Running a restaurant in 2025 isn’t just about serving great food — it’s about leveraging restaurant software as a service or SaaS for restaurants, for short, to modernize restaurant operations. From point of sale (POS) systems to restaurant CRM, SaaS for restaurants isn't just a trend. These technologies offer easy-to-use, cost-saving solutions that enable restaurants to boost profits, streamline operations, and build deeper customer relationships.
This guide explores what SaaS for restaurants is, why this category of technology matters for your business, and why the DoorDash Commerce Platform is a great SaaS solution for modern restaurants.
Get a Commerce Platform demoWhat is SaaS for restaurants?
SaaS (software as a service) for restaurants is technology built specifically for restaurants. It's an umbrella term for restaurant software that typically has a subscription model.
SaaS for restaurants includes:
Point of sale (POS) systems
Inventory management software
Staff scheduling tools
Reporting tools for sales, costs, and customer trends
Online ordering systems
Marketing tools
Loyalty programs
And more
Why SaaS for restaurants matters to modern merchants
As restaurants face razor-thin margins, shifting diner expectations, and growing competition, merchants are turning to SaaS for the following reasons:
Flexibility and scalability: Whether you’re running one location or many, the right SaaS platform makes it easy to add new features or expand without overhauling your entire system when business needs change.
Real-time insights: Many restaurant SaaS solutions include real-time dashboards, routinely pulling data from the cloud. Reporting tools can make it easy to identify trends and make more informed business decisions
No new headcount necessary: Because SaaS providers handle updates, security, and maintenance, restaurants don’t need to hire new team members to manage technology.
Staying competitive: Digital-first dining is here to stay. Restaurant SaaS ensures your business is future-proofed as restaurant technology continues to grow and evolve.
Tech consolidation: Leading SaaS platforms offer suites of products that solve various merchant painpoints, all accessible in a single, easy-to-use interface.
6 Restaurant SaaS Tools to Grow Direct Sales
If you're exploring SaaS for restaurants, the DoorDash Commerce Platform offers a commission-free* suite of restaurant software tools designed to boost direct orders. From branded ordering channels to built-in loyalty and marketing, these tools help restaurants own the guest experience and build long-term customer relationships.
Here’s what makes DoorDash Commerce Platform stand out as an all-in-one restaurant SaaS solution:
1. Online Ordering
Online Ordering helps you accept direct orders from your website, social channels, and Google, commission-free*. You can get set up in minutes and can increase sales by up to 8% of your current Marketplace sales.**
2. Branded website
Your website should be more than a digital menu. This tool gives you a professionally designed, mobile-friendly site that’s optimized for Google — helping new customers find you and order online.
3. Branded Mobile App
App users order more often — and the branded mobile app makes it easy to meet them where they are. Users who download a branded mobile app order 30% more frequently, increasing first-party digital same-store sales by up to 20%.***
4. Automated Email Marketing
The automated email marketing series available on the DoorDash Commerce Platform is proven to boost order frequency by 15%****, requiring zero lift on your end. It’s ideal for busy operators who want marketing SaaS features without the complexity.
5. Customizable Email and Text Marketing
For restaurants that want more control over their marketing, customizable email and text marketing offers flexible templates and advanced audience targeting. Easily send promos, new menu launches, and updates across multiple channels — all from one dashboard.
6. Cross-Channel Loyalty
This industry-first loyalty program helps customers earn and redeem points whether they order online, in-app, in-store, or on DoorDash.
"The combination of making the switch to Online Ordering and adding the app allows us to provide a more accessible, reliable service for our customers which led to a significant boost in sales. A total game-changer for the business."
What make the DoorDash Commerce Platform a great SaaS for restaurants
The DoorDash Commerce Platform is designed to help restaurants grow sales on their own channels, engage customers automatically, and stay competitive in a digital-first dining world.
Here’s what makes it a great SaaS for restaurants:
Powered by DoorDash
What makes the Commerce Platform unique is that it’s built on the same proven technology that powers millions of DoorDash orders every day. By choosing restaurant SaaS backed by DoorDash, you get the reliability and scale of a platform trusted by diners nationwide — while still keeping your brand front and center.
ROI-driven features for restaurants
The DoorDash Commerce Platform is purpose-built for restaurants with ROI in mind. You can drive up to $7,500 in sales from direct channels in your first 6 months of launching Online Ordering*****, making it a no-brainer when it comes to ROI.
Centralized platform for growth
The DoorDash Commerce Platform brings all your tools together in the Merchant Portal. From commission-free* ordering and automated emails to loyalty rewards and real-time insights, everything runs in one place. That means you can grow direct sales and launch email marketing campaigns in the same place you manage Marketplace orders.
Get a Commerce Platform demoReady to grow with restaurant SaaS?
The right SaaS for restaurants doesn’t just add convenience — it helps you build a more profitable, direct, and loyal customer base. Whether you’re launching online ordering, creating a branded app, or re-engaging diners through automated marketing, restaurant SaaS tools like DoorDash Commerce Platform make it easy to take control of your digital business.
Get a Commerce Platform demo**2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee applies
**Based on internal DoorDash data from Jan 2025 through May 2025
***Based on internal DoorDash data from February 2024 to March 2025
****Based on internal DoorDash data from March 2024 through March 2025
*****Based on internal DoorDash data as of June 2025
