Online Ordering Introduction

Overview

Otter’s Online Ordering allows you to publish your own online ordering website for eaters to place pick-up, delivery, and/or scheduled orders directly from your restaurant— commission free.

With Online Ordering, you can:

• Earn more profit

  Online Ordering feature has a $0 commission fee for orders placed directly. On average, restauranteurs are paying delivery platforms between 25%- 40% commission per order.

• Create discounts & promotions

  Gain new customers and reward regulars with creating special offers for ordering directly through your online website. Send notifications to alert customers about discounts.

• Allow scheduled orders

  Eaters can schedule an order ahead of time and select a time/date when they would like to receive their order

• Gain customer insights & communication

  Monitor your discounts performance, ROI, & customer behavior.

• Customize Fulfillment Settings

  Configure Online Ordering settings for all or per location(s) and per fulfillment option to best fit your business needs and preferences.

• Automated Upsells
  
  Automated upsells for online ordering suggest relevant add-ons during checkout to help increase order value. 

Online Orders Website Setup

Before eaters can place an order on your direct website, you will need to set up your storefront in the Otter Dashboard. 

From the Direct Orders app in the Otter Dashboard, you'll be guided on how to setup your Online Ordering website.

Follow the steps below for a more detailed view of the guided setup.

• Step	Process	Image
  1	In the Otter Dashboard, select Apps > Direct Orders.
  2	Click [Build ordering website] to begin.
  3	Upload your restaurant logo.
  4	Upload your restaurant banner image (this will show at the top of the website).
  5	Select fulfillment methods by toggling ON for listed methods that you'd like to offer for orders placed online.
  6	For Delivery fulfillment method If toggled ON, you will have the option to: Enter phone number to use Uber Direct as a courier  Click [Opt out] to not use Uber Direct Delivery Settings Delivery settings (like delivery fees, range, or accepted payment methods) can be edited within the Direct Orders > Delivery settings. Learn more on that here. The delivery range for Uber Direct will be auto-set to a 10-mile radius— this is the maximum range that can be set for using Uber Direct.	Enable Uber Direct Opt Out of Uber Direct
  7	Toggle between Desktop and Mobile to see a preview of your online ordering website. Click [Publish] when you're ready.
  8	Copy your URL to promote your direct orders website on desired platforms.

Setup Checklist

Here is an overview of steps to set up your storefront in the Otter Dashboard:

• Otter Online Ordering Subscription: Ensure your Otter subscription includes Online Ordering. For more information, check here.
• Menu Created in Otter: A menu is created within the Otter Dashboard by manually building a menu, importing from a connected platform, or using an Excel template.
• Add Location Details & Branding: Input location details, and add logo and banner to brand your online storefront. Check here for tips on branding your online website.
• Configure Online Order Settings: Set preferences and parameters for online orders at the organization or store level per fulfillment option (pickup or delivery). Learn more about Online Order Settings here.
• Publish Storefront: Make your direct ordering website live for eaters to place orders.
• Market your Website: Share your website and drive traffic by adding your website URL to socials and business profiles. Print your QR code on flyers to encourage customers to order directly from your website.

Direct Orders Overview Page

From the Direct Orders app within the Otter Dashboard, from the Direct Orders Overview page you can see:

• Action items list at the top of the page (if applicable)
• Brands that are active for Online Ordering
• Quick view of live Online Discounts and performance
• Performance highlights to get a quick overview of direct orders activity

Click into sections for more information
Click into each section to edit or view more information— you'll be redirect to that page within the Otter Dashboard.

Eater Experience

Checkout how it looks from an eater’s perspective ordering on a direct website:

FAQs

• Yes— You can pause your ordering website by going to the Storefront App on your Otter POS or tablet Then click the pause button for Direct Orders listed for your desired brand.

  

  Learn more about pausing a storefront here.

  Pausing Kiosk

  Keep in mind, if you pause your direct online ordering storefront, it will also pause your Kiosk ordering.

• Yes— Otter cannot process payout transactions without a Stripe account created and connected in the Otter Dashboard. Learn more about how Otter works with Stripe here.

• Yes— To set up Kiosk settings, go to the Kiosk App within the Otter Dashboard. Learn more on Kiosk Settings here.
• Upsells are automatically selected based on each store’s top-selling, lower-priced items from the past 30 days, ensuring recommendations are relevant and likely to convert.
• Yes— You can adjust your fulfillment settings, including delivery, from the Direct Orders app within the Otter Dashboard. 
  
  Learn more on those settings and how to adjust them here.

Updated July 23, 2026 18:07