Restaurant software in Australia: the tech stack a venue actually needs
Updated 2026-10-27
Checked 27 October 2026. "Restaurant software" covers six jobs. Here's what each does, common Australian tools, and the order most small venues buy them in. We name tools that appear in vendor pages and Australian guides we read on 27 October 2026. We haven't been paid to include any of them.
The six layers
| Layer | What it does | Examples used in Australia |
|---|---|---|
| POS and payments | Takes payments, records sales by item, sends tickets to the kitchen | Square, Lightspeed, Impos, OrderMate |
| Online ordering | Pickup, delivery and table QR orders from your own link | Chefzi, Square Online, Ywait, plus Uber Eats and DoorDash for marketplace orders |
| Bookings and CRM | Reservations, reminders, waitlists, guest notes | ResDiary, SevenRooms, Now Book It, Tablewick |
| Rostering and timesheets | Rosters, award interpretation, wage cost | Deputy, Tanda |
| Stock, suppliers and recipe costing | Supplier orders, invoices, food cost per dish | Ordermentum, FoodByUs, MarketMan |
| Accounting | BAS, GST, payroll, P&L | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks |
What to buy first
- Payments and POS. Compare options in our restaurant POS guide.
- Accounting that your bookkeeper already uses.
- Online ordering, if you do takeaway or delivery. A flat-fee system avoids 8–30% app commission on regulars.
- Rostering once you have more than a handful of staff. Award compliance is the main reason.
- Bookings if you take reservations. See booking systems compared.
- Supplier ordering and costing once food cost is a worry. See supplier ordering systems and how to price a menu item.
Integration questions to ask every vendor
- Does it sync with Xero or MYOB, and is that included or a paid add-on?
- Can I export my data (customers, sales, menu) if I leave?
- Is support in Australian hours?
- What's the contract term, and are hardware costs separate?
Be honest about what you need. A small takeaway can run on a payment terminal, an ordering page and Xero.
More guides
- GloriaFood migration guide for Australian restaurants (2026–27)
- Menulog has closed: a guide for Australian restaurants a year on
- How to move your regulars off Uber Eats and DoorDash (without losing them)
- Running your own delivery drivers in Australia: a practical guide
- GST and online orders: what Australian takeaways should know
- Public holiday surcharges and online orders in Australia
- Food safety for takeaway and delivery orders in Australia
- Pricing your menu for delivery apps vs your own ordering page
- Restaurant marketing ideas for Australian venues (2026)
- How to price menu items: food cost percentage formula and examples (AU)
- Menu engineering matrix: stars, plowhorses, puzzles and dogs (with a worked example)
- Restaurant loyalty programs in Australia: types, ideas and examples
- How to start a takeaway business in Australia: a step-by-step checklist
- Restaurant POS systems in Australia: Chefzi POS vs Square, Lightspeed and others
- Cloud kitchens in Australia: how they work, costs and rules
- Restaurant booking systems in Australia: Chefzi reservations vs the alternatives
- Food supplier ordering systems for Australian restaurants and cafés
- GloriaFood is shutting down: what Australian restaurants need to do
- How to add an order button to your Google Business Profile in Australia
Frequently asked questions
What software does a restaurant need?
At minimum a POS or payment system and accounting software. Most venues then add online ordering, rostering and timesheets, bookings (if dine-in), and stock or recipe costing.
Should I buy an all-in-one system?
All-in-one suites cut down on integrations but can lock you in. Many small venues do well with a POS plus two or three tools that connect to Xero or MYOB.
Where does Chefzi fit?
Chefzi covers online ordering (pickup, delivery and table QR), a browser POS with kitchen display, table reservations and loyalty in one plan. It doesn't do rostering or accounting.
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