’s cons. If you’re in a more rural area or require in-depth order customization, ezCater won’t be that effective.
However, it’s a great option for event managers in densely populated areas, who need small to medium catering services. It’s simple and efficient, and the order tracking and management will free up time and resources better spent on your event venue business.
Conclusion
ezCater is a leading catering management platform and catering marketplace with powerful features. It’s accessible, transparent, and offers a variety of catering options. It’s especially useful for small to medium-sized businesses close to cities and large towns.
Use this review to compare the ezCater’s capabilities with your needs and determine if it’s the right software to optimize your event venue business’ profits.
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