DineSurf
Restaurant Management Dashboard
A B2B software that allows restaurants to automate their processes—managing reservations, menu management, team management, and more—from a single dashboard.
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
2021 - 2022
Platform
Web Application
Team
Cross-functional
01 — OVERVIEW
Project Overview
DineSurf is a B2B software that allows restaurants to automate their operations. The platform covers core workflows: managing reservations, menu management, team management, and related processes that restaurants typically handle manually or with fragmented tools.
The goal was to design a unified dashboard that gives restaurant owners and managers a single place to run their business—from the front of house to the kitchen.
02 — PROBLEM STATEMENT
The Problem
Restaurants — especially small to mid-sized operations — often juggle multiple disconnected tools for reservations, menus, staff, and reporting:
- Reservation management is often done via phone, paper, or basic spreadsheets.
- Menu updates require manual changes across platforms and printed materials.
- Staff scheduling and communication lack a central, reliable system.
- Reporting and insights are scattered or non-existent.
"How might we give restaurants one platform to automate and streamline their day-to-day operations?"
03 — GOALS & SUCCESS METRICS
Design Goals
- Primary Goal: Build a unified B2B platform for reservation, menu, and team management.
- UX Goal: Design an intuitive dashboard that restaurant staff can adopt with minimal training.
- Business Goal: Enable restaurants to automate core processes and reduce operational friction.
- Growth Goal: Create a scalable product that can grow with restaurant needs.
The initial design focused on bringing reservation management, menu management, and team management into a single dashboard. We prioritized clarity and quick access to the most-used actions.
Early feedback from restaurant owners highlighted the need for faster reservation handling and clearer menu update flows. The design evolved to surface these workflows more prominently.
"Reservations need to be quicker to manage"
"Menu changes should be simpler"
"Where do I see my team schedule?"
This feedback drove refinements to the information architecture and navigation, making core tasks more discoverable and efficient.
How do we make reservation management faster and less error-prone?
Solution
A dedicated reservations module with calendar view, quick-add forms, and status filters so staff can manage bookings without switching contexts.
How do we simplify menu updates across the business?
Solution
Centralized menu management with versioning, category organization, and one-click publish so changes propagate consistently.
How do we give managers visibility into team schedules and roles?
Solution
Team management with role-based access, shift scheduling, and clear assignment of responsibilities.
How do we reduce cognitive load for busy restaurant staff?
Solution
Dashboard layout with clear sections, shortcuts to high-frequency actions, and consistent patterns across modules.
