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Run a Test Order

Before you open for business, run through the entire ordering flow yourself. This takes about ten minutes and catches problems that are invisible from the CRM side -- a missing menu image, a confusing option group, or a QR code that does not scan. It is much better to find these now than to discover them with a line of hungry customers.

What You Need​

  • Your phone (or a second device with a camera)
  • At least one service point created with a QR code printed or displayed on screen
  • At least one active menu item with a price
  • At least one payment method enabled
  • At least one delivery mode enabled
  • The CRM open on your computer or tablet
tip

If you have not set all of this up yet, go back to First Steps and complete the setup before testing.

Step 1: Scan the QR Code​

Take your phone and scan the QR code for one of your service points. You can scan it from a printed copy or directly from the screen if you downloaded the image.

What should happen:

  • Your phone's camera detects the QR code
  • A link notification appears
  • Tapping it opens your menu in the phone's browser

If it does not work:

  • Make sure the QR code is large enough (at least 3 cm / 1.2 inches)
  • Check that the service point is set to Available in the CRM
  • Try scanning from a different angle or distance
  • See QR Code Troubleshooting for more solutions

Step 2: Browse Your Menu​

Once the menu loads on your phone, browse through it as a customer would.

Check these things:

  • All categories appear as tabs at the top
  • Items show up under the correct categories
  • Names and descriptions are clear and readable on a phone screen
  • Prices are correct
  • Images load properly (no broken image icons)
  • Tapping an item shows its options (sizes, extras, etc.)
  • Option prices are correct (e.g., "Large +1.50" adds 1.50 to the total)
info

If you find issues, fix them in the CRM under Menu and then refresh the menu page on your phone. Changes take effect immediately.

Step 3: Add Items and Place an Order​

Add a few items to your cart, customize at least one with options (pick a size, add an extra), and place the order.

Check these things:

  • Items appear in the cart with correct prices
  • Option selections are reflected in the price
  • The delivery mode selection makes sense (Table Service if you scanned a table QR, Pickup if you scanned a counter QR)
  • Payment method options match what you enabled in settings
  • The order goes through without errors

Step 4: See the Order on the Kitchen Dashboard​

Switch to your CRM and open the Dashboard (or the Kitchen Display view).

Check these things:

  • The order appears within a few seconds of being placed
  • The order card shows the correct items, options, and total
  • The service point name is displayed (e.g., "Table 1" or "Counter")
  • The delivery mode is shown (Table Service or Pickup)
  • If you enabled sound notifications, you hear a chime when the order arrives
tip

If the order does not appear, check that your Dashboard is connected (look for a green connection indicator). Try refreshing the page.

Step 5: Move the Order Through Its Lifecycle​

Now walk the order through every status, just as your kitchen staff would during a real service.

  1. Click the order card to open the detail view
  2. Mark it as In Progress -- the card should change to a yellow state with a timer
  3. Mark it as Ready for Pickup -- the card should turn green
  4. Check your phone -- if you used the mobile app, you should receive a notification that the order is ready
  5. Mark the order as Closed -- this completes the order

Check these things:

  • Each status transition works smoothly
  • The order card updates its color and label at each step
  • The timer starts when you mark In Progress
  • The customer (your phone) gets a notification at Ready for Pickup

See Order Statuses for the full lifecycle reference.

Step 6: Verify Customer Notifications​

After marking the order as Ready for Pickup, check your phone.

If using the OKeep mobile app:

  • You should see a push notification saying your order is ready
  • Opening the app shows the updated order status

If using the web browser (no app):

  • The order page should update to show "Ready for Pickup" status
  • Some browsers support web notifications -- if enabled, you will see a notification
info

Push notifications require the customer to have the OKeep mobile app installed. Web browser orders rely on the customer checking their order page. This is normal.

Step 7: Test the Waiter Dashboard​

If your restaurant uses table service, open the Waiter Dashboard from the CRM sidebar.

Check these things:

  • Your test service point appears as a card
  • The card shows the correct color based on the order status
  • Clicking the card opens the order details
  • You can see the customer info and order summary
  • The Give Points button works (try awarding a small amount)
  • The Chat button opens a messaging panel

See Waiter Dashboard for the full guide.

Step 8: Test Chat​

If your restaurant will use the chat feature to communicate with customers:

  1. Open the Chat page in the CRM sidebar
  2. On your phone, send a message from the customer side (available in the mobile app or the order page)
  3. The message should appear in the CRM chat panel in real time
  4. Reply from the CRM and check that the message appears on your phone

Check these things:

  • Messages arrive in both directions within a few seconds
  • The customer name and order context are visible in the chat panel
  • The unread message badge appears for new messages

See Customer Chat for the full guide.

After Testing​

Once you have completed all the steps:

  • Fix anything that did not work -- go back to the relevant CRM section and correct the issue, then re-test that step
  • Test with a second device if possible -- have a colleague or friend scan the QR code and place an order while you watch it come through on the kitchen display
  • Test during your actual service conditions -- lighting, Wi-Fi strength, and device positioning all matter. A QR code that scans perfectly in the office might struggle in a dimly lit corner of the restaurant
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Do not skip this step. A ten-minute test run prevents hours of confusion on your first day of real service. Every restaurant that skips testing discovers problems in front of paying customers.

Quick Checklist​

Use this checklist to confirm everything works:

#TestPass?
1QR code scans and opens menu
2Menu shows correct items, prices, and images
3Options and extras work correctly
4Order can be placed successfully
5Order appears on kitchen dashboard in real time
6Order status transitions work (Preparing → Ready → Closed)
7Customer receives notification when order is ready
8Waiter dashboard shows correct table/order info
9Chat works in both directions
10Points are awarded after order completion (if enabled)

What to Do Next​