Smart Order by DOWHAT vs. SABA F&B Ordering:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

You're evaluating two mobile ordering solutions for your hotel: Smart Order by DOWHAT and SABA F&B Ordering by SABA Hospitality. Both aim to modernize guest service, reduce operational costs, and improve experience, but they approach these goals differently. DOWHAT’s offering is primarily focused on contactless communication and PMS integration, while SABA emphasizes a user-friendly, multi-feature platform that boosts F&B revenue. Which product best aligns with your hotel’s needs?

You want a platform that enhances guest satisfaction, streamlines operations, and offers solid support. But which is the more reliable choice given your hotel's size, guest profile, and regional presence? Let’s compare these solutions head-to-head.

Is Smart Order or SABA Hospitality Better for Hotels?

Smart Order by DOWHAT aims to replace traditional services, especially where language barriers or contactless interactions are priorities. It integrates tightly with PMS systems and offers features like NFC and vendor management, making it ideal for hotels seeking operational efficiency across front desk, concierge, and housekeeping.

SABA Hospitality, on the other hand, provides a robust mobile ordering platform that emphasizes F&B sales and guest engagement. Its features include request management, reservations, and a digital compendium, supporting a broader range of guest services. But with 132 reviews and recent feedback, SABA’s user base is larger and more current, making it the stronger choice for most hoteliers. Would your hotel benefit more from streamlined communication or revenue-focused F&B services?

Smart Order vs SABA Hospitality: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs to improve internal communication and contactless interactions, especially in markets with high language diversity, Smart Order is the better option. Its PMS integration and NFC capabilities help frontline staff respond faster and coordinate better.

However, if your hotel prioritizes increasing food and beverage revenue while offering guests a versatile, multilingual platform, SABA Hospitality is the clear winner. Its 132 reviews show strong recent satisfaction, particularly among resorts and branded hotels, with a focus on upselling and guest convenience.

For hotels seeking operational integration, Smart Order’s limited partner network (only 2 verified partners) might be restrictive. Conversely, SABA’s nine verified partners and extensive features make it more adaptable across diverse systems and hotel types. Which focus aligns better with your strategic goals?

Is Smart Order or SABA Hospitality Easier to Use?

Smart Order boasts a high usability rating of 4.83/5 but has only 12 reviews, with limited recent feedback. Users praise its quick setup and effective communication features but note that system stability can sometimes hinder experience.

SABA Hospitality scores slightly lower at 4.74/5 but benefits from a larger, more recent review base—132 reviews in the last six months—giving it more reliable data. Hoteliers appreciate its intuitive QR code setup and multilingual support, which many find easy for staff and guests alike.

Edge: SABA Hospitality.

Which Has Better Features: Smart Order or SABA Hospitality?

Smart Order provides four features exclusive to DOWHAT, including NFC, PMS integration, third-party delivery, and vendor management. It caters well to hotels seeking contactless, integrated operations but offers a narrower feature set overall.

SABA Hospitality packs nine unique features, such as request management, reservations, wake-up calls, and Apple Pay, that broaden guest service options. Its platform supports curbside pickup, tipping, and enhanced order tracking, making it more versatile for F&B and guest engagement.

With 17 shared features, SABA’s feature count and variety give it the edge for hotels wanting a comprehensive mobile solution. Which set of features addresses your hotel’s biggest operational challenges?

Which Has Better Customer Support: Smart Order or SABA Hospitality?

Smart Order’s support rating is 4.67/5 based on 12 reviews, with comments highlighting good service but limited feedback on onboarding. Its small review pool suggests less consistency in support experiences.

SABA Hospitality, with a 4.79/5 support score from 132 recent reviews, shows more reliable, positive feedback. Hoteliers praise its proactive onboarding and quick problem resolution, especially during the pandemic when flexibility was crucial.

Edge: SABA Hospitality.

Which Has More Integrations: Smart Order or SABA Hospitality?

SABA Hospitality boasts nine verified integrations, including notable partners like Oracle Hospitality, Shiji Group, and Stripe. These integrations facilitate broad system connectivity, especially with POS, payment, and property management platforms.

Smart Order has only two verified partners, limiting its compatibility outside its native ecosystem. While its PMS integration is strong, the smaller partner network could restrict scalability for larger or more complex hotel brands.

Edge: SABA Hospitality.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Smart Order or SABA Hospitality?

SABA Hospitality’s reviews, totaling 132, are more recent and positive, with an overall rating of 4.97/5. Hotels across resort, branded, and independent segments report high satisfaction, particularly praising its revenue impact and ease of use.

Smart Order has only 12 reviews with a 0/5 rating, indicating very limited feedback and no recent data. Its lack of recent reviews makes it difficult to gauge current performance or user satisfaction.

Edge: SABA Hospitality.

How Much Do Smart Order and SABA Hospitality Cost?

Smart Order costs a flat $400, with no free tier or trial, which might be a barrier for smaller hotels. Its pricing suggests a premium approach, likely justified by its PMS integration and enterprise features.

SABA Hospitality’s lower base price of $100 per month makes it more accessible for small to mid-sized hotels. As it lacks a trial, assessing ROI depends on your willingness to commit upfront, but its extensive feature set offers clear value.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Smart Order?

• Hotels that need to streamline internal operations, such as concierge, front desk, and housekeeping.
• Properties with multilingual guests requiring contactless, language-agnostic communication.
• Hotels seeking direct PMS integration for seamless guest request management.
• Venues prioritizing operational efficiency over extensive F&B features.
• Teams that prefer straightforward, contactless communication tools.

Not ideal if your hotel emphasizes F&B sales or desires a broader guest engagement platform, given Smart Order’s narrower feature scope and limited integrations.

What Type of Hotel Should Use SABA Hospitality?

• Resorts and branded hotels aiming to maximize F&B revenue through mobile ordering.
• Hotels seeking a flexible, customizable platform with multilingual support.
• Properties wanting to reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction.
• Hotels that value extensive integrations with existing systems like POS, payment, and property management.
• Hospitality brands in multiple regions, as SABA has a broader market presence.

Not ideal if your hotel is small, with minimal F&B service, or if you prefer a minimalistic solution with fewer features.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Smart Order by DOWHAT offers a contactless, PMS-integrated option ideal for hotels prioritizing operational efficiency and internal communication, especially in multilingual environments. Its limited feature set and regional presence make it less suitable for hotels focused on revenue generation through F&B.

SABA Hospitality provides a multi-feature, easy-to-use platform with a proven track record of increasing F&B sales and guest engagement. Its extensive integrations, broader market presence, and active review base make it the better choice for hotels seeking comprehensive guest services and revenue growth.

If your hotel needs a versatile, revenue-oriented mobile ordering system with strong support and integrations, SABA Hospitality is the recommended solution. Conversely, for properties focused on internal communication and contactless operations, Smart Order remains a viable, though narrower, option.