Successfully running a restaurant is not just about dining, it’s also about data. With thin margins and unpredictable demand, restaurants can no longer rely on guessing when it comes to ordering their inventory. That’s where predictive ordering for restaurants comes in.
Instead of juggling spreadsheets or manually reviewing invoices, predictive ordering uses real-time sales and inventory data to recommend what to order, when to order it, and in what quantities. All of this and more is available through the BlueCart platform.
BlueCart’s food inventory automation goes beyond digitizing procurement. It helps users with demand forecasting, preventing waste, and streamlining vendor communication, all while saving time. When paired with BinWise’s beverage inventory integration, users can unify their food and beverage ordering into one seamless platform.
In this post, we break down how predictive ordering works, why it matters, and how BlueCart helps restaurants order smarter, not harder.
Key Takeaway: Predictive ordering for restaurants is more than a convenience, it’s a competitive advantage. By combining food inventory automation with real-time data, BlueCart helps users cut waste, avoid stockouts, save time, and boost profitability.
What Is Predictive Ordering for Restaurants?
Predictive ordering for restaurants is the process of using real-time data and automated forecasting tools to predict what your restaurant will need for upcoming service. This feature is offered exclusively through BlueCart.
Now, instead of placing orders based on guessing, predictive ordering uses:
- Historical sales data (for example, how many chicken entrees were sold last Thursday)
- Inventory depletion trends (for example, how fast the 50-lb bag of flour is used each week)
- Seasonality and events (for example, holiday menus, sporting events, local festivals)
- Vendor lead times and delivery schedules
The result of this is a system that recommends the right order at the right time. This helps users avoid costly mistakes.
Why Manual Ordering Creates Risk
For many restaurant managers and owners, the order process is still manual. It includes printouts, clipboards, or guesswork. This may have been a viable solution in the past, but today, it creates challenges such as:
- Over-ordering. This leads to food waste that will decrease profits.
- Under-ordering. This will likely result in stockouts that will require 86-ing menu items.
- Wasted time. Counting, cross-checking, and calling in orders are timely tasks.
- No or Limited Visibility. Users may have a lack of visibility into true costs until invoices arrive.
Restaurants are already facing challenges such as labor shortages, supply chain delays, and fluctuating food prices. Manual ordering makes it harder for businesses to stay profitable.
How Predictive Ordering with BlueCart Solves Problems
Predictive Ordering is one of the latest features offered through BlueCart’s Endless Aisle. It allows users to order inventory based on previous sales and order data so that you’re only ordering what you need, when you need it.
Here are four ways BlueCart solves problems with predictive ordering:
1. Reduces Food Waste
Predictive ordering through BlueCart ensures users only buy what they need based on their actual sales patterns. Chefs and purchase order managers will no longer have to worry about spoiled ingredients or food waste.
2. Prevents Stockouts
Users can prevent stockouts with predictive ordering by aligning their ordering with real-time depletion rates. This way, restaurants will avoid running out of customer-favorites mid-service.
3. Saves Time
Reviewing inventory can take hours or even days. However, with BlueCart’s predictive ordering feature, users can approve AI-powered order recommendations in minutes.
4. Improves Vendor Relationships
Predictive ordering allows users to standardize order quantities, reduce emergency calls, and strengthen vendor negotiations with data.
BlueCart’s Predictive Ordering Advantage
The BlueCart platform is an asset in the food and beverage and hospitality industries, especially now with the latest BinWise integration for beverage inventory management. What sets BlueCart apart from the competition is that predictive ordering is built directly into the system, alongside other features that are crucial to modern operations.
Some of BlueCart’s latest and greatest features include:
- Food Inventory Tracking: Users can get real-time visibility into what inventory they have on hand and what’s moving.
- Predictive Ordering: Order recommendations tailored to your restaurant’s actual demand based on historical data.
- Vendor Ordering through the Endless Aisle: Place orders directly with trusted vendors in a single platform.
- Real-time Reports: Track food costs, usage rates, and menu profitability instantly.
- Live Vendor Pricing: Compare different vendor pricing before you place your orders.
- Menu Benchmarking and Menu Costing: Link predictive orders to your menu so you know true margins.
- Sales Matching: Align purchases with sales for accurate COGS reporting.
With the latest BinWise integration, restaurants also gain beverage inventory management and ordering all within the same workflow. This unifies food and beverage in a single predictive system.
Who Benefits Most from Predictive Ordering?
Thanks to the latest BinWise integration in BlueCart, the BlueCart platform can now help even more restaurants, bars, and vendors streamline inventory, prevent stockouts, reduce waste, and place smarter orders in real time.
Predictive ordering helps all types of operations, especially:
- Fine dining and Michelin-level restaurants that require precise ingredient sourcing.
- Multi-location groups that struggle to standardize ordering processes.
- High-volume quick-service restaurants that can’t afford to 86 menu items.
- Bars and restaurants with large beverage programs that want both food and beverage ordering on a single platform.
Frequently Asked Questions About Predictive Ordering for Restaurants
Before investing in new technology, it’s important to understand the reasoning behind the investment. With BlueCart’s predictive ordering for restaurants feature, you can have peace of mind knowing that your ordering processes are streamlined and backed by data. This means no guesswork.
Here are some commonly asked questions regarding predictive ordering for restaurants:
What is predictive ordering in restaurants?
Predictive ordering in restaurants is a BlueCart feature that uses real-time sales and inventory data to recommend the right items and quantities to order. Not only does this take the guesswork out of ordering inventory, but it also helps to reduce food waste and stockouts.
How does predictive ordering reduce waste?
Predictive ordering helps to reduce waste by analyzing historical inventory usage and sales patterns to recommend only the items and quantities you’ll actually need. This helps to prevent excess stock that may end up spoiling. Aside from historical inventory usage and sales patterns, the predictive ordering feature will also factor in inventory depletion trends, seasonality, events, and vendor lead times.
Is predictive ordering part of food inventory automation?
Yes, predictive ordering is part of food inventory automation from BlueCart. The platform combines tracking, reporting, vendor ordering, and forecasting in a single unified platform.
Can predictive ordering be used for beverages?
Yes, predictive ordering can be used for beverage inventory management. Through BlueCart’s integration with BinWise, restaurants can automate food and beverage ordering together. This process simplifies procurement across the board.
How do I know if my restaurant needs predictive ordering from BlueCart?
If your restaurant has ever had to throw out expired products, 86 an item on the menu, or spend hours each week manually counting inventory, predictive ordering from BlueCart is the ideal solution for you.
If you’re ready to order smarter, not harder, book a BlueCart demo today and see the predictive ordering feature, and many others, in action.