Documentation

Order Taking Guide

Complete guide to taking customer orders - from order type selection to payment processing.

Watch: Complete Order Taking Tutorial (8 min)

Order Taking Overview

The order taking process follows a structured flow that ensures all necessary information is captured before sending the order to the kitchen.

Order taking interface showing categories, menu items, and cart
The order taking interface with menu categories on the left, items in the center, and cart on the right
Prerequisites

Before taking orders, ensure you have: an open business day, an active shift, and an open cash drawer. See the Getting Started Guide for setup instructions.

Step 1: Select Order Type

Every order starts with selecting the order type. This determines the workflow and required information.

Order type selection screen with Dine-In, Takeout, and Delivery options
Choose the order type based on how the customer wants to receive their order
Order Type Description Next Step
Dine-In Customer will eat at the restaurant Select a table
Takeout Customer will pick up their order Go directly to menu
Delivery Order will be delivered to customer Select customer & address
  1. Click "New Order" from the POS Dashboard
    Or go to POS > Orders > New Order
  2. Select the Order Type
    Click on Dine-In, Takeout, or Delivery based on the customer's preference.

Step 2: Select Table (Dine-In Only)

For dine-in orders, you must select the table where the customer is seated.

Table layout showing available and occupied tables
The table layout shows availability at a glance - green tables are available
  1. View Available Tables
    The system shows all tables organized by section. Green indicates available, red indicates occupied.
  2. Select the Customer's Table
    Click on the table number to assign this order to that table.
  3. Enter Guest Count (Optional)
    If prompted, enter the number of guests for tracking purposes.
Table Status Colors
  • Green - Available
  • Red - Occupied (has active order)
  • Yellow - Reserved
  • Gray - Unavailable/Blocked

Step 2: Select Customer (Delivery Only)

For delivery orders, you must select a customer with a valid delivery address.

  1. Search for Existing Customer
    Use the search box to find customers by name, phone number, or email.
  2. Or Create New Customer
    Click "Add New Customer" if this is a first-time customer. Enter their details and at least one delivery address.
  3. Select Delivery Address
    If the customer has multiple addresses, select which one to deliver to.
Delivery Zones

The system may check if the delivery address is within your configured delivery zones. Some addresses may incur additional delivery fees or be outside your delivery area.

Step 3: Add Items to Order

The main order-taking screen allows you to browse the menu and add items to the customer's order.

Animated demo showing how to add items to cart
Quick demo: Adding items to your order is as simple as click and add

Menu Navigation

  1. Browse Categories
    Menu items are organized by category (e.g., Appetizers, Main Course, Beverages). Click a category to see its items.
  2. Search Items
    Use the search box to quickly find items by name or SKU.
  3. Click Item to Add
    Click on a menu item to add it to the order. The item appears in the cart on the right side.

Customizing Items (Modifiers)

Many items have modifiers (customization options) like size, toppings, or cooking preferences.

Animated demo showing modifier selection process
Select modifiers like size, toppings, and special requests before adding to order
  1. Modifier Window Opens
    When adding an item with required modifiers, a popup appears showing available options.
  2. Select Required Modifiers
    Some modifiers are required (marked with *). You must select these before adding the item.
  3. Add Optional Modifiers
    Check additional options like extra toppings or special instructions.
  4. Click "Add to Order"
    Confirm the customization to add the item to the cart.
Special Instructions

Use the "Special Instructions" field for notes that don't fit into standard modifiers, like "no onions" or "allergies - no nuts".

Managing the Cart

The cart (order summary) shows all items added to the current order.

Order cart showing items, quantities, and totals
The cart shows all items with quantities, modifiers, and running totals
Action How To
Change Quantity Use the +/- buttons next to the item quantity
Remove Item Click the X or trash icon next to the item
Edit Modifiers Click on the item name to re-open modifier selection
Add Notes Click the notes icon to add special instructions
Clear Cart Click "Clear All" to remove all items (requires confirmation)

Step 4: Apply Discounts (Optional)

You can apply discounts at the item level or order level.

Types of Discounts

Type Description
Percentage Reduces price by a percentage (e.g., 10% off)
Fixed Amount Reduces price by a fixed amount (e.g., $5 off)
Promotion Code Pre-configured discounts activated by code
  1. Click "Add Discount"
    Find this button in the cart summary area.
  2. Select Discount Type
    Choose from available discount options or enter a promotion code.
  3. Enter Value (if required)
    For custom discounts, enter the percentage or amount.
  4. Apply Discount
    The discount appears in the order summary with the adjusted total.
Manager Approval

Some discounts may require manager approval. The system will prompt for a manager PIN if needed.

Step 5: Proceed to Checkout

When the order is complete, proceed to payment.

  1. Review the Order
    Verify all items, quantities, modifiers, and pricing are correct.
  2. Click "Checkout" or "Pay"
    This opens the payment screen.

Step 6: Process Payment

The checkout screen shows the order total and available payment methods.

Payment screen showing payment method options and order total
The payment screen displays the total and available payment options

Payment Methods

Method Process
Cash Enter amount received, system calculates change
Card Process through connected payment terminal
Split Payment Divide payment between multiple methods

Cash Payment

Animated demo showing cash payment process
Enter the amount received and the system calculates change automatically
  1. Select "Cash"
    Click the Cash payment button.
  2. Enter Amount Received
    Use the keypad or quick amount buttons (e.g., $20, $50, $100).
  3. View Change Due
    The system automatically calculates the change to give back.
  4. Complete Payment
    Click "Complete" to finalize the transaction.

Adding Tips

Tips can be added during payment:

  • Enter tip amount in the tip field
  • Or use percentage buttons (e.g., 10%, 15%, 20%)
  • Tips are added to the final amount

Step 7: Print Receipt

After payment, you can print a customer receipt.

Receipt options after payment completion
Choose to print, email, or skip the receipt after payment
  1. Receipt Options Appear
    After payment, you'll see options to print or email the receipt.
  2. Click "Print Receipt"
    This sends the receipt to the configured receipt printer.
  3. Or "Email Receipt"
    Enter the customer's email to send a digital receipt.

Order Status After Checkout

Once paid, the order is sent to the kitchen automatically:

Status Meaning
Pending Order received, awaiting kitchen preparation
In Progress Kitchen has started preparing the order
Ready Order ready for customer pickup or delivery
Completed Order delivered to customer

Quick Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts
  • F2 - New order
  • F3 - Search items
  • F5 - Refresh
  • F8 - Go to checkout
  • Enter - Confirm/Add
  • Esc - Cancel/Back

Next Steps

Kitchen Operations

Learn how to manage kitchen tickets and coordinate order preparation.

Delivery Management

Assign drivers, track deliveries, and manage delivery operations.