Restaurant pre-order system 

A pre-order system for restaurants refers to software that enables customers to submit their food and drink orders before they visit the venue. This is often handled as part of a booking and enquiry management system that also facilitates the sending of customer communications such as booking reminders. 

A restaurant pre-order system offers many benefits to a restaurant operation by providing an extra revenue stream through online sales, and an increase in average ticket order values through upselling promotions and extra items.

In addition, service in the venue is improved through a reduction in manual order taking and processing – saving time for front-of-house teams and resulting in a quicker turnover of tables so you can serve more customers in busy times as well as reduce wait times from the kitchen who know what to prepare in advance. 

A pre-ordering system for a restaurant usually works in two main ways. The first is that it allows the customer to choose the option of pre-ordering as part of the normal online booking process either selecting all dishes from the menu or sometimes adding a specific drinks package or similar.  

The second is facilitating pre-ordering for large parties, where additional planning or preparation may be needed in the kitchen ahead of time. In this instance, the lead party organiser will usually forward the pre-ordering link to other members of the party.  

Orders are then connected to the booking so that when your guests arrive the order can be processed at the right time.  

Pre-orders may be paid for at the time of booking, secured with a deposit or paid in-venue after the meal has been served – depending on the restaurant and customer’s preference. 

A pre-order system offers many benefits to a restaurant operation. Some of the key reasons why your restaurant should introduce  a pre-order system include: 

• It provides an extra source of revenue through online pre-sales and increases ticket order values through additional upsell opportunities.  

• When customers pre-order their meals, they are less likely to cancel the booking or not show up on the day, helping to reduce the number of empty tables on busy days.  

• Pre-orders ahead of busy times and events also allow for better inventory planning, reducing the chances of your kitchen running out of an item or overstocking less popular items.

• When managing large parties and events, a pre-order system makes managing these bookings easier, helping to drive future bookings and increase revenue.  

• Customers gain the added security of knowing their booking is confirmed and that their chosen dishes will be available on the day.

• Guests who have pre-ordered will enjoy faster service, especially on busy days, as they won’t have to queue to place their orders or wait for a team member to take them.