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Have you noticed your diners wanting more convenience and fewer waits? That’s the crux of pre-ordering: a streamlined approach where guests select their meals ahead of time—either before arriving for dine-in or prior to pickup. Once a niche offering, pre-ordering is fast becoming the norm in busy urban areas and beyond. In fact, according to Restaurant Dive’s recent insights on foodservice technology trends, nearly 50% of frequent restaurant-goers say they’d choose to pre-order if the option is available.
By 2025, this trend is set to explode. More people are juggling tight schedules, more restaurants are looking to maximize each service, and digital tools are easier than ever to adopt. The real question is: how can your restaurant get ahead of this shift, delight your customers, and boost revenue along the way?
Let’s define “pre-ordering” in practical terms. In simple language, it’s allowing your guests to pick a dish or a full meal in advance—usually through a website, a mobile app, or a QR code system—so that by the time they arrive, their meal is already known (and sometimes partly or fully prepared). Or, if they’re ordering takeout, it’s ready right when they come to pick it up.
Pre-ordering doesn’t just shave a few minutes off the dining experience. It transforms how your kitchen, front-of-house staff, and even your inventory management operate. When you know what guests want ahead of time, you can schedule prep more effectively, reduce waste, and keep the line of hungry customers moving quickly—especially during peak hours.
By 2025, experts predict that expectations for frictionless dining will be sky-high. Customers want speed and convenience—without sacrificing quality. Restaurants that offer pre-ordering tap into this growing desire for “show up, eat, and enjoy” experiences.
But it’s not just about meeting customer demand. It’s also about:
Ultimately, it’s a proactive move. Restaurants that embrace pre-ordering early on will likely have a competitive edge in a fast-changing industry.
If you’re still on the fence, let’s look at the tangible benefits your business can reap from implementing pre-ordering:
For restaurants, this synergy of efficiency and customer delight can be transformative—leading to higher profits and a steadier day-to-day operation.
Moving to a pre-order system doesn’t require a massive overhaul. But it does take thoughtful planning and the right tools. Here’s how to get started:
Look for an ordering solution that syncs with your current POS. If you use a solution like sunday for fast, contactless payments, check whether it supports pre-order functionality. Ideally, your pre-order platform should also:
Not all dishes are equally suited for pre-order. You may want to designate specific items that can be prepped ahead without losing flavor or texture. Alternatively, you can pre-portion tricky components so the final assembly is quick.
Keep a balanced approach: include your popular crowd-pleasers but make sure you can handle the pace if, say, half your diners pre-order a dish that’s time-intensive.
Waiters and hosts need to know how to handle pre-orders, from verifying them at the table to ensuring that the kitchen is aware of any special requests. Your servers are the front line for customer impressions. If they can confidently explain the pre-order system, answer questions, and handle small hiccups (like a diner arriving late), your guests will notice the professionalism.
If a guest is picking up a pre-ordered meal, where do they go? If they’re dining in, do they check in at the host stand or go straight to their table? Eliminate confusion by outlining these steps in your confirmation emails or text messages. The more straightforward the instructions, the smoother the customer experience.
You can’t just build a pre-order system and hope people stumble upon it. Market the feature aggressively:
Don’t be shy—highlight how pre-ordering saves time and guarantees their meal will be ready when they want it.
As with any operational shift, you might have reservations about pre-ordering. Let’s tackle a few typical worries:
Yes, lateness is a possibility. You can mitigate it by sending reminders via text or email. Some restaurants even require partial or full prepayment, ensuring that if a meal is left unclaimed, you’re not totally out of pocket.
It can if you’re not prepared. But when integrated with your existing systems, pre-orders can help you anticipate surges. Many owners find that pre-orders actually reduce chaos, because they know exactly what’s coming.
Flexibility is key. If a diner changes their mind, have a protocol in place—maybe a quick message to the chef via your kitchen display or a designated staff member who monitors adjustments. With the right technology, these changes can sync automatically.
One often overlooked advantage of pre-ordering is the data it generates. You’ll see patterns in what people order most, which times of day get the most pre-orders, and how often certain customers return.
You can use these insights to:
Over time, these data-driven moves help you create a truly personalized service. You’re not just guessing about what might sell; you already see the pre-order patterns forming.
If you’re already using sunday for contactless payments, you know how simple it can make the checkout process. The good news is that many pre-order solutions align seamlessly with such modern payment systems. For instance, you can let customers pre-pay through the same interface, cutting down on extra apps or websites. That consistent, integrated experience boosts confidence and reduces friction.
Also, because sunday was built with restaurant-specific needs in mind, you might find it easier to adapt your existing staff workflows—like how servers verify orders or process tips—when it’s all under one digital umbrella.
Don’t box yourself in. Pre-ordering can apply to both your sit-down meals and your to-go orders. In a dine-in scenario, you can let customers pick out their meal before they arrive. That means their table is set, drink orders can start quickly, and the kitchen already has a head start.
For takeout, pre-ordering is an absolute game-changer. Customers get the assurance their meal will be hot and ready at the time they choose. You cut down on crowds waiting for pickup. Everyone wins.
Once you launch a pre-order option, treat it as a living feature. Check your data, ask staff for feedback, and talk to customers. Are they comfortable using it? Do they find the interface easy to navigate? Are there menu items that are complicated to prep in advance?
Maybe you realize your lunch crowd loves pre-ordering but your dinner crowd doesn’t. Or you discover that offering a special “pre-order only” dessert raises your average check. When you stay open to tweaks, you’ll soon find the sweet spot that keeps your guests happy and your team running efficiently.
As we move closer to 2025, customer expectations around speed, convenience, and customization will only intensify. Pre-ordering meets these demands head-on, helping you serve more diners in less time while keeping quality high. It frees your kitchen from last-minute chaos, encourages data-driven decision-making, and fosters a modern, tech-savvy restaurant image.
At the end of the day, the key benefit is guest satisfaction—and that’s the magic that fuels repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth. Whether you’re a quick-service cafe or a full-service steakhouse, pre-ordering can align with your style if you plan it thoughtfully. Start small, refine as you go, and watch your restaurant stand out from the competition in this rapidly changing market.
So, if you’ve been on the fence about this new approach, consider this your nudge. The tools have never been more accessible, and diners have never been more ready. By embracing pre-ordering now, you’ll set your restaurant up to thrive not just in 2025, but for many successful years to come.
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