The Branch and Kitchen Manager dashboard gives branch managers and kitchen managers one place to track every order, including orders customers scheduled in advance. This guide shows exactly where the pre-order list lives on that dashboard and how to pull it up using the built-in date filter.
Why Pre-Orders Matter
Pre-orders let customers schedule a meal for a future date and time instead of ordering for right now. For the kitchen, knowing what’s coming in advance means:
- Better planning of ingredients, prep time, and staffing
- Fewer last-minute rushes during peak hours
- More accurate delivery or pickup scheduling
- A smoother, more reliable experience for the customer
Where the Pre-Order List Lives
There’s no separate “pre-orders” tab; instead, the Branch and Kitchen Manager dashboard uses a date filter at the top of the order table to surface them. Here’s the dashboard layout you’ll see when you log in:
1. Summary cards at the top of the page show at-a-glance totals:
- Total Order
- Total Value
- Total Cancel Order
- Total Cancelled Order Value
2. Status tabs below the summary cards show live counts for each stage of the order pipeline:
- New Order
- Cooking Processing
- Cooking Completed
- On The Way
- Delivery Completed
3. Two filter fields sit just above the order table:
- Filter By Order Date – filters orders by the date they were placed
- Filter By Delivery Date – filters orders by the date they’re scheduled to arrive
4. The order table itself lists: Order ID, Order Date, Delivery Date/Time, Delivery Type, Tracking Status, and a View Details button for each row.
Step-by-Step: Filtering to See Pre-Orders
- Log in to the Branch and Kitchen Manager dashboard with your branch or kitchen manager credentials.
- Click the “Filter By Delivery Date” field. A calendar picker drops down so you can select a specific date.
- Choose the delivery date you want to check (for example, tomorrow’s date, or an upcoming holiday). Once selected, the field fills in with the date, and the FILTER button activates.
- Click FILTER. The table below instantly refreshes to show only the orders scheduled for that delivery date, this is your pre-order list for that day.
- Review each row. Compare the Order Date column against the Delivery Date/Time column. If the delivery date is later than the order date, that order is a pre-order. For example, an order placed on Nov-05-2020 with a delivery date of Nov-06-2020 at 09:00 am is a pre-order scheduled a day in advance.
If you instead want to see everything ordered on a specific day (regardless of when it’s due), use the Filter By Order Date field the same way.
Reviewing and Managing the Filtered List
Once the pre-order list for a date is on screen:
- Click View Details on any row to open the full order and double-check items, delivery type (Delivery or Pickup), and any customer notes before prep begins.
- Watch the Tracking Status column to see where each order stands (e.g., Order Placed) so nothing is missed as it moves through the kitchen.
- Use the status tabs (Cooking Processing, Cooking Completed, On The Way, Delivery Completed) to move a pre-order along as it’s prepared and dispatched once its scheduled time approaches.
Best Practices for Working with Pre-Orders
- Check the delivery-date filter at the start of each shift so kitchen staff know what’s due that day before new orders start coming in.
- Look a day or two ahead on busy dates (weekends, holidays) so you can plan staffing and inventory.
- Confirm delivery type and time slot on each pre-order before prep, since delivery and pickup times can differ order to order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I see the pre-order list on the Branch and Kitchen Manager dashboard?
Use the “Filter By Delivery Date” field above the order table, pick the date from the calendar, and click FILTER. The table will show only orders scheduled for that delivery date.
What’s the difference between “Filter By Order Date” and “Filter By Delivery Date”?
Order Date filters by when the customer placed the order. Delivery Date filters by when the order is scheduled to be delivered or picked up; this is the filter to use for finding pre-orders.
How can I tell an order is a pre-order rather than a same-day order?
Compare the Order Date and Delivery Date/Time columns in the table. If the delivery date is later than the order date, it’s a pre-order.
Managing pre-orders across multiple locations? The Branch and Kitchen Manager roles shown here (branch manager and kitchen manager) are part of the RestroFood Multi-Branch add-on, which lets you assign these roles per location and keep pre-order tracking organized branch by branch.
