Bluecart

What is BlueCart

BlueCart is a cloud-based ordering, inventory and order-management platform focused on the foodservice and hospitality supply chain. It connects restaurants, caterers, hotels and other hospitality buyers with suppliers and distributors through mobile and web apps for placing orders, managing catalogs, tracking inventory, and handling invoicing and payments. BlueCart serves both sides of the marketplace: procurement automation for buyers and digital sales channels, e-commerce storefronts and order routing for suppliers.

The platform addresses common challenges in hospitality procurement: fragmented communication (phone, fax, email), manual order entry, slow invoice reconciliation, and limited visibility into stock and order status. BlueCart replaces ad-hoc ordering workflows with structured catalogs, digital purchase orders, and integrated order tracking tied to supplier profiles and product SKUs.

BlueCart is typically adopted by small-to-mid-sized restaurant groups, independent operators, food distributors and specialty suppliers. It scales to larger distributors with multi-location rollouts and offers features designed for B2B commerce such as account-level pricing, minimum order rules, delivery scheduling, and multi-channel order intake (mobile app, web portal, EDI/API).

BlueCart features

What does BlueCart do?

BlueCart provides a suite of features that cover ordering, catalog management, inventory tracking and analytics for the foodservice ecosystem:

• Catalog and product management: create and publish supplier catalogs with item images, UPCs/SKUs, tiered pricing and pack sizes. Catalogs can be tailored per buyer account or region.
• Mobile and web ordering: buyers place orders from smartphones or desktops using saved favorites, shopping lists and recurring orders. Suppliers receive orders in a centralized dashboard or via push notifications and email.
• Purchase order and invoice management: generate, send and reconcile purchase orders and electronic invoices. The system supports order acknowledgements, partial shipments and invoice adjustments.
• Inventory tracking: basic on-hand tracking and par-level alerts tied to ordering workflows, helping smaller operators reduce stockouts and waste.
• Sales channel & e-commerce for suppliers: suppliers can publish web storefronts or private portals for their buyers and accept orders 24/7.
• Order routing and fulfillment tools: route orders to fulfillment centers or locations, apply delivery windows, and manage minimum order quantities.
• Reporting and analytics: sales, order velocity, product performance and buyer activity reports to inform purchasing andsales decisions.
• Integrations and API: connect to POS, back-office systems, accounting packages and ERP solutions to sync orders, inventory and billing.

BlueCart’s user experience is built around reducing the time to place and fulfil orders. Suppliers can import product lists via CSV and create account-level pricing; buyers can convert favorites into purchase orders and keep searchable order history. For multi-location buyers, the platform supports consolidated invoicing and centralized catalog control.

BlueCart pricing

BlueCart offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month with limited features for very small buyers or trial usage
• Starter: $79/month per location with basic ordering, catalog viewing and invoice management
• Professional: $199/month per location with advanced catalog controls, inventory tracking and analytics
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for multi-location enterprise deployments, EDI/API access, and dedicated onboarding

Pricing above reflects the common structure used for BlueCart subscriptions (free/basic/paid tiers plus enterprise). Enterprise deals are typically priced per number of users, locations or order volume and include implementation, data migration and SLAs. Check BlueCart’s current pricing options and enterprise packages on BlueCart's pricing page for the latest rates and available discounts.

How much is BlueCart per month

BlueCart starts at $0/month for its Free Plan, which provides basic access for evaluation or very small buyers. Paid plans commonly begin around $79/month per location for the Starter tier, with most active operator subscriptions falling in the $79–$199/month range per location depending on feature set and user counts.

Monthly billing is typically available for smaller customers or trials; suppliers and distributors negotiating enterprise contracts often move to annual billing for discounted rates. Check BlueCart's pricing plans and billing options on BlueCart's pricing page for current monthly offers and promotional pricing.

How much is BlueCart per year

BlueCart costs roughly $948/year per location for a Starter plan billed annually at $79/month equivalent, and about $2,388/year per location for a Professional plan billed annually at $199/month equivalent. Enterprise annual pricing varies by scope, onboarding needs and integration complexity, so BlueCart usually provides custom annual quotes.

Annual contracts frequently include implementation support, training hours and discounted user or location rates. View BlueCart's enterprise sales contact and annual program details on BlueCart's pricing page to request a tailored quote.

How much is BlueCart in general

BlueCart pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $199+/month per location. Entry-level usage can be free for small trials, while production deployments that require inventory, analytics and multi-channel sales sit in the low-to-mid hundreds per location per month. Large distributors or manufacturers using BlueCart as a multi-channel e-commerce and order-routing platform should expect custom pricing that reflects order volume, integrations, and dedicated support.

