Big restaurant tech supplier Toast has added another tool to its arsenal: reservations.
The company on Tuesday launched Toast Tables, which allows restaurants to manage seating and waitlists. It integrates with the rest of the Toast platform, making it easier for operators to set up.
Hosts can use Toast Tables to track covers in real time, from when guests have ordered to when their food was delivered and when they’ve paid. The system also automates server rotations, estimated wait times and guest notifications. And it allows restaurants to collect customer data to use for marketing purposes.
The system costs $50 a month for restaurants that seat on a first come, first served basis. They'll get an unlimited waitlist and 25 reservations per month to use as needed. Restaurants that take reservations can get Toast Tables Plus for $199 a month. That gives them unlimited waitlist and reservations.
As part of the launch, Toast is expanding its integration with Google to allow customers to make a reservation within a restaurant’s Google Business Profile in Search or Maps.
According to Toast, Google Maps is the most common way that customers find full-service restaurants. The integration means restaurants can rely less on third-party reservation platforms to land those bookings, Toast said.
Indeed, Toast Tables is a shot at the big reservation services like OpenTable and Resy, which account for a large share of online restaurant bookings.
It adds to Toast’s other tools, which include POS, handheld server tablets, online ordering, payroll, marketing and more.
“Reservation and waitlist management capabilities have moved from ‘nice to have’ to ‘must have’ for many restaurants in recent years,” said Toast COO Aman Narang in a statement. “Toast Tables empowers restaurants to provide more personalized and efficient hospitality before, during, and between guest visits.”
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