# Orions Platform - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This comprehensive FAQ helps answer common questions about the Orions restaurant booking and management platform.

## General Platform Questions

### What is Orions?

Orions (also known as Orions Plan or MenuLink Pro) is a comprehensive restaurant booking and management platform that combines reservation management, menu building, floor plan design, pre-ordering, payment processing, and guest management into one integrated system.

### Who should use Orions?

Orions is designed for:
- Fine dining restaurants
- Casual dining establishments
- Event venues
- Hotels with restaurant facilities
- Catering services
- Private dining venues
- Any hospitality business that takes reservations

### What makes Orions different from other booking platforms?

Orions stands out with:
- **Integrated pre-order system** for guest meal selection before arrival
- **Visual floor plan management** with drag-and-drop table assignment
- **Multi-course menu builder** for complex event menus
- **Automatic table assignment** based on party size and availability
- **Flexible payment processing** with deposits and payment links
- **Comprehensive guest management** with history and preferences
- **Real-time communication** between guests and restaurants

### How much does Orions cost?

Pricing information includes:
- Subscription-based model
- Token system for bookings (if applicable)
- Different tiers available
- Payment processing fees through Stripe
- Contact for detailed pricing

### Is Orions cloud-based?

Yes, Orions is a fully cloud-based platform accessible through any web browser. No software installation required. Access from desktop, tablet, or mobile devices.

### What devices can I use Orions on?

Orions works on:
- Desktop computers (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Tablets (iPad, Android tablets)
- Smartphones (iOS, Android)
- Any device with a modern web browser

### Do I need technical skills to use Orions?

No. Orions is designed to be user-friendly with intuitive interfaces. If you can use a website, you can use Orions. Training materials and support are available.

## Getting Started

### How do I sign up for Orions?

1. Visit the Orions website
2. Click "Business Register" or "Sign Up"
3. Choose "Restaurant" account type
4. Complete registration form
5. Verify your email
6. Set up your restaurant profile
7. Start using the platform

### What information do I need to get started?

You'll need:
- Restaurant name and contact information
- Business address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Operating hours
- Seating capacity
- Payment information (for Stripe setup)

### How long does setup take?

Initial setup typically takes:
- Basic profile: 10-15 minutes
- Menu upload: 30-60 minutes (depending on menu size)
- Floor plan: 20-40 minutes
- Payment setup: 10-15 minutes
- **Total**: 1-2 hours for complete setup

### Is there a trial period?

There is a one week trial period.

## Booking Management

### How do I create a booking?

Three methods:
1. **Manual booking**: Dashboard → Pre-orders → New Booking
2. **From floor plan**: Floor Plan → Click table → Create Booking
3. **From floor plan**: Floor Plan → top right the Add new Booking button → Create Booking
4. **Walk-in**: Floor Plan → Walk-In button

[Detailed guide available: HOW_TO_CREATE_BOOKING.md]

### Can guests book online?

Yes! Once you set up your public profile, guests can:
- Search for your restaurant
- View available times
- Select party size
- Complete booking form
- Make deposit payment (if required)
- Receive instant confirmation

### How does automatic table assignment work?

When a booking is created without a table:
1. System analyzes party size
2. Checks availability for booking time
3. Finds suitable table(s) matching capacity
4. Assigns optimal table automatically
5. Considers table combinations for large parties
6. Updates floor plan in real-time

### Can I override automatic table assignment?

Yes, you can:
- Manually assign specific tables
- Override auto-assigned tables
- Move bookings between tables
- Combine multiple tables for large parties

### What booking statuses are available?

Booking statuses include:
- **Booked**: Confirmed reservation
- **No Answer**: Guest hasn't responded to confirmation
- **Running Late**: Guest notified they're delayed
- **Arrived**: Guest has arrived
- **Partly Arrived**: Some party members arrived
- **Seated**: Party seated at table
- **Completed**: Service finished
- **Cancelled**: Booking cancelled

### How do I cancel a booking?

1. Open booking details
2. Click "Cancel Booking"
3. Select cancellation reason
4. Confirm cancellation
5. System processes refunds (if applicable)
6. Guest receives cancellation notification

### Can I modify a booking after it's created?

Yes, you can edit:
- Date and time
- Party size
- Guest information
- Table assignment
- Menu selection
- Deposit amount
- Special requests/notes

Changes trigger automatic guest notifications.