Cost drivers include number of buyer locations, number of supplier/vendor seats, the need for EDI or API integrations, custom catalog and pricing rules, and whether onboarding and data migration services are required.

What is BlueCart used for

BlueCart is used for digitizing and automating ordering workflows between hospitality buyers and foodservice suppliers. Restaurants use BlueCart to replace phone and fax orders with a mobile or web app, quickly re-order staples, manage supplier catalogs and track invoices. Suppliers and distributors use BlueCart to accept orders from many buyers on a single platform, publish product catalogs, and consolidate order intake to reduce manual processing.

Use cases include:

• Streamlining small-operator procurement so kitchen managers can spend less time on ordering and more time on operations.
• Enabling distributors to offer a self-service ordering channel and reduce phone-driven order entry costs.
• Allowing manufacturers to present direct-to-buyer catalogs and promotions while preserving account-level pricing and minimums.
• Centralizing purchasing for multi-unit restaurant groups with consolidated invoicing and approval workflows.

BlueCart is also used as an add-on sales channel: suppliers can list seasonal items, freight options and lead times while buyers can search by SKU or product attributes and place orders outside normal business hours. For operators looking to improve supply predictability, BlueCart’s order history and reporting provide data to optimize par levels and purchasing frequency.

Pros and cons of BlueCart

Pros:

• BlueCart centralizes buyer-supplier communication into a single digital workflow, reducing mis-keyed orders and lost faxes.
• The platform supports mobile ordering, which speeds daily procurement tasks for busy kitchen staff.
• Suppliers can create private catalogs with account-specific pricing and minimum order quantities, enabling B2B commerce without building a custom portal.
• Reporting and basic inventory features help small operators manage stock and reduce waste through visibility into order cadence.

Cons:

• Advanced inventory management suitable for large-scale distributors or multi-site enterprise retail operations may be limited compared with full ERP systems.
• Custom integrations and EDI generally require Enterprise contracts and project implementation, which increases upfront costs and time to value.
• Users migrating from legacy systems or fax-based workflows may need process changes and staff training, and small operators without consistent internet access may find some mobile features less reliable.
• Pricing can be per location, which may increase overall spend for multi-unit groups unless an enterprise discount is negotiated.

When evaluating BlueCart, weigh the reduction in manual ordering costs and error rates against the subscription and integration expenses. For most independent restaurants and small distributors, the productivity gains in order accuracy and speed produce a positive operational impact.

BlueCart free trial

BlueCart commonly offers a free evaluation period or a Free Plan tier for new users to test ordering, catalog browsing and basic features before committing to a paid subscription. The free experience is intended to let buyers and small suppliers try the ordering flow, favorites and basic reporting.

Trials or free tiers typically limit the number of users, locations and integrations, and restrict advanced features such as multi-account pricing, inventory automation and API access. For suppliers, a trial may allow publishing a small catalog and accepting a limited number of orders.

Enterprise customers usually receive a demo, pilot program and guided onboarding instead of an open free trial. If you need a proof-of-concept for multiple locations or API integrations, contact BlueCart’s sales team to arrange a pilot with representative data and implementation support. See BlueCart's pricing page to request a demo or trial engagement.

Is BlueCart free

Yes, BlueCart offers a Free Plan that lets new users evaluate basic ordering and catalog features without an immediate payment. The Free Plan is limited in users, integrations, and advanced commerce features, but provides a way to confirm the core ordering workflow and supplier connectivity.

For production use—especially for multi-location buyers or suppliers that need API/EDI, consolidated invoicing or e-commerce storefronts—businesses typically upgrade to a paid Starter, Professional, or Enterprise plan.

BlueCart API

BlueCart provides an API and integration options to connect order, product and customer data with POS, accounting and ERP systems. The API supports endpoints for creating and retrieving orders, pushing or pulling catalog items and synchronizing customer and pricing information. This enables automation of order ingestion for suppliers and order export for buyers into back-office systems.

Common integration patterns include:

• POS synchronization: push daily order totals and line-item sales into POS or pull product catalogs into POS item masters.
• Accounting sync: export invoices and payments to accounting packages for reconciliation and AP/AR workflows.
• Inventory and ERP: integrate product master data and stock levels to maintain consistent catalogs and prevent double-selling.

BlueCart also supports EDI-style workflows for larger distributors and can work with middleware or integration partners to map between BlueCart’s API and customer ERPs. Developers and technical buyers can review BlueCart’s API reference and developer documentation for available endpoints, authentication methods and rate limits on BlueCart's developer or integrations pages.

