Can my restaurant have one dedicated 1st-Party ordering menu for Direct Ordering and a different one for 3rd-Party ordering platforms?

Yes, a restaurant can have several different menus, one for first-party ordering in Direct Ordering and a different one for third-party ordering platforms.

Your main two options are:

1. Use one menu for all 3rd-Party Partners and 1st-Party Ordering.
   Note: This requires that all menu items, modifiers, specials, and menu hours be the same across all platforms at all times.

2. Use one menu for 3rd-Party Partners and a separate menu for 1st-Party Ordering.
   Note: This allows you to completely customize menu items, modifiers, specials, and menu hours for 1st-Party versus 3rd-Party. Also, please note that both “menu sets” must exist separately in your POS system for Checkmate to set up 1-to-1 mapping to send one Menu to your 3rd-Party partners and the Menu to your Direct Ordering portal.

You can select the specific menu to be synced with Direct Ordering during the onboarding process. Both your dedicated Direct Ordering and third-party ordering menu can be accessed in your restaurant’s Checkmate Portal. Once the desired menu is synced with Direct Ordering you can review the menu in your Direct Ordering Admin Panel by clicking on the Menus tab.

There are several reasons a restaurant might consider having different menus for first-party ordering and third-party (delivery apps) ordering. The below are only a few of the many considerations a restaurant operator takes into account.

1. Pricing Control

Restaurants may want to control the pricing of their menu items. Third-party delivery apps often charge fees to restaurants, and these fees may be passed on to customers through higher prices. By having a separate menu for third-party orders, restaurants can adjust prices to accommodate these fees without affecting the prices for customers who order directly.

2. Promotions and discounts

Restaurants might want to run separate promotions and specials for guests who order directly to incentivize first-party ordering.

3. Menu optimization

Some menu items do not travel as well as others. Having a dedicated third-party ordering menu allows restaurants to optimize their menu to deliver the best guest experience.

4. Hours
   When Checkmate ingests your chosen 1st-Party menu (either from your POS for those optimized with Direct SYNC, or manually built by the Checkmate Onboarding Team), menu availability Hours are set per each Menu (not per each Ordering Partner). If you’d prefer to have the flexibility for your 1st-Party Hours to differ from your 3rd-Party Partner Hours, your menus must be unique.

5. Branding

Restaurants might want to use a specific branding on their direct ordering platform that is cohesive with their branding across all channels and media and provides a unique experience to the guests who choose to order directly.

5. Customer relationships and data collections

Direct orders allow restaurants to build a direct relationship with customers.

Collecting data from direct orders can be valuable for marketing purposes. Having a separate menu for first-party orders facilitates both.

6. Profit margins

Third-party delivery commissions can be very costly. Restaurants might need to adjust menu pricing and incentivize guests to use first-party ordering to maintain profit margins.