Nearly 75% of restaurant orders are now off-premises, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 report. Takeout, delivery, and drive-thru have become essential as convenience drives consumer habits.
For restaurant owners looking to boost efficiency and unlock new restaurant revenue streams, understanding how pre-orders work and why they matter is key.
In this article, I will explain how a restaurant pre-ordering system works and how implementing pre-order sales can benefit a restaurant business.
Key Takeaways
- Convenience Is Key: 70% of QSR customers ages 18-54 use mobile order-ahead, and even 43% of those 55-75 place orders via a brand’s app, according to an Ipsos and Nation’s Restaurant News study. This shows that pre-ordering is no longer optional—it’s an expectation across all age groups.
- Digital Beats Traditional: Just 45% of QSR customers still prefer ordering through staff rather than using digital channels, highlighting the growing importance of restaurant technology in modern dining experiences.
- Pre-Ordering Improves Speed: Allowing customers to order ahead cuts wait times significantly, creating a smoother dining experience and faster table turnover.
- Revenue Boost: Pre-orders help restaurants manage inventory and provide opportunities to suggest add-ons, combos, and premium dishes, boosting average check size and driving higher restaurant revenue.
- Plan Resources Smarter: Pre-orders reveal demand in advance, helping you optimize staff schedules, kitchen prep, and ingredient purchasing to reduce food waste and ensure smoother restaurant operations.
- Enhance Customer Loyalty: Convenience and guaranteed order accuracy improve satisfaction, encouraging repeat visits and positive reviews.
- Gain a Competitive Edge: Implementing a restaurant pre-order app positions your brand as innovative, tech-driven, and customer-focused, giving you an advantage over competitors.
What Does Pre-Ordering Mean?
Pre-ordering means placing an order for a product or service before it is needed or available, often with the option to choose a specific fulfillment or delivery time.
In restaurants, pre-ordering allows customers to order food in advance for dine-in, takeout, or delivery. This helps businesses streamline service, reduce wait times, and better manage demand.
How Does Pre-Ordering Work?
Pre-ordering lets customers place their orders in advance through your website or app.
They choose their items, select a preferred time, and either make online payments or pay at pickup, delivery, or when they dine in.
Your restaurant receives the order in advance and prepares it on schedule, so the customer simply picks it up, gets it delivered, or dines in without the wait.
Here are the reasons why people like food pre-ordering:
- Shorter wait times: Customers skip the line and get their food when it’s ready, without delays.
- Fits busy schedules: It’s perfect for commuters, office workers, and parents who need meals ready when they are.
- Easier customization: With no pressure, customers can review the menu, choose add-ons, and place pre-orders with confidence.
- Reliable availability: Early access to popular or limited-time items, such as a restaurant LTO, ensures nothing sells out before they arrive.
- Convenient for group orders: Families, coworkers, or event guests can all order ahead, making pickup and coordination simple.
- Loyalty and rewards: Many apps offer points, exclusive offers, or restaurant discounts to encourage repeat pre-orders.
What Is a Pre-Order System?
A pre-order system allows your guests to place food orders in advance, whether for dine-in, pickup, or delivery. Instead of waiting for their meals at your restaurant, they can pre-order and arrive when everything is ready.
It is typically built into your website or mobile app and includes features like menu browsing, order customization, time selection, and flexible payment options.
An increasing number of guests expect the ability to place pre-orders, which is why UpMenu includes this feature in its online food ordering system.
What Is a Restaurant Pre-Order App and Website?
A restaurant pre-order app and website let customers place food orders in advance using their smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Guests can browse the menu, customize their meals, choose a preferred time for pickup, delivery, or dine-in, and make payments before arriving at the restaurant.
Pre-ordering features can be built directly into your restaurant’s branded website and/or restaurant mobile app, allowing you to offer a smooth, convenient ordering experience without relying on third-party platforms.
Benefits of a Restaurant Pre-Order System
A restaurant pre-order system can transform daily operations, making service faster, smoother, and more profitable. Below are the main benefits for restaurants.
1. Faster Service and Higher Table Turnover
Pre-orders give your kitchen a head start, allowing staff to prepare meals in advance and serve them quickly once customers arrive. This efficiency shortens dining times, frees up tables sooner, and lets you serve more guests during peak hours.
2. Improved Efficiency and Order Accuracy
With pre-orders, staff spend less time taking orders and more time focusing on preparation and service. When using an online ordering system with pre-ordering, restaurants can view all order details in one place, making it easier to manage and track.
