ChefDesk vs Per Diem

ChefDesk is cloud-based restaurant POS and management software for food businesses in India. It brings billing, order management, customer records, kitchen display and analytics together, with tools for station routing, order status tracking and an expo screen on tablets. Transactions can be saved locally when the connection is down and synchronized to the cloud once it returns. Inventory functions include recipe-linked ingredient deductions, purchase orders, vendor price history, stock transfers and wastage tracking. The system generates GST-compliant invoices with HSN codes and supports GST return preparation. For groups with multiple outlets, it provides central menu and price controls, outlet-level overrides and consolidated reporting. Integrations include Zomato, Swiggy, WhatsApp, Tally, Zoho Books, Odoo and HR Suite. ChefDesk lists Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows access. Pricing is based on outlets and modules, with no plan prices listed; a 30-day trial is available. The maker says onboarding can get most restaurants operational within 24–48 hours.

Per Diem is restaurant CRM and marketing software that uses customer and Square POS data to help restaurants encourage repeat business. Its customer insights track revenue, returning customers, and customers at risk of lapsing, with orders and customer records syncing automatically from Square. The platform identifies customer segments and lets merchants send a win-back offer from a customer profile without building a campaign. Marketing options include targeted SMS, push notifications, email, and in-app banners; its Olivia copilot answers sales questions and recommends campaigns based on performance and customer behavior. Per Diem also offers branded web ordering and custom iOS and Android apps for pickup, delivery, catering, and group orders. It runs on Android, iOS, and the web and supports Square Loyalty. Bundled CRM costs $49 a month and À la carte CRM costs $99 a month; each includes up to 5,000 customer profiles per location. There is no free plan. Separate SMS credits start at $50 a month, and email credits cost 1.00 USD per 1,000 emails.