Multi-Location Order Automation
Processing 2,000+ daily orders across 12 locations without errors
OBJECTIVES
PROJECT TYPE
Automation
A fast-casual restaurant chain with 12 locations struggled with order chaos.
15 MIN · NO PREP REQUIRED
OVERVIEW
A fast-casual restaurant chain with 12 locations struggled with order chaos. DoorDash, Uber Eats, their own app, phone orders, in-store—five order sources meant five systems that didn't talk to each other. We built an automation layer that unified everything, eliminated manual re-entry, and cut order errors by 94%.
THE PROBLEM
Each location received orders from five sources: DoorDash, Uber Eats, their branded app, phone calls, and walk-ins. Each source had its own tablet or system.
Staff manually re-entered delivery orders into the POS. During rush hours, this created a 10-15 minute backlog. Orders got mis-keyed. Modifiers were missed. Customers received wrong items.
Inventory was another nightmare. When a location sold out of chicken, the delivery apps still showed it available. Cancelled orders frustrated customers and triggered refunds that ate into margins.
The chain processed 2,000+ orders daily across locations. At a 6% error rate, that's 120 wrong orders every day—each one a potential lost customer.
CONSTRAINTS
- Cannot require replacing existing POS system (Toast)
- Must work with existing delivery app contracts
- Staff training must be minimal—high turnover environment
- Must handle peak volume (500 orders/hour across chain)
- Implementation must not disrupt ongoing operations
- Budget must show ROI within 6 months
DELIVERABLES
What we shipped.
Order aggregation platform for all sources
Automatic POS integration via Toast API
Real-time inventory sync across all channels
Automated 86 notifications to delivery platforms
Kitchen display system with unified queue
Management dashboard with real-time metrics
Automated end-of-day reconciliation reports
KEY DECISIONS
How we solved it.
Replace individual tablets or aggregate feeds?
Aggregate feeds, keep tablets as backup
Replacing tablets risked delivery platform support issues. Aggregating feeds via APIs provided unified view while tablets remained as fallback. Staff transitioned gradually to single screen operation.
Real-time or periodic inventory sync?
Real-time with 5-minute full reconciliation
Real-time updates handle normal flow. But edge cases (system crashes, API failures) require periodic full sync to prevent drift. 5-minute reconciliation catches any discrepancies before they cause problems.
Build kitchen display or integrate existing?
Build custom KDS with Toast integration
Existing KDS showed Toast orders only. Custom system could show all orders with source-specific requirements (DoorDash packaging, Uber Eats pickup timing). The unified view eliminated screen-juggling in the kitchen.
OUTCOMES
Results delivered.
-94%
Order Errors
Error rate dropped from 6% to 0.4%
0 seconds
Order Processing Time
Manual re-entry eliminated—orders flow automatically
2,400+
Daily Orders Handled
20% increase in capacity from efficiency gains
$180K
Annual Savings
From reduced errors, refunds, and labor
< 30 sec
86'd Item Response
Time to update all platforms when item sells out
TIMELINE
Project phases.
System Audit
Map all order sources, document current workflows, identify integration points
Integration Development
Build delivery platform connectors, Toast API integration, inventory sync layer
Dashboard & KDS
Create management dashboard, build kitchen display system, reporting tools
Pilot Location
Deploy to single location, refine based on real usage, staff training
Chain Rollout
Deploy to remaining 11 locations, location-specific tuning, ongoing support
Ready to build?
Book a call to discuss your project. 15 minutes, no prep required.