Since customers enter their own selections, the risk of mistakes is reduced, ensuring meals are made correctly the first time.
3. Increased Revenue
Pre-orders help you serve more customers in less time, leading to more sales. They also create opportunities for upselling and suggestive selling, as customers ordering online can be prompted to add sides, drinks, or desserts before checkout.
Receiving payments in advance can also improve cash flow, while the combination of higher order volume and larger average checks can significantly increase your restaurant’s profitability.
Our clients report a 34% average sales increase after adding a branded restaurant app with pre-ordering features.
4. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Pre-ordering makes dining more convenient by reducing wait times and ensuring orders are ready when customers arrive. A smoother, faster experience encourages repeat visits and strengthens customer loyalty.
When guests know they can rely on your restaurant for timely service and accurate orders, they are more likely to recommend it to friends and family.
Combining online ordering, pre-ordering, and a restaurant loyalty program has helped our customers increase repeat orders by 17%.
Benefits of a Food Pre-Order System for Your Clients
A food pre-order system is not only beneficial for restaurants but also greatly improves the customer experience. It offers convenience, flexibility, and peace of mind, making it easier for guests to enjoy their meals exactly how and when they want them.
1. Shorter Waiting Time for Customers
Pre-ordering food for dine-in, delivery, or takeout lets customers skip the wait at the table. It is especially convenient during busy times. Customers place their order in advance, the food is prepared, and they arrive when it is ready—it’s that simple
Ipsos reports that the main reasons people order ahead are saving time, accessing exclusive app deals, and easily customizing or re-ordering items. In short, convenience and personalization lead the way.
2. Flexible Ordering for Busy Schedules
With pre-ordering, customers can choose a pickup, delivery, or dine-in time that fits their day.
Whether they are grabbing lunch between meetings or planning dinner after work, the ability to order in advance makes it easier to enjoy a meal without disrupting their schedule.
3. Improved Customer Experience
Restaurants that implement a pre-ordering system tend to have improved customer loyalty. But how? When clients order their meals ahead of time, they skip the wait for preparation.
As a result, they arrive once their meals are ready and can enjoy them as soon as they’re on the spot.
Additionally, the more food reservations you get, the more time your staff has for other tasks and services.
They can provide better restaurant customer service since they’re not constantly overwhelmed with taking orders. This also helps to increase restaurant revenue and encourages clients to spend more at your restaurant.
4. Increased Order Accuracy and Efficiency
Allowing customers to input their orders directly into the system greatly reduces the likelihood of errors or misunderstandings.
This leads to increased order accuracy and faster processing times, as restaurant staff can focus on preparing orders rather than manually taking them.
As a result, customers receive their meals promptly and accurately, contributing to an overall positive dining experience.
How to Implement a Pre-Order System in Your Restaurant
You need a restaurant online ordering system with pre-order features to start taking pre-orders.
With UpMenu, the food pre-ordering feature is available on both the restaurant website and mobile app.
Enabling this feature in your Dashboard allows customers to choose a date and time for a pick-up, dine-in, or delivery.
Once you enable pre-ordering in your restaurant, remember to send a restaurant newsletter about this option to have your customers informed about it and allow them to make food reservations.
You can also post this information on your social media pages or inform clients in person at your business.
When to Offer Pre-Ordering in a Restaurant
Pre-ordering works best when demand is high, timing matters, or customers are planning ahead. Here are the key situations where offering it can bring the most value to your restaurant.
- During Peak Hours: To reduce wait times and serve more customers efficiently during lunch or dinner rushes.
- For High Takeout or Delivery Volume: To streamline operations and manage a high number of off-premises orders more effectively.
- Around Holidays & Special Events: To handle demand spikes during busy periods like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Christmas.
- When Running Limited-Time Offers: To drive early interest and secure more orders for seasonal specials or exclusive promotions.
- Before Large Catering or Group Orders: To give your kitchen time to prepare for office lunches, school events, or family gatherings without disrupting daily operations.
- During New Menu Launches: To generate buzz, test demand, and gather early restaurant feedback before rolling out new dishes fully.
- In Small or High-Turnover Spaces: To maximize table turnover and reduce pressure on staff in restaurants with limited seating.
- Near Offices, Schools, or Transit Hubs: To offer busy guests a convenient way to order ahead and avoid waiting during their lunch break or commute.
