As we wave goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024 with open arms, it's the perfect time to reflect on our journey together and share the exciting path ahead. At CaterZen, our commitment to innovation and staying at the forefront of the catering industry has never been stronger.
A Look Back at 2023: Innovations That Made a Difference
2023 was a year of remarkable growth and innovation for us at CaterZen. Thanks to your invaluable feedback and our dedicated team's relentless pursuit of excellence, we achieved significant milestones that further solidified our position as an industry leader.
Multi-Location and Event Management
Empower your multi-location operations and event management with specialized features tailored for scalability and efficiency.
- New Enterprise Plan - Designed for multi-unit operations, this plan simplifies complex processes like phone center ordering and online store locating. It includes tiered menu pricing and efficient regional segmentation, catering specifically to the needs of large-scale catering businesses
- Multi-Location Features - This update includes location-specific custom messaging on invoices, enhancing communication for multi-location businesses. The Enhanced PLU Report provides detailed breakdowns of items sold by location, and the Event Name Integration feature allows for order differentiation and efficient management.
- Event Space Management - CaterZen now streamlines the management of private event spaces. It includes features like customizable inquiry forms, a drag-and-drop room booking system, dynamic proposals and quotes, e-signature contracts, and kitchen production tools for efficient event planning and execution.
- Location Grouping - This feature facilitates the management of multiple locations by allowing users to create unlimited groups and sub-groups, assign multiple groups to one store, and streamline searches for enhanced reporting. It's designed for use cases such as call center management, regional breakdowns, and customized views, and integrates easily into CaterZen's reporting system.
Catering Business Optimization
Unlock the full potential of your catering business with advanced tools designed to optimize operations, enhance financial analysis, and improve client communication.
- Third-Party Ordering Site Integration - CaterZen's integration now supports multiple third-party platforms, streamlining the management of orders, payments, and financials across various sites. This feature enhances operational efficiency and simplifies financial tracking within a unified CaterZen interface
- Enhanced Tablet Production Report - The updated Tablet Production Report offers a comprehensive breakdown of each order, significantly enhancing kitchen efficiency. It provides real-time updates, eco-friendly solutions, and customized station-specific tasks, optimizing prep staff workflow
- Nowsta Integration - This feature streamlines scheduling by exporting events directly to Nowsta, reducing manual effort. It ensures time efficiency, accurate updates, and customized export options, leveraging Nowsta's capabilities for comprehensive staffing management
- Enhanced Notifications - Stay updated with every new, changed, or deleted order through CaterZen's email notifications. Features include intuitive admin settings to manage email addresses, choice of notification types, location-specific alerts, and the option to attach documents for clarity. Plus, instant text notifications keep you informed on the go, with customizable options for mobile alerts
- Enhanced Kitchen Production Reports: Our Kitchen Production Reports have been revamped for better clarity and efficiency. With vivid color coding for order statuses and enhanced date stamps, these reports offer quick and easy access to vital information. Streamlined details help your team get a comprehensive yet concise overview of kitchen operations, facilitating smoother workflow and productivity.
- Delivery Schedule Report Adds Tips Feature: To further aid in the management of your delivery operations, we've introduced a 'Tips' column to the Delivery Schedule Report. This feature allows for easy allocation and tracking of driver tips, ensuring that your delivery staff are appropriately compensated for their hard work and excellent service.
- Enhanced Sales Journal - This feature offers detailed, row-by-row breakdowns of each sale for granular analysis. It includes a comprehensive analysis of sales data such as refunds, collected deposits, and overpayments, and provides two export options: Standard for quick reference and Detailed for in-depth analysis
- Enhanced Customization for Tickets, Quotes, Invoices - This feature offers enhanced order item details for catering tickets, quotes, and invoices, reducing miscommunication and misunderstandings. It allows for easy customization of catering documents, ensuring clients have a clear understanding of their orders
- Enhanced Aging Reports: Financial management just got a whole lot easier with our new Aging Reports. The Summary Report provides a high-level snapshot of outstanding balances, categorizing them by aging periods like 1-30 days, 31-60 days, and beyond. Clicking on customers reveals their associated invoices for detailed insights. Additionally, the Detail Report offers a comprehensive view of all outstanding orders, including links to the associated order and invoice. These reports are instrumental in improving your collections process and enhancing cash flow management for your business.
