Future Orders Overview
Description: Learn what Future Orders are, how the scheduling lifecycle works, and where to configure, schedule, and manage them in Shift4 Dine.
Note: This feature is currently available only for Pilot users using Multi-Location Management (Customer Hub). Support for single-location merchants is planned for a future release.
What Is a Future Order?
A Future Order is an order scheduled for fulfillment at a later time instead of immediately. For example, a catering order for tomorrow or a large pickup order for next weekend.
Instead of being sent to the kitchen immediately, the order remains in the Scheduled state until Shift4 Dine automatically sends it to the kitchen at the appropriate preparation time.
Future Order can include:
- Orders scheduled later the same day
- Orders scheduled for a future date
- Catering orders
- Event orders
Future Order Lifecycle
Every Future Order progresses through the following lifecycle:
Scheduled > In Prep > Fulfilled > Closed
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Scheduled | The order has been booked and is waiting for its scheduled preparation time. It appears in the Scheduled Orders view but has not yet been sent to the kitchen. |
| In Prep | Shift4 Dine automatically sends the order to the kitchen based on its scheduled fulfillment time and configured preparation lead time. The order is now treated like any other active ticket. |
| Fulfilled | The order has been prepared and provided to the customer. |
| Closed | The ticket has been closed, and any remaining balance has been collected. |
Note: Orders automatically transition from Scheduled to In Prep. No staff action is required, and a Workstation does not need to be powered on or signed in for the order to be sent to the kitchen.
Where Future Orders Can Be Managed
Future Orders can be scheduled from both Handheld and Workstation, but management features are available only on the Workstation.
| Task | Handheld | Workstation |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule a Future Order |
✓ |
✓ |
| View Scheduled Orders list |
— |
✓ |
| Edit a Scheduled Order (time, prep lead time) |
— |
✓ |
| Collect additional payment on a Scheduled Order |
— |
✓ |
| Send an order to the kitchen early (Fire Now) |
— |
✓ |
| Cancel, void, or refund a Scheduled Order |
— |
✓ |
Important: Handheld devices can create Future Orders, but all ongoing management must be performed from a Workstation.
Payment Options
Depending on your location's configuration, Future Orders can be booked using one of the following payment methods:
| Payment Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Unpaid | Payment is collected when the order is fulfilled. |
| Deposit | A partial payment is collected when the order is scheduled. |
| Paid in Full | The full balance is collected when the order is scheduled. |
Deposits and full payments are processed using the same payment methods available for standard POS transactions, including:
- In-store payment tenders
- Manual card entry for phone orders
Payment links and emailed invoices are not supported in the current release.
Next Steps
Continue with the following articles to learn more about Future Orders:
- Configure Future Orders in Multi-Location Management: Configure scheduling rules, payment rules, and kitchen timing.
- Schedule a Future Order on Handheld: Create a Future Order using a Handheld device.
- Schedule and Manage Future Orders on Workstation: Create, edit, and manage Future Orders from a Workstation.
- Future Orders Liability Reporting: View deposit and prepayment liability reporting.