Every catering business faces unique challenges, and as technology evolves, so does the demand for more intuitive and user-friendly platforms. For years, Los Angeles, California bakery cafe and caterer Clementine had depended on a specific platform, Monkey Media. However, when the need for a change arose, they sought a catering software solution that was both reliable and tailored to their individual needs.
Enter CaterZen.
The CaterZen Edge: Why Clementine Moved On from Monkey Media
Annie Miler, the driving force behind Clementine, mentioned how her company had previously been with Monkey Media for over a dozen years. While the platform served them well, it was custom-designed, and as time passed, updates became sparse. When Monkey Media decided to sunset this custom platform, Clementine was faced with the inevitable task of finding an alternative.
"[CaterZen's support team was] super patient in answering all those questions I had along the way. They were really here to help us. I love the support. It felt more like, 'Okay, here's somebody asking what's needed, not just telling us what they have."
Annie Miler, Owner, Clementine
Why CaterZen Stood Out
Choosing a new catering platform is not a decision to be made lightly, especially for a business that had grown accustomed to its previous system. Annie enumerated the factors that made CaterZen an appealing choice:
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Hands-on Experience: Unlike many other platforms that only offer demos, CaterZen allowed Annie and her team to actively engage and play around with the platform with a free trial with pre-loaded data. (CaterZen does offer a Non-Demo Demo too!)
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Trustworthiness: In a world filled with hidden charges and ulterior motives, Annie appreciated CaterZen's transparent approach. She emphasized the value of the platform, saying, "I felt confident that [data harvesting] wasn't gonna happen."
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Responsive Support and Feedback Mechanism: CaterZen's town hall meetings and prompt response rate proved that the company was genuinely interested in its clients' success. Their robust documentation, indexed in a user-friendly manner, also stood out.
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Adaptability in Testing Times: The onset of the pandemic posed challenges to many businesses. Yet, CaterZen's flexibility shone through, adjusting to the needs of the hour rather than sticking rigidly to its offerings.
Benefits of Switching to CaterZen
The transition to CaterZen brought with it a plethora of benefits:
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Efficiency in Online Orders: The online ordering system offers robust controls, allowing Clementine to handle large order volumes, such as the 400 orders they received the day before Thanksgiving, with unparalleled ease.
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Time-saving: With the ability to tailor reports and automate order entry, the team could focus more on their core business functions.
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Accuracy: The platform’s systematic approach eliminated concerns about matching invoices with orders, streamlining the entire process.
Recommendations for Prospective Users
For businesses contemplating a switch to CaterZen, Annie's advice is straightforward: "Just try it." She emphasizes the platform's flexibility and encourages inquisitiveness. According to her, success with CaterZen involves "striking the balance between finding something your kitchen can digest" and realizing that while the new system may look different, "it's better."
She also advocates for inclusivity in the transition process, ensuring that key team members are familiar with the platform to ensure a smoother implementation.
Grow Your Catering Sales with CaterZen
If you'd like to see similar results, take the software for a spin by signing up for a free 30-day trial, or schedule a free "Non-Demo" Demo with our team, who can help you to uncover how our software can benefit your specific business' needs.
Also, check out more client testimonials and case studies to hear directly from clients about how CaterZen has changed the trajectory of their restaurants and catering businesses.
