Ordering Settings

Control how customers can order from your restaurant, what options are available, and how orders are processed. These settings affect your online ordering site and determine what customers see when th

Go to Settings → Ordering to access all ordering settings. The page is organised into collapsible sections:

Store Status: Store visibility and mode (live/test)
Fulfilment: Delivery/collection options, guest checkout, auto-confirm
Timing & Scheduling: ASAP/scheduled orders, preparation times, advance booking
Order Numbers: Order number formatting, prefixes, daily restart (available on some plans)
Menu Display: Deals page, featured products, allergens page

Store Visibility

Accepting Orders

On: Customers can place orders through your website
Off: Ordering is disabled - customers can’t place new orders
Use this for: Temporary closures, maintenance, or testing

Store Mode

This is a critical setting that affects how your store operates:

Live Mode

Store is active and accepting real customer orders
Payments are processed normally
Orders appear in your admin panel
Use for: Normal business operations

Test Mode

Store appears live but no real orders are processed
Payments use test cards - no real money changes hands
Orders don’t appear in admin (safe for testing)
Use for: Testing integrations, training staff, or demonstrations

Important: Always switch to live mode when you’re ready to accept real orders!

Ordering Options

Order Types

Choose which types of orders your restaurant accepts:

Delivery Orders

Customers order for delivery to their address
Requires delivery zones to be set up
Shows delivery fees and minimum orders
Customers enter delivery address during checkout

Collection Orders

Customers order for pickup from your restaurant
No delivery fees (unless you add a collection charge)
Shows collection time based on prep estimates
Customers choose when they’ll collect

Tip: Most restaurants enable both delivery and collection to give customers choice.

Guest Checkout

On: Customers can order without creating an account
Off: Customers must sign up/login before ordering
Affects: Checkout flow and customer data collection

Order Timing

Configure when customers can place orders with flexible timing options (found in the Timing & Scheduling section):

ASAP Orders

On (default): Customers can place orders for immediate preparation
Off: Customers must schedule orders in advance (scheduled-only mode)
Use for: Most businesses keep this enabled for walk-in and immediate orders

Scheduled Orders

Allow customers to order for future dates/times:

On: Customers can schedule orders ahead
Off: Only immediate orders (ASAP)
Use for: Catering, bakeries, or any business that accepts advance bookings

Important: At least one ordering mode must be enabled. You cannot disable both ASAP and Scheduled orders.

Scheduled-Only Mode

When ASAP orders are disabled but scheduled orders are enabled, your business operates in “scheduled-only” mode:

Customers must book in advance - no immediate orders accepted
Ideal for: Corporate catering (72 hours notice), bakeries (next day pickup), event catering
Storefront shows: “Advance booking required” message with time selection

Maximum Advance Booking (Schedule Lead Time)

If scheduled orders are enabled, set how far ahead customers can order:

2 hours: Very short-term scheduling
Today: Orders for later today only
+1 day: Up to tomorrow
+2 days: Up to 2 days ahead
+3 days: Up to 3 days ahead
+5 days: Up to 5 days ahead
+7 days: Up to a week ahead
+14 days: Up to 2 weeks ahead
+30 days: Up to a month ahead

Minimum Notice Required

Set the minimum notice required before an order can be scheduled:

Hour-based options (calculated from order time):

Use prep time (default): Uses your configured preparation times (current behaviour)
2 hours: Orders must be placed at least 2 hours before desired time
4 hours: Orders must be placed at least 4 hours before desired time

Calendar-day options (based on calendar days, not 24-hour periods):

Tomorrow: Earliest available slot is the next calendar day
2 days: Earliest available slot is the day after tomorrow
3 days: Earliest available slot is 3 calendar days from now
7 days: Earliest available slot is 7 calendar days from now

Example: If a customer orders on Monday evening with “Tomorrow” minimum notice, the earliest available slot would be Tuesday (during your opening hours), not 24 hours from their order time.

