Online ordering is a system where customers browse a menu or catalogue on a website or app and place an order for pickup or delivery. For hospitality it is the digital equivalent of the order counter; for retail it overlaps with ecommerce.
Orders flow directly into the POS and kitchen display, so there is no re-keying. Customers pay online, choose a time and receive a confirmation, while the venue sees the order alongside in-store sales.
Venues use it to capture sales outside opening hours, reduce phone orders, avoid third-party delivery commissions and build a customer database they own. A branded ordering page also supports loyalty and repeat orders.
Keep menu and price changes synchronised, set realistic preparation times and make sure orders cannot be placed when the kitchen is closed or overloaded. An integrated platform makes this far easier than managing separate systems.