### How do I handle no-shows?

1. Mark booking as "No Show" in system
2. Deposit (if collected) can be retained
3. Track no-show rate per guest
4. Use data to set deposit policies
5. Send automated reminder SMS/emails to reduce no-shows

## Menu Management

### How do I create a menu?

Process:
1. Create individual menu items
2. Organize items into categories
3. Build complete menus from items
4. Assign menus to bookings

[Detailed guide: HOW_TO_CREATE_MENU.md]

### What types of menus can I create?

Orions supports:
- **À la carte menus**: Individual items with separate pricing
- **Set menus**: Fixed price for complete meal
- **Multi-course menus**: Course-by-course selection
- **Event menus**: Special occasion menus
- **Seasonal menus**: Time-limited offerings

### Can I upload menu photos?

Yes! You can upload:
- Photos for individual menu items
- Restaurant photos
- Multiple images per item
- Supported formats: JPG, PNG
- Maximum size: 5MB per image

### How do I handle dietary requirements?

Orions includes:
- Allergen checkboxes for each item
- Dietary labels (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free)
- Custom dietary notes field
- Guest-specific allergy tracking
- Allergen filtering in guest view

### Can guests see the menu before booking?

Yes! Guests can:
- Browse full menus on restaurant profile
- View menu items with photos and descriptions
- See pricing
- Check allergen information
- Preview set menu options

### How does pre-ordering work?

Pre-ordering process:
1. Assign menu to booking
2. Guest receives booking link
3. Guest selects items for each party member
4. Specifies dietary requirements
5. Submits pre-order by deadline
6. Restaurant receives complete order

Benefits:
- Kitchen preparation planning
- Reduced service time
- Better guest experience
- Lower food waste

## Floor Plan & Seating

### Do I need to create a floor plan?

Not required but highly recommended. Benefits:
- Visual table management
- Real-time occupancy view
- Automatic table assignment
- Better capacity management
- Improved service coordination

### How do I set up my floor plan?

1. Go to Settings → Booking Settings → Floor Plan
2. Create dining areas
3. Add tables with shapes (round, square, rectangle)
4. Set table capacities
5. Assign table numbers
6. Save layout

[Detailed guide: HOW_TO_USE_FLOORPLAN.md]

### Can I have multiple dining areas?

Yes! Create separate areas for:
- Main dining room
- Outdoor terrace
- Private dining rooms
- Bar area
- Patio
- Each area has its own floor plan

### How do table combinations work?

For large parties:
1. Define which tables can be combined
2. Set combined capacity
3. System suggests combinations automatically
4. Manually combine tables when needed
5. Both tables marked as occupied when assigned

### Can I block tables from booking?

Yes, you can:
- Block specific tables
- Set block duration
- Add block reason
- Unblock when ready
- View all blocked tables

Use for:
- Maintenance
- VIP reservations
- Staff tables
- Equipment issues

## Payments & Deposits

### What payment methods are supported?

Orions uses Stripe for:
- Credit/debit card payments
- Deposit collection
- Refund processing
- Payment link generation
- Secure payment processing

### How do I collect deposits?

Set up deposits per booking or globally:
1. Set deposit amount
2. Choose currency (GBP, USD, EUR)
3. Mark as refundable or non-refundable
4. Guest pays via secure link
5. Track payment status
6. Process refunds if needed

### When should I require deposits?

Common use cases:
- Large parties (6+ guests)
- Special event bookings
- High-value reservations
- Peak times (weekends, holidays)
- No-show prevention
- Tasting menus or set menus

### How do refunds work?

Refund process:
1. Open booking with deposit
2. Click "Refund" button
3. Enter refund amount (full or partial)
4. Add refund reason
5. Confirm refund
6. Stripe processes refund (3-5 business days)

### Can I send payment links to guests?

Yes! Payment links allow:
- Deposit payment after booking
- Remaining balance collection
- Booking fee payment
- Links sent via email
- Secure Stripe checkout
- Track payment status

