Open Tabs

Overview

The Open Tabs feature for digital dine-in orders (QR code ordering) allows diners to self-serve by placing an order to open a tab, then continue to add items to their check throughout their dining experience.

You can set parameters to require payment upfront for each order added to their tab, or allow eaters to add items to their tab and pay when closing their tab.

Enabling Open Tabs

Open Tabs can be enabled from an organization or location/store level.

Organization Level: Applies to all brands and locations
Location/Store Level: Applies to only that location within a brand

Follow the steps below to enable Open Tabs for QR code digital dine-in.

Step	Process	Image
1	From the Otter Dashboard, select Apps > Direct Orders.
2	Click [Settings].
3	Click the [Dine-in] tab. Scroll to the Open tab section.
4	Toggle Enable open tab ON.
5	Toggle Enforce payment first ON to require payment upfront as eaters order on their tab. Toggle Enforce payment first OFF to allow eaters to add items to their open tab— paying at the end, when they close their tab.
6	Click [Save] to confirm changes.

Step	Process	Image
1	From the Otter Dashboard, select Apps > Direct Orders.
2	Click View Stores for the brand you’d like to edit.
3	Click [Settings] for the location you’d like to edit.
4	Click the [Dine-in] tab. Toggle to Override dine-in settings, if needed.
5	Scroll to the Open tab section.
6	Toggle Enforce payment first ON to require payment upfront as eaters order on their tab. Toggle Enforce payment first OFF to allow eaters to add items to their open tab— paying at the end, when they close their tab.
7	Click [Save] to confirm changes.

Helpful Additional Settings
When enabling Open Tabs, there are few more settings that could be helpful to review as well.

Split Payments: Allows diners using QR Code ordering to split their bill total across multiple people during checkout.

Table Numbers: Allows your business to keep track of each digital dine-in order placed by eaters by assigning each order a table number.

Handling Open Tab Orders

When an Open Tab order is placed, that order will show in the Dine-in tab in the Orders app on your Otter POS or tablet.

Open Tab Payment Status
If payment first setting is toggled ON, the order will show as Paid.

If the payment first is toggle OFF, the order will show as Unpaid.

Order Adjustments

Restaurant staff will still be able to make adjustments to orders placed on an open tab. Just tap on the order and hit [Adjust] to make changes.

Eater Open Tab Experience

Once a diner scans the dine-in QR code, they’ll be able to:

Place an initial open tab dine-in order
View items currently on their tab
Add items additional items to their cart & tab
Close their check by checking out

Starting a Tab

If Open Tabs is enabled, when a diner scans the dine-in QR code they will see the option to Start tab or Pay now while placing their order.

Check the full flow of starting an open tab below.

Step	Process	Image
1	Eater scans QR code to order.
2	Eater adds items to their order and click the cart. Select the Start tab option.
3	Eater enters payment information (if required to pay first).
4	Open Tab has been started. Eater can continue to add items to tab until closed out.