Happy New Year, CaterZen family!
Here’s the deal: I’ve always believed that great catering software isn’t built in a vacuum. It’s crafted through a combination of sweat, innovation, and listening to you—our incredible clients. While you’ve been out delighting your customers with flawless events, we’ve been in the trenches, building tools to make your life easier, your business more profitable, and your competition green with envy.
As we step into 2025, we want to reflect on last year’s achievements and share the game-changing updates coming your way. Let’s dive in!
2024 Achievements: Celebrating Innovation and Growth
2024 was a landmark year for CaterZen, filled with innovation and growth. We welcomed Jill Hammett as COO, whose expertise has built on Meredith Dillard’s remarkable legacy. We also launched groundbreaking features designed to revolutionize catering management, such as:
- CRM and Task Overhaul: We introduced the best task management tool in catering software, streamlining follow-ups and making client relationship management seamless.
- DKIM Email Authentication: Ensuring your emails avoid spam folders, this critical update boosted deliverability and improved client connections.
- Enhanced Accounting Features: These included a revamped AR aging report, a comprehensive ticket audit log, and client-accessible Aging Reports, allowing customers to view and pay invoices online with ease.
None of this would have been possible without your feedback and trust.
2025 Will See Big Updates for CaterZen
The road ahead is filled with innovation, and we’re just getting started. As we look to the future, our goal is simple: to continue building tools that help you work smarter, not harder. Whether it’s enhancing your marketing strategies, optimizing sales, or streamlining operations, 2025 is all about giving you the edge to dominate the catering industry.
Marketing: Building Connections That Convert
When I was a kid, I’d flip through my mom’s magazines—but I started at the back. Why? Because I was fascinated by the ads. Those glossy pages were my first glimpse into the world of storytelling that sells. Little did I know, those moments were shaping the marketer I’d become today. You could say I was a Don Draper in diapers, minus the scotch and existential crises.
Building on the momentum of 2024, we’re rolling out game-changing features for 2025:
- Sequences: Think of this as your automated sales assistant—create a series of tasks and emails to nurture leads effortlessly.
- Marketing Lists: Filter contacts with ease, then create tasks, send campaigns, or add them to sequences with a single click. Save time and boost precision with reusable or pre-built templates.
- Notes List & Pinned Notes: Easily sort and manage all your notes while benefiting from a revamped highlighted notes system for critical client insights.
These updates will empower you to craft smarter, more effective campaigns and stay top-of-mind with your clients.
Empowering Sales Teams with Smarter Tools
Back in the day, I used to mystery-shop restaurants. I’d wear glasses with a hidden camera to help owners uncover operational blind spots. It’s that same drive for insight and improvement that inspires our new sales tools.
In 2025, we’re excited to unveil features that will elevate your sales game:
- Sales Pro License: Make and take calls directly through your browser. With call recording, and a deep integration with the CRM and tasks, managing and analyzing client interactions has never been easier.
- AI-Powered Call Insights: Let AI analyze call recordings to pinpoint opportunities for coaching, rewarding top performers, and identifying areas for improvement.
- Build-Your-Own-Report: Gain unparalleled control over your data. Customize reports that help you refine strategies and make informed decisions based on actionable insights.
- Cart & Quote Abandonment Notifications: Recover lost opportunities with automated alerts when customers abandon carts or quotes.
With these tools, you’ll be empowered to convert leads faster, boost your team’s performance, and grow your catering sales.
Optimizing Every Step of Your Catering Process
When I started in the catering world, I was a dishwasher. I’ve seen every cog in the machine, and I know how critical smooth operations are.
In 2025, we’re raising the bar for operational excellence with these innovations:
- Burq Integration: Never miss a delivery opportunity. Expand your fleet or start delivering seamlessly with this third-party integration.
- Square POS Integration: Accept payments through Square, simplifying financial transactions and syncing seamlessly with CaterZen.
- AI-Driven Delivery Optimization: Plan smarter delivery routes to save time and fuel, ensuring efficient operations.
- Catering Deposit Manager: Simplify deposit handling with streamlined scheduling and automated collection processes.
- Customer-Driven Quote Conversion: Allow customers to accept quotes and convert them to orders instantly, cutting down on manual effort.
- API Integration: Easily pull data from CaterZen and connect it with your favorite tools, making the CaterZen ecosystem more adaptable than ever.
These tools are designed to enhance your operational efficiency, reduce friction, and ensure that every aspect of your catering business runs like clockwork.
Thank You for an Incredible Year
As we step into 2025, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve, delivering solutions that save you time and increase your profits. As always, we’d love to hear from you—whether it’s what you love about CaterZen or features you wish we had. Your voice shapes the tools we create, ensuring they align with what you truly need to succeed.
For those who haven’t yet experienced the CaterZen difference, there’s no better time to start. Book a quick-start training session or sign up for a 30-day free trial to see how our tools can revolutionize your catering operations.
Here’s to another year of innovation, growth, and shared success!