### What currencies are supported?

Currently supported:
- GBP (British Pounds)
- USD (US Dollars)
- EUR (Euros)

You can set different currencies for:
- Menu items
- Deposits
- Booking fees
- Per transaction

## Guest Management

### How do I manage guest information?

Guest management features:
- Comprehensive guest database
- Booking history per guest
- Preferences and dietary requirements
- Contact information
- Communication logs
- Special notes

### Can I see a guest's booking history?

Yes! Guest profiles show:
- All past bookings
- Future reservations
- No-show history
- Preferred tables
- Menu preferences
- Special requests
- Total spend

### How do I add notes about guests?

Add notes:
- In guest profile
- During booking creation
- In booking details
- Notes visible to all staff
- Use for: VIP status, preferences, allergies, special occasions

### Can guests communicate with me?

Yes, through:
- In-app chat system
- Email replies
- SMS responses
- Booking link portal
- Real-time messaging

### How do I search for a guest?

Search options:
- By name
- By email
- By phone number
- By booking date
- By booking status
- Advanced filters available

## Reports & Analytics

### What reports are available?

Report categories:
1. **Booking Reports**: Overview, operational metrics, timeline
2. **Revenue Reports**: Deposits, payments, forecasting
3. **Menu Reports**: Popular items, performance
4. **Guest Reports**: Demographics, preferences, history
5. **Time Analysis**: Peak hours, occupancy rates

### Can I export reports?

Yes, reports can be:
- Exported to PDF
- Exported to CSV/Excel
- Printed directly
- Emailed to team members
- Scheduled for regular delivery

### What date ranges can I analyze?

Flexible date selection:
- Today
- This week
- This month
- Custom date range
- Compare periods
- Year-over-year analysis

### How do I track revenue?

Revenue tracking includes:
- Deposit collections
- Payment status
- Expected revenue
- Actual revenue
- Booking fees
- By menu, by date, by guest

## Settings & Configuration

### How do I set my operating hours?

1. Go to Settings → Booking Settings
2. Set hours for each day of week
3. Mark closed days
4. Set different hours for lunch/dinner
5. Save changes

### Can I set blackout days?

Yes! Blackout days for:
- Holidays
- Private events
- Renovation closures
- Staff training days
- No bookings accepted on blackout days

### How do I customize my booking settings?

Customizable settings:
- Operating hours
- Booking slots and intervals
- Maximum party size
- Advance booking window
- Cancellation policy
- Deposit requirements
- Pre-order deadlines

### Can I customize the platform appearance?

Yes! Theme options:
- Light theme
- Dark theme
- Orions Teal
- Orions Green
- Orions Magic
- Applies across entire platform

### How do I set up my public profile?

Public profile includes:
- Restaurant name and description
- Address and contact information
- Photos and gallery
- Menus for browsing
- Operating hours
- Special offers
- Booking widget
- Reviews (if enabled)

## Communication & Notifications

### What notifications are sent automatically?

Automatic notifications for:
- Booking confirmations
- Booking modifications
- Payment receipts
- Pre-order reminders
- Day-before reminders
- Cancellations
- Refund confirmations

### Can I customize notification emails?

Yes, customize:
- Email templates
- Sender name
- Logo and branding
- Message content
- Email timing

### Are SMS notifications available?

Yes! SMS notifications for:
- Booking confirmations
- Reminders
- Updates
- Verification codes
- Requires SMS setup

### How does the chat system work?

Chat features:
- Real-time messaging
- Guest-to-restaurant communication
- Attach files (menus, directions)
- Message history
- Notifications for new messages

## Enquiries & Private Dining

### What is the enquiry system?

For private dining and special events:
- Separate workflow from regular bookings
- Progress tracking with checklists
- Team collaboration
- Manager approval
- Convert to confirmed booking

### How do guests submit enquiries?

Guests can:
- Fill enquiry form on restaurant profile
- Specify event type and requirements
- Choose preferred dates
- Describe event details
- Submit for review

### How do I manage enquiries?

Enquiry management:
1. Receive enquiry notification
2. Review details
3. Assign to team member
4. Work through checklist
5. Get manager approval
6. Convert to booking or decline

