Owner launch checklist
A short, scannable checklist to run before you share Ding with staff or guests: profile and hours, menu quality, Waiter Agent, Ops data readiness, team access, and a final go-live review.
How to use this checklist
The fastest way to launch well is to make each surface accurate once, in order, before anyone relies on it. Work top to bottom. The Home tab shows a live status card for your key surfaces, so keep it open as your scoreboard while you go.
- Set aside about ten focused minutes; that is the target from signup to confident use.
- Watch the Home status card and the daily briefing as you bring each surface online.
- You do not need every item perfect to start, but finish profile, menu, and Waiter Agent before printing QR codes.
1. Restaurant profile and hours
This is the base context every agent reads. If it is wrong, guest answers and recommendations drift.
- In Settings > Restaurant, confirm name, description, address, cuisine type, and restaurant type.
- Set accurate operating hours for every day, including closed days.
- Add contact info and confirm the restaurant live status is on when you are ready.
2. Menu quality and availability
The menu is the source of truth for the guest experience and for the Waiter Agent. Clean it before you test anything.
- Review item names, prices, descriptions, and section placement in the Menu tab.
- Mark sold-out or unavailable items so they never get recommended.
- Add dietary tags and allergen notes wherever you know them.
- Star the items you want the agent to lead with as specials.
3. Waiter Agent
Set up the guest-facing agent and prove it answers well before it reaches a table. The full walkthrough is in Set up Waiter Agent.
- Choose a specialty that matches your menu, globally or per section.
- Upload Knowledge Base files for anything beyond the menu, such as wine notes or allergen references.
- Customize the greeting, theme, and QR color to match your brand.
- Scan your own QR and ask real guest questions about allergies, specials, and pairings.
4. Ops Agent data readiness
The Operations Agent gives better recommendations when it has real operating data and a target. Get the inputs ready even if you refine goals later.
- In Settings > Integrations, connect Square, Clover, or Toast when available.
- Set a goal in the Operations Agent so recommendations have direction.
- Confirm the daily briefing on Home is showing sales pace and guest activity.
5. Team roles and billing access
Bring people in with clear jobs and keep sensitive access limited. Add team members only when there is real work for them.
- Invite managers or operators through Settings > Team with the right role.
- Keep billing and owner-level access limited to trusted admins.
- Have service staff test Waiter Agent questions they hear on the floor.
6. Final go-live review
Do one last pass as if you were a guest and an operator, then launch.
- Open the public restaurant page and inspect prices, availability, specials, and the design theme.
- Confirm Waiter Agent, restaurant page, and POS sync all show current status on Home.
- Print and place QR codes where guests will see them.
- Tell your team where to look in Ding for their part of the job.