Example Use Cases:

Bakery: Scheduled-only with “Tomorrow” minimum notice, 5 days max advance
Corporate Catering: Scheduled-only with “3 days” minimum notice, 14 days max advance
Restaurant with pre-orders: Both ASAP and scheduled enabled, default minimum notice

How Scheduled Order Timing Works

Scheduled orders respect your opening hours and preparation times to ensure orders can be fulfilled on time. The system automatically calculates available time slots based on:

For Collection Orders:

Last acceptable slot time = Location close time - Collection prep minutes
This ensures orders can be prepared and ready before your location closes
Example: If you close at 10:00 PM and collection prep takes 15 minutes, the last available slot would be 9:45 PM
Customers can only schedule collection orders for times when the order will be ready before closing

For Delivery Orders:

Zone opening hours represent “latest drop-off time” (when customers can receive their order)
Delivery arrival time = Slot time + Travel time (from delivery zone settings)
The zone must be open at the delivery arrival time
Example: If a zone closes at 11:00 PM and travel time is 20 minutes, orders must be ready by 10:40 PM to arrive by 11:00 PM
Customers can only schedule delivery orders for times when the order will arrive before the zone closes

Holidays and Exceptions:

All scheduled slots automatically respect holidays and exceptions configured in your location’s opening hours
If a date is marked as closed (holiday), no slots will be available for that day
Recurring holidays (e.g., Christmas Day) are automatically excluded from available slots every year
Partial day closures (specific time windows) are also respected

Time Slot Generation:

Slots are generated in 15-minute increments
Only slots that allow sufficient prep/travel time are shown
The system calculates the earliest possible slot based on current time + prep time
Slots are filtered to ensure orders can be fulfilled within opening hours

Auto Confirm Orders

On: Orders are automatically confirmed when placed (no manual review)
Off: Orders need manual confirmation before preparation starts
Affects: Customer experience and order processing workflow

Preparation Times

Set realistic preparation times to manage customer expectations:

Collection Prep Time

Time to prepare collection orders from confirmation to ready
Shown to customers so they know when to arrive
Example: 15-20 minutes for simple orders
Affects scheduling: Last available collection slot = closing time - collection prep time
- If you close at 10:00 PM and prep takes 15 minutes, last slot is 9:45 PM
- Ensures orders can be ready before you close

Delivery Prep Time

Time to prepare delivery orders from confirmation to dispatch
Added to delivery time estimates
Example: 25-35 minutes including packaging
Affects scheduling: Combined with travel time to calculate delivery arrival
- Delivery arrival = slot time + travel time (from delivery zone)
- Zone must be open at delivery arrival time (zone hours = latest drop-off time)

Tips for setting prep times:

Be realistic - don’t underestimate preparation time
Account for busy periods - may need longer times during peak hours
Include buffer - extra time for unexpected delays
Review regularly - adjust based on actual performance
Consider closing times - prep times determine last available scheduled slots

Order Numbers

Customise how your orders are numbered for easy reference (found in the Order Numbers section, available on some plans):

Daily Restart

On: Order numbers restart from 1 each day (e.g., Order #1, #2, #3…)
Off: Order numbers continue sequentially (e.g., Order #152, #153, #154…)
Affects: Order tracking and daily management

Minimum Digits

Pad numbers with zeros for consistent length
Example: Minimum 4 digits → Order #0001, #0042, #0127
Makes orders easier to read and sort

Starting Number

First order number for new sequences
Usually 1, but can be higher if needed
Only applies when daily restart is enabled

Prefix and Suffix

Add text before and after order numbers:

Prefix: Text before the number (e.g., “ORD-”, “ORDER-”)
Suffix: Text after the number (e.g., “-2025”, “-MAIN”)

Examples:

ORD-001 (prefix only)
001-2025 (suffix only)
ORDER-042-MAIN (both prefix and suffix)

Setting Up Ordering

Basic Setup

Go to Settings → Ordering
Open the Store Status section and enable “Store accepts orders”
Set store mode to “Live” when ready
Open the Fulfilment section and choose order types (delivery/collection), guest checkout, and auto-confirm
Open the Timing & Scheduling section to configure ASAP/scheduled orders and preparation times
Open the Order Numbers section to configure order numbering (if available on your plan)
Open the Menu Display section to enable storefront features (deals page, featured products, allergens)