### What's included in enquiry tracking?

Tracking includes:
- Progress status (received, in progress, waiting approval, converted)
- Assigned staff member
- Communication history
- Notes and documents
- Change log
- Approval workflow

## Technical Questions

### Is my data secure?

Security measures:
- HTTPS encryption
- Supabase backend security
- Stripe PCI compliance
- Row-level security
- Regular backups
- Data privacy compliance

### What browsers are supported?

Supported browsers:
- Google Chrome (recommended)
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
- Microsoft Edge
- Mobile browsers

### Can I integrate with other systems?

Current integrations:
- Stripe for payments
- Email services
- SMS services
- More integrations in development

### Is there an API?

API availability:
- Contact for API access
- Future public API planned
- Webhook support
- Integration possibilities

### What if I have internet issues?

Tips for connectivity:
- Platform requires internet connection
- Offline mode not currently available
- Use mobile hotspot as backup
- Contact support for assistance

## Troubleshooting

### I forgot my password. How do I reset it?

1. Go to login page
2. Click "Forgot Password"
3. Enter your email
4. Check email for reset link
5. Click link and create new password
6. Log in with new password

### Bookings not appearing on floor plan?

Check:
- Correct date selected
- Area filter set correctly
- Booking has table assigned
- Page refreshed
- Status filter not hiding booking

### Guests not receiving emails?

Solutions:
- Verify email address correct
- Check spam/junk folder
- Verify email settings
- Resend from booking details
- Contact support if persistent

### Payment processing failing?

Check:
- Stripe account active
- Payment settings configured
- Card details valid
- Sufficient funds
- Internet connection stable

### Menu items not showing?

Verify:
- Items marked as available
- Items assigned to menu
- Menu marked as active
- Page refreshed
- Cache cleared

## Support & Resources

### How do I get help?

Support channels:
- In-platform help documentation
- Email support
- Video tutorials
- User guides
- FAQ (this document)
- Contact form

### Are training materials available?

Yes:
- Step-by-step guides
- Video tutorials
- Webinars
- Documentation portal
- Onboarding assistance

### Can I request new features?

Yes! Feature requests:
- Submit via support
- Describe use case
- Explain benefit
- Features considered for roadmap

### What if I find a bug?

Report bugs:
- Contact support immediately
- Describe issue in detail
- Include screenshots
- Note browser and device
- Steps to reproduce

## Search-Optimized Questions

### Is Orions a restaurant booking platform?

Yes, Orions is a comprehensive restaurant booking and management platform designed for hospitality businesses of all sizes.

### Does Orions work for small restaurants?

Yes! Orions scales from small cafes to large multi-location restaurants. Features can be enabled/disabled based on your needs.

### Can I use Orions for event management?

Absolutely! Orions excels at managing:
- Private dining events
- Corporate events
- Weddings
- Special occasions
- Large party bookings

### Is Orions better than OpenTable?

Orions offers unique advantages:
- Integrated pre-order system
- Visual floor plan management
- Multi-course menu builder
- Direct guest ownership
- Flexible pricing
- No per-cover fees
- Full data ownership

### Does Orions have a mobile app?

Currently web-based, accessible on all mobile browsers. Native mobile apps may be developed in future.

### Can restaurants take online bookings with Orions?

Yes! Online booking features include:
- Public restaurant profile
- Real-time availability
- Instant confirmation
- Deposit collection
- Pre-ordering
- Guest communication

### Is Orions suitable for fine dining?

Yes! Fine dining features:
- Set menu management
- Pre-order collection
- VIP guest tracking
- Deposit requirements
- Special event handling
- Detailed guest preferences

## Additional Resources

For more detailed information, see:
- [Platform Overview](./PLATFORM_OVERVIEW.md)
- [How to Create Bookings](./guides/HOW_TO_CREATE_BOOKING.md)
- [How to Create Menus](./guides/HOW_TO_CREATE_MENU.md)
- [How to Use Floor Plan](./guides/HOW_TO_USE_FLOORPLAN.md)
- [Feature Documentation](./features/)

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**Still have questions?** Contact Orions support through the platform or visit our documentation portal for more detailed guides.