10 BlueCart alternatives

Paid alternatives to BlueCart

• Toast — Integrated POS and online ordering for restaurants, with supplier ordering less central but strong in restaurant operations and reporting.
• Square for Restaurants — Point-of-sale and payments platform focused on restaurants, with add-on inventory and ordering integrations for suppliers.
• Upserve — Restaurant management platform combining POS, analytics and inventory; stronger on in-house operations than supplier marketplaces.
• MarketMan — Inventory and purchasing platform geared to restaurateurs with strong purchase order automation and vendor management.
• MarginEdge — Combines invoice processing, vendor payments and inventory analytics to automate back-of-house procurement.

These paid alternatives are typically stronger on in-house POS and accounting workflows, while BlueCart focuses specifically on supplier-to-buyer ordering and B2B catalog commerce.

Open source alternatives to BlueCart

• ERPNext — Open source ERP with inventory, purchase orders and supplier management; requires configuration to model foodservice workflows and client-facing ordering portals.
• Odoo — Modular open source business suite with purchase, inventory and e-commerce modules that can be combined to build a B2B ordering portal.
• Unicenta — Open-source POS with inventory management; can be extended but does not provide the marketplace/order-routing features out of the box.

Open source options provide flexibility and lower license costs but typically require more IT resources to implement supplier-facing ordering portals and secure, mobile-friendly buyer experiences.

Frequently asked questions about BlueCart

What is BlueCart used for?

BlueCart is used for B2B ordering and inventory management in the foodservice industry. Restaurants and hospitality buyers use it to place digital orders, manage supplier catalogs and track invoices. Suppliers use it to accept orders, publish catalogs and route orders to fulfillment.

Does BlueCart integrate with POS systems?

Yes, BlueCart integrates with POS and back-office systems. Integrations help synchronize sales and order data and keep product catalogs consistent across systems. Specific POS connectors and integration partners are available depending on the POS vendor.

How much does BlueCart cost per user?

BlueCart starts at $0/month for the Free Plan and commonly charges around $79/month per location for entry paid plans. Exact per-user or per-location pricing depends on the chosen plan, number of locations and any enterprise discounts.

Is there a BlueCart free trial?

Yes, BlueCart provides a Free Plan or trial access for evaluation. The trial allows testing ordering flows and catalogs with limited users and feature access; enterprise pilots can be arranged through sales.

Can suppliers publish catalogs on BlueCart?

Yes, suppliers can create and publish product catalogs. Catalogs support images, pack sizes, SKUs and account-level pricing so suppliers can present products and terms to buyers online.

Does BlueCart offer API access?

Yes, BlueCart offers an API for order, catalog and customer synchronization. API access is commonly included in paid plans or enabled for enterprise customers and is used to integrate with ERP, accounting and POS systems.

Can BlueCart handle multi-location restaurant groups?

Yes, BlueCart supports multi-location operations. The platform offers consolidated invoicing, centralized catalog control and approval workflows to manage purchasing across multiple sites.

Is BlueCart secure for handling invoices and payments?

BlueCart follows standard B2B security and data handling practices. It uses secure connections for data in transit and offers role-based access controls; enterprise customers can request additional security measures and compliance documentation.

How fast is BlueCart to deploy?

Deployment time varies by scope but simple pilots can be started in days, while enterprise rollouts take weeks. Small buyers and suppliers can onboard with basic catalogs quickly; full integrations and multi-location setups require planning and data mapping.

Does BlueCart replace an ERP or accounting system?

No, BlueCart complements ERPs and accounting systems rather than replacing them. It focuses on order intake, catalog management and supplier-buyer workflows while integrating with back-office systems for billing, inventory costing and general ledger reconciliation.

bluecart careers

BlueCart hires across product, engineering, customer success and sales roles focused on building B2B commerce and supply-chain solutions for hospitality. Typical roles include mobile and backend engineers, integration specialists, solutions architects and onboarding/customer success managers who help customers migrate from manual ordering processes.

Engineering roles emphasize API development, data synchronization and mobile-first UX for buyers. Customer-facing roles focus on supplier enablement, catalog setup and driving buyer adoption. Check BlueCart's careers listings and company pages to find current openings and job descriptions.

bluecart affiliate

BlueCart operates partner and reseller relationships for distributors, POS vendors and integration partners. An affiliate or partnership program normally includes referral bonuses, co-branded onboarding support, and integration assistance for systems integrators.

Partners that refer customers or resell BlueCart can gain access to partner portals, marketing assets and joint sales support. Prospective partners should contact BlueCart’s partnerships team to learn program details and commission structures.

Where to find bluecart reviews

You can find independent reviews and user feedback on technology review sites and industry forums focused on hospitality operations. Look for buyer and supplier testimonials on BlueCart's case studies and explore third-party review sites for comparative ratings and user comments.

For implementation stories and feature-specific feedback, search for BlueCart customer case studies and reviews from restaurants and distributors that describe onboarding experience, order volume handling and integration outcomes.