For New Restaurants

Start with these recommended settings:

Store accepts orders: On
Store mode: Live (when ready)
Both delivery and collection: On
ASAP orders: On (recommended)
Scheduled orders: Off (enable if you accept advance bookings)
Guest checkout: On
Auto confirm: On
Prep times: 15 minutes collection, 30 minutes delivery

Advanced Configuration

For established restaurants:

Review prep times based on actual performance
Consider scheduled orders if you get advance bookings
Use scheduled-only mode for catering or businesses requiring advance notice
Set minimum notice to ensure adequate preparation time for complex orders
Use order prefixes for different locations or order types
Set appropriate lead times based on your service model
Configure menu display (Menu Display section) to enable deals page, featured products, and allergens page

For Catering/Bakery Businesses

If you require advance notice for all orders:

Disable ASAP orders: Turn off to require scheduling
Enable scheduled orders: Turn on to allow advance booking
Set minimum notice: Choose appropriate lead time (e.g., Tomorrow, 2 days, 3 days, or 7 days)
Set maximum advance booking: Choose how far ahead customers can book (e.g., 14 days, 30 days)
Example: Bakery might use “Tomorrow” minimum notice with 5 days max advance

Testing Your Setup

Using Test Mode

Set store mode to “Test”
Place test orders through your website
Verify all settings work as expected
Check order numbers and formatting
Test different order types and options

Before Going Live

Test all order flows (delivery, collection, scheduled)
Verify payment processing (if using test mode)
Check preparation time estimates are realistic
Confirm order numbering works as expected
Test on different devices (mobile, tablet, desktop)

Order Processing Workflow

With Auto Confirm (Recommended)

Customer places order → Automatically confirmed
Kitchen receives order → Starts preparation
Order ready → Customer notified
Order completed → Marked as finished

With Manual Confirm

Customer places order → Waits for confirmation
Staff reviews order → Manually confirms
Kitchen receives order → Starts preparation
Order ready → Customer notified
Order completed → Marked as finished

Troubleshooting

Orders Not Appearing

If orders aren’t showing in admin:

Check store mode - should be “Live” for real orders
Verify “accepts orders” is enabled
Check ordering hours - orders only accepted when open
Review payment settings - issues may prevent order completion

Wrong Order Numbers

If order numbers aren’t working:

Check daily restart setting matches your preference
Verify starting number and minimum digits
Confirm prefix/suffix formatting
Check for conflicts with existing orders

Preparation Times Too Long/Short

If prep time estimates are wrong:

Review actual prep times over a few days
Adjust based on real performance
Consider peak vs off-peak times
Account for order complexity differences

Scheduled-Only Mode Issues

If customers can’t place orders:

Check that scheduled orders is enabled - required when ASAP is disabled
Verify minimum notice isn’t too long - if minimum is 7 days and max is 5 days, no slots available
Check opening hours - scheduled slots only appear during operating hours
Review holidays/exceptions - closed days won’t have available slots

No Time Slots Available

If customers see no available time slots:

Check minimum notice setting - high minimum notice may push earliest slot past max booking
Verify opening hours are configured - locations need opening hours for slot generation
Check delivery zone hours - for delivery, zone must be open at delivery arrival time
Review prep times - very long prep times may limit available slots near closing

Best Practices

Customer Experience

Realistic prep times build trust
Multiple order options increase convenience
Clear numbering helps customers track orders
Consistent settings avoid confusion
Enable menu features (Menu Display section) to help customers discover deals and allergen information

Operational Efficiency

Auto-confirm reduces manual work
Appropriate lead times manage workflow
Clear order numbering aids kitchen coordination
Test mode for safe testing

Business Management

Regular review of settings based on performance
Data-driven decisions about prep times and options
Customer feedback on ordering experience
Competitive analysis of ordering options

Remember: Your ordering settings directly affect how customers interact with your restaurant. Well-configured settings lead to smoother operations and happier customers!

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