Order at Service
The prep report updates in real-time as orders come in. This allows you to collect orders from residents at the time of service, rather than collecting all orders in advance.
How Real-Time Updates Work
The prep report updates automatically when:
- A new order is placed
- An existing order is modified
- An order is cancelled or skipped
You don't need to refresh the page. Changes appear in real-time.
Note: Real-time updates are available in both Meals view and Orders view, but the "New" badge and highlighting are most visible in Orders view.
Identifying New or Changed Orders
When an order is added or modified, you'll see:
In Orders view:
- A "New" badge appears on the resident's row
- The row is highlighted
- The badge disappears after you expand the order to view it
In both views (Meals and Orders):
- Recently changed items (modified in the last 30 minutes) show with a subtle highlight
- The highlight fades after 30 minutes
Working with Orders at Service
To collect orders during meal service:
- Keep the prep report open on a tablet or device.
- Look for rows with the "New" badge as residents place orders.
- Expand the order to see what was ordered.
- The badge and highlight disappear once you've viewed it.
To see what changed in a modified order:
- Find orders with the recent change highlight.
- Expand the order to review the details.
- Check for changes in items, serving sizes, textures, or notes.
Tip: When collecting orders at service time, check the prep report frequently to see new orders as they come in. The real-time updates mean you don't need to manually refresh.
How This Supports Different Workflows
Collecting orders in advance:
- You can still collect all orders ahead of time if you prefer
- Real-time updates help you catch any late changes or additions
Collecting orders at service time:
- The "New" badge helps you identify residents as they place orders
- You can prepare meals as orders come in
- Residents can see the menu and make their choice at service time
Automatic Updates
The prep report automatically:
- Connects to the server when you open it
- Receives updates in real-time
- Reconnects if the connection is lost
- Refreshes the highlight status every 5 minutes
- Syncs delivery status and notes across all devices
You don't need to do anything to enable this. It works automatically.
When staff mark an order as delivered or add a delivery note, all other devices see the update immediately. This means everyone has the same information, even if a resident is served in a different location than usual.
Note: If your internet connection is temporarily lost, the prep report will reconnect automatically and show any orders that came in while you were disconnected.
Tips
- Keep the prep report open during meal service to receive real-time updates
- Check for the "New" badge frequently when collecting orders at service time
- In Meals view, watch for tally increases to know when to prepare more portions
- The 30-minute highlight helps you spot recent changes even if you missed the initial "New" badge
Related Articles
- Getting Started with the Prep Report - Introduction to the prep report
- Orders View - View and deliver individual resident orders
- Meals View - View orders grouped by menu item
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