- Accounts Receivable Aging Email Report: This feature automatically sends customizable email statements on a specific day each month to customers with outstanding balances. It links to an Aging Report for detailed invoice tracking, with direct links to invoices for one-click online payment.
Each of these features was crafted with your needs in mind, aiming to streamline your operations, enhance efficiency, and ultimately, boost your bottom line. We've listened, we've learned, and we've delivered.
Forging Ahead: What's Coming in 2024
As exciting as 2023 was, we're even more thrilled about what we have in store for 2024. CaterZen is set to roll out a series of game-changing features and updates that promise to revolutionize your catering experience.
- Enhanced Employee Access Controls: Offers granular permission settings for different sections of CaterZen, applicable to individual employees or designated employee groups.
- Burq Delivery Integration: Integrates with Burq, a third-party catering delivery platform, allowing for flexible delivery options, including full or partial outsourcing of delivery management.
- Advanced Catering Deposit Manager: Manages single or multiple catering deposits, enabling scheduling and automated collection for enhanced financial organization.
- Revamped CRM & Task Management: Transforms follow-up processes for sales reps, offering a significant upgrade in customer relationship management.
- Custom Report Builder: Provides access to all CaterZen data, enabling the creation of bespoke reports for tailored data analysis.
- Streamlined Kitchen Production Formula Entry: Simplifies the process of entering and managing kitchen production formulas, enhancing kitchen operation efficiency.
- Enhanced Order Management Rules: Implements complex rules for order acceptance, delivery limits, and pickup restrictions during specific timeframes.
- Credit Card Pre-Authorization Feature: Introduces the capability to preauthorize credit cards for orders, enhancing payment security and processing.
- Customer Access to Outstanding Orders: This enhancement will allow customers to view detailed information about their outstanding orders directly in the online ordering portal. They can easily access and pay their unpaid invoices with one click, facilitating a more streamlined and efficient payment process.
- Cart Abandonment Recovery Tools: Incorporates features like exit-intent pop-ups, email reminders, and retargeting ad integrations to recover abandoned online orders.
- Private Party Room Lead Generator: A new feature in the online ordering interface to showcase private party rooms and generate leads for event bookings.
- AI-Driven Catering Enhancement Suite: Integrating advanced AI technologies across CaterZen's platform, enhancing customer interactions, optimizing kitchen and inventory management, personalizing ordering and marketing efforts, and providing intelligent analytics for strategic decision-making.
With these upcoming enhancements, our goal is to ensure that CaterZen not only meets but exceeds the evolving demands of the dynamic catering landscape.
We're Listening: Share Your Feature Suggestions
Our journey of innovation is fueled by your insights and suggestions. As we continue to evolve, we invite you to be a part of our growth story. Got an idea for a feature that would make your CaterZen experience even better? We're all ears!
Submit your feature suggestions here.
Your feedback is the cornerstone of our innovation. Let's make 2024 a year of collaborative success and groundbreaking achievements.
Looking Forward to Continued Success Together
In the ever-evolving world of catering, staying ahead means embracing change and innovation. At CaterZen, we are committed to continually enhancing our software to meet the dynamic needs of your business. Our latest updates and features are designed to boost your operational efficiency and adaptability, ensuring you stay at the forefront of the catering industry.
For those keen to experience the benefits of our latest innovations, we offer several pathways:
- For New Users: Experience the full capabilities of CaterZen with our 30-day free trial. Dive into our features and discover how we can transform your catering operations. It's the perfect opportunity to see how our innovations can elevate your business.
- For the Curious Minds: Not quite ready to commit? Why not participate in our unique "non-demo demo"? It's a relaxed, no-pressure way to explore how our software can fit into your business model.
- For Existing CaterZen Clients: Ready to take your CaterZen experience to the next level? Schedule a personalized quick-start training session to enhance your current setup. This session is tailored to your specific needs, helping you maximize the benefits of our latest features and integrations.
Thank you for being a part of our CaterZen family. Here's to a fantastic year ahead, filled with prosperity, growth, and continued innovation!
