What are bar software systems?
There are many different types of bar software systems available on the market today. Some of the most popular ones include point of sale (POS) systems, inventory management systems, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Each type of system offers its own set of features and benefits that can help streamline operations and improve efficiency at a bar or nightclub.
5 Best Bar Software Systems for Complete Inventory Management
What is Bar Inventory Management?
Managing inventory at a bar involves taking stock of all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on hand, including mixers and sodas, garnishes, etc. Inventory management also involves keeping track of the various assets required to run the business, such as utensils, refrigerators, airlocks, carboys, and so on.
It is important to take regular stock counts (weekly or fortnightly), to make sure you don't overstock your perishables and keep your employees from distributing free drinks or overpouring.
Poor inventory management can potentially harm your business. If you run out of liquor, you will lose sales and run the risk of upsetting your clients because you can't serve them what they want. On the other hand, too much on the shelves will waste resources and take up storage space.
Therefore, you should have the right amount of inventory on hand at all times, and know exactly when to place purchase orders. Your entire bar inventory should be managed in such a manner that all decisions are based on empirical data and geared toward profit maximization.
Features of a Good Bar Inventory Management System
The ideal way to manage bar inventory is by using cloud based software solutions that are connected to barcode scanners.
These software programs fully automate stock-taking. Thanks to modern software, businesses can quickly and precisely determine their current stock levels and select the items and their quantities to be reordered.
A modern system of inventory management is necessary for a large firm, especially one that operates across locations as well as across sales channels. Such a software system makes it possible to communicate with several suppliers, handle a sizeable number and variety of products, and a sizeable customer base.
Here's how inventory software works- barcode readers first decode product barcodes at the POS or back end, and then the scanned information, which includes product details, is presented to users in a comprehensible text format on a mobile device or computer.
The POS system/inventory management software automatically updates stock counts as items are purchased/transferred/shipped for delivery, and businesses are alerted when stocks begin to run low. The system can then communicate with suppliers online and place new orders.
Moreover, a bar operator can make wise decisions with the help of reports generated by inventory management software. These reports offer insights into different aspects of the business by identifying top-selling items, days with high/low footfall, the most expensive ingredients, etc. These business intelligence reports also enable companies to address problems like food and beverage waste, soaring costs, over-portioning, pilferage, and so on.
Inventory apps, which enable bar owners to take inventory even when they are away from a business site, are a common cloud based inventory solution. Users can view updates in real time and tune in to check inventory at any time of the day. The data can be viewed on any handheld device, and by multiple users at once. This makes it easier for people to come up with ideas and make decisions during meetings.
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Bar Inventory Management System No. 1- Zip Inventory
This is a highly advanced inventory software that allows bar operators and managers to monitor stocks directly on their mobile apps, thanks to the shelf-to-sheet inventorying.
Users can conduct stock counts using the voice search function by simply speaking out a product name. Barcode readers can be combined with the Zip Inventory to make stock-taking precise and effortless.
This program syncs data instantly with the cloud, allowing bar owners to monitor their business in real time using any mobile device and from any location.
Reports on variance, and cost of goods sold (COGS) help operators monitor variations in food and beverage prices and pinpoint issues that contribute to losses.
The Zip Inventory program alerts business owners about food and beverage waste, losses, theft, and over-portioning -- factors that can drive up operating costs.
The software takes into account empirical information on ingredient usage, sales, on-hand stocks, and vendor delivery schedules, and ensures that users don't rely on guesswork for order placement. Suggested ordering is another useful feature of this software that lowers wastage and overpaying.
Furthermore, illegible purchase orders and lost inventory sheets are no longer a concern for business owners with Zip Inventory by their side. The software also greatly reduces the amount of time needed to count goods.
Zip Inventory also provides a full item-by-item breakdown of recipes, which helps businesses discover highly popular menu items, and the quantity and cost of the ingredients needed to make those items.
In addition, this software solution's waste-tracking feature lets bar owners establish worker accountability. This can minimize resource wastage and control beverage prices.
Zip Inventory can be downloaded from the Hubworks app store.
Bar Inventory Management System No. 2- AccuBar
AccuBar is a bar inventory solution that counts stocks and 'empties' (empty and reusable bottles of liquor) using barcode readers and portable devices like smartphones and tablets. It also maintains a meticulous wine inventory list.
A smartphone or barcode scanner can make stock-taking more effective and cost-effective. Its reports -- based on inventory information gathered -- give operators advice on how an operation can be improved. These business intelligence reports help organizations figure out vital metrics like pour cost percentage, variance, and so on, which help reduce losses and enhance staff accountability. AccuBar can be easily connected with other back-office software solutions and most bar POS systems.
The modular design of this software solution can be tailored to meet specific business requirements. It can handle internal requisition, cocktail recipes, food inventory counts, and large wine operations too. Barcodes can also be produced for items that lack them with the help of this software.
Bar Inventory Management System No. 3- Fishbowl
Fishbowl is a top software solution for a mid-sized or small business, with all the necessary tools provided for transforming inventory management and scaling up the business. This inventory software can be integrated with barcode scanners very easily.
Fishbowl offers seamless integration with several vital business solutions like QuickBooks, Adobe, Amazon, Salesforce, and Shopify.
Inventory control, barcoding, material requirements planning (MRP), work order management, job shop floor control, raw materials management, and forecasting inventory needs on the basis of sales patterns are the popular features of this software.
Real time stock updates provided by Fishbowl's inventory software can streamline your company's operations, boost productivity, and reduce costs.
Bar Inventory Management System No. 4- Partender
Partender claims to do complete bar inventory counts in just 15 minutes. The virtual bottle on the app's screen simply needs to be tapped at the level that coincides with that of the physical bottle.
Partender generates inventory data, supports multiple devices and users, and also functions as an order-placement app. (Inventory records can be read on both Android and iOS devices.) To complete the inventorying and ordering process in the promised 15 minutes, you simply need to generate reports and orders and share them with distributors.
The Partender program helps business owners identify variance by verifying the amount of liquor poured out in reality with nearly cent percent accuracy.
Bar Inventory Management System No. 5- WISK
WISK makes monitoring COGS, invoicing, purchases, inventory levels, reports, and recipes quick and easy. It is simple to set up and operate. Barcodes can be quickly scanned by a smartphone camera and band pricing determined immediately. When ingredient prices exceed predetermined thresholds, the software notifies you.
WISK eliminates the need to spend hours and hours extracting costs from invoices. It latches on to recipe updates and shares bills with the business's accounting solution. With the help of this software, you can base your business decisions on firm facts by accessing business intelligence analyses using sales and POS data. WISK provides several different kinds of reports, such as variance, overstocking, and inventory reports.