# How to Enable Pre-Orders in CloudWaitress

Here’s how to set up pre-orders and improve convenience for your customers.<br>

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGz-Q8cdzDg>" %}

### Step1: Enable Pre-Orders for Your Menu

1. Log in to [CloudWaitress](https://cloudwaitress.com/)  and navigate to your **Dashboard.**
2. Go to the **Menu** section and select the menu for which you want to enable pre-orders.
3. Scroll down to the **Pre-Order Settings** and toggle the option to **Enable Pre-Orders**.
4. Define how many days in advance customers can place pre-orders by configuring the **Pre-Order Cut-Off Time**. This will help prevent last-minute orders.

> **Note:** Be sure to click Save after configuring your settings.

### Step 2: Adjust Service Options for Pickup, Delivery, and Dine-in

1. Go to **Settings** > **Services** in your dashboard.
2. Ensure that pre-orders are supported for all service types (Pickup, Delivery, and Dine-In).
3. For each service, click to edit and then go to **Order Timing.**
4. Scroll down to enable **Later Orders**, and define which days and hours pre-orders can be accepted.
5. Set up **Time Intervals** to allow customers to choose their preferred pickup or delivery time.

> **Pro Tip**: Use the Order Offset feature to ensure your team has enough time to prepare orders before the scheduled pickup or delivery time.

### Step 3: Manage High Demand with Order Limits

1. In the **Order Timing** section, configure **Limit Orders Per Time Interval** to control the number of pre-orders accepted within specific time slots. This is especially useful during peak hours or special events when you want to manage demand effectively.

> **Remember**: Once you’ve made all the changes, click Save to apply the settings.

### Step 4: Test Your Pre-Order Setup

1. Visit your **Online Store** and place a test pre-order to verify that everything is working correctly.
2. Ensure customers can select the date and time based on your pre-order settings.<br>

### Additional Resources

* How to Configure Services in CloudWaitress
* Managing Your Online Store
* How to Set Up Order Timing

### Related Articles

1. **Set Maximum Orders Per Time Interval** - <https://support.cloudwaitress.com/how-to-guides/set-maximum-orders-per-time-interval>
2. **Managing Orders & Bookings** - <https://support.cloudwaitress.com/getting-started/managing-orders-and-bookings>
3. **Configure Your Services (Order Timing)** - <https://support.cloudwaitress.com/getting-started/configure-your-services>

{% hint style="danger" %}
Please email <support@cloudwaitress.com> or use the chat support to get assistance activating this feature.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://support.cloudwaitress.com/how-to-guides/how-to-enable-pre-orders-in-cloudwaitress.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
