Catering Software, Event Management Software for professionals

Both the desktop and web-based options of Caterease are available in three basic versions – Express, Standard and Professional. All three offer robust client and event management. The Express version is specially priced to appeal to smaller operations, while the Professional version includes advanced tools designed specifically to save your company additional time.

The chart below provides a quick glance at some of the main feature differences between the versions. Click any of the features to get more information on that particular tool or module.

Feature	Express	Standard	Professional
Standard Functionality Enjoy the core features of Caterease, which include comprehensive client and event management, as well as state-of-the-art data-entry tools to make the process of entering information easy and fun.
Optional Program Add-Ins Enhance the basic functionality of the program with several powerful, popular add-in modules – such as Marketing Tools merge letters, Contact Manager reminders and history notes and more.
Various Software Interfaces Choose from several optional robust interfaces with other software applications, including accounting, menu management and room diagramming programs.
Customizable Event Prints Create your own contracts, proposals, invoices, back-of-house prints, etc. using a simple print designer tool - including the option to modify font styles, font sizes, field selection and custom logos.
Dynamic Event Wizard Book events easily with a powerful wizard tool that walks you through the entire process in just a couple of simple steps – from choosing a client to adding general event details to selecting menu items!
Localization of Date/Currency Formats Have the format of all date and currency details throughout the program automatically conform to the regional settings of the user’s computer. Therefore, users outside of the U.S. will see date and currency formats appropriate for their country.
Direct Emailing Send email directly from a variety of areas in the program, optionally including attachments of general files or Caterease prints.			Includes Batch Emailing, whereby any number of emails can be sent to any number of recipients with a single mouse click.
Event Calendar Manage events easily in this user-friendly tool designed to mirror the popular Microsoft Outlook calendar – with day-, week-, workweek-, month- and even year-at-a-glance displays. Also includes the ability to include standard calendar holidays, as well as create your own.		Same as Express, plus the ability to put custom notes on the calendar on any day or date range.	Same as Standard, plus Includes added ability to add an event directly from the Calendar.
Customizable Screen Displays Add, rename, rearrange or remove fields to suit your particular business needs.		Same as Express, plus the ability to customize tabs on the screen.	Same as Standard.
Customizable Food/Service Menus Create and modify any number of custom menus and menu items, including a limitless rich text description of each item.		Same as Express, plus ability to break menus down into "Sub-Menus" for easier organization.Also includes ability to make changes to multiple menu items at one time.	Same as Standard, plus the ability to copy new menu items and changes to existing ones from an event into your default menus.
Menu Item Retrieval Retrieve limitless menu items into an event dynamically and easily, including the ability to drag and drop multiple items from your pre-defined menus into the party and add custom items on-the-fly in the event. You can even rearrange the order of an event's menu by simply dragging and dropping items into new positions.		Same as Express, plus ability to group menu items into custom packages, link quantities of menu items to the event's guest count and create a default quantity for menu items. Also includes ability to insert items anywhere in an event's menu upon selection.	Same as Standard.
Querying Tools Instantly find answers to virtually any questions you have about your business using robust, state-of-the-art custom querying and reporting tools.		Includes enhanced ability to filter and group data on-the-fly.	Includes additional querying tools to specifically track menu item usage, staffing, payments, etc.
Menu Item Costing Assign cost to a menu item as a whole item, or (in Standard and Professional) have item cost automatically calculated based on the costs of all ingredients for that item.	A single line-item cost can be assigned to each menu item, and can be modified on-the-fly within a particular event.	Cost can either be handled the same as in Express, or automatically calculated based on the costs of all ingredients for that item.	Same as Standard.
Event Copying Instantly copy an entire event – including its menu, venue, times and all other details – and even optionally assign the new party to another client if desired.	Events can be copied to up to two new dates instantly.	Events can be copied to up to ten separate dates at once, can be automatically scheduled to recur daily, weekly, monthly, etc., or can be scheduled to occur on certain weekdays during a particular date range.	Same as Standard
Automatic Wait Listing Place any event with a room conflict on a wait list, and the program will be automatically prompt you if that space becomes available.	Not Offered
Multiple/Batch Printing Generate a single event print – Contract, Invoice, back-of-house print, etc. – or a selection of multiple prints for an entire group of events with a single mouse click.	Not Offered
Audit Trail Track various changes made to events, including the date the change was made and by whom.	Not Offered
Menu Item Ingredients Create detailed, custom ingredients lists to be automatically included with each individual menu item. Includes the ability to make one-time modifications of ingredients on-the-fly within an event, as well as the ability to change multiple items in the master list simultaneously.	Not Offered
Menu Items Required Items (Packing List) Create detailed, custom packing lists (number of plates, napkins, chafing dishes, etc.) to be automatically included with each individual menu item. Includes the ability to make on-time modifications of required items on-the-fly within an event, as well as the ability to change multiple items in the master list simultaneously.	Not Offered
Staffing/Shift Management Designate how many shifts (bartenders, waiters, etc.) are necessary for each event, and assign individual employees to work those shifts. Includes a Shift Wizard to establish rules for each shift based on event details (for example, 1 bartender per 10 guests if the event theme is “Wedding”, etc.).	Not Offered		Includes dynamic Shift Manager, where all shifts and employees for any group of parties can be managed from one window.
Data Archiving Instantly choose older events (based on dates and other criteria) to be removed from your everyday database and placed in a separate archive. Events can then restored from the archive at a future date if desired.	Not Offered		Adds the ability to restore more than one event from the archive at one time.
Attached Event Files Attach any file to an event, such as a scanned copy of a signed contract, an image file of the room layout, or a host of other options.	Not Offered	Not Offered
Table, Van, Lane or Other Item Management Build a custom list of items such as vans, tables, bowling lanes, etc. and schedule them for an event – complete with warnings of any scheduling conflicts. Includes the ability to see a bar graph of the usage of your items, as well as the ability to include images of tables, lanes, etc.	Not Offered	Not Offered
Enhanced Event Navigation Review a list of all events for any day or date range that are related to each other in any of several ways – all have the same sales rep; all have the same client; all have the same “Category”; etc. Instantly navigate from one event on the list to another.	Not Offered	Not Offered
Employee Tracking Use a dynamic query tool to track any employees booked for an entire day or date range, or for an individual event. Results are listed in a grid, which allows data to be grouped, filtered, printed, exported, etc.	Not Offered	Not Offered (Employees can be tracked using a printed report.)
Enhanced Menu Item Management Take advantage of additional tools to review a list of all menu items ordered for any date range, or a list of events using a specific item or group of items. Lists are displayed as dynamic grids, allowing grouping of data, filtering of data, printing, exporting, etc.	Not Offered (Menu item usage can be tracked using a printed report.)	Not Offered (Menu item usage can be tracked using a printed report.)

Q: If I choose to start with the Express version, can I upgrade later?

A: Absolutely. The upgrade process is seamless. You will not lose or have to re-enter any data.

Q: How much does it cost to upgrade from one version to another?

A: When upgrading from one version to another, your only cost would be the difference between the price of the two versions – period.

Q: Is the Express version specifically for smaller operations, and the Professional version for large businesses?

A: Not necessarily. More specifically, the Express version is PRICED to appeal to smaller operations. However, the versions are really all about functionality. The chart above should help you to determine which version is most applicable for your company. And remember – you can upgrade any time you are ready.