Guide
One queue, four channels.
The tablet shelf is the visible symptom. The real cost is orders arriving in an order nobody controls.
In short
Multiple channels cause problems when each arrives separately and somebody has to merge them by hand. The fix is a single queue where every order lands in the order it arrived, regardless of source, with the channel visible but not determining priority. Retyping orders between systems is where errors and delays come from.
Updated 28 August 2026
The cost is not the tablets
It is the retyping and the sequencing. Somebody reading a marketplace tablet and keying the order into the till is slow and error-prone at the worst moment. And because each channel has its own queue, nobody can see the true order of arrival, so orders get made out of sequence and somebody waits far longer than they were told.
One queue, arrival order
Every order in one place, in the order it came in. Channel shown as a label rather than as a separate list. This removes the arguments about who was first and it means the kitchen is working the real queue rather than four partial ones.
Different channels need different handling, not different queues
A collection order at a set time and a delivery going out immediately have different timing, and the queue should reflect that. But that is a scheduling attribute, not a reason to separate them into different screens. Timing belongs on the ticket.
- Channel as a label on the ticket
- Requested time drives sequence, not source
- Delivery orders flagged for packing time
Menus have to match across channels
One of the most common operational failures is a price or an item that differs between your own site and a marketplace because they are maintained separately. Changing a price once and having it apply everywhere removes a whole category of errors and arguments.
The honest limitation
Consolidation depends on integrations, and not every marketplace integrates with every system in every market. Where an integration does not exist, the tablet remains. Be realistic about which of your channels can actually be consolidated before assuming the shelf disappears.
Questions, answered straight.
Not covered here? Just ask us.
Should marketplace orders be prioritised?
No. Sequence by arrival and promised time. Prioritising by source is how your own customers end up waiting behind commission orders.
What about acceptance times?
Platforms measure how fast you accept, and it affects your standing with them. Auto-accept during service, if your system supports it, avoids that becoming a distraction.
Can I turn off a channel at peak?
Yes, and it is a legitimate tool. Pausing a channel briefly is better than accepting orders you cannot serve on time.
Do I need a kitchen screen?
Not necessarily, but you do need one queue. A printer producing one sequence of tickets achieves the same thing in a small kitchen.
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