Group Polling (Team Ordering)

For those ordering for groups who want more control over what they’re eating, we’ve launched a feature called “Polling”, effectively a team order functionality. For select menus, you can send out a link to your team with menu items to choose. You can then apply all the responses to place an order while making adjustments, like extra guests, drinks, desserts, etc. While we've set it up to be relatively self-explanatory, we'll walk you through that process below!

1. Enter Your Event Details

First, you'll enter your delivery address, date, time, expected headcount, and then hit the blue "search" button:

2. Apply the Group Order Poll Filter

Your results, based off your specific event details, will now be displayed. To find all the menus we offer that are eligible for "polling", you'll click the Group Order Poll filter:

3. Find Your Menu

Once that filter has been clicked, you'll have all of the options available to you that can be ordered as a poll. You can further filter from here by cuisine. Once you find the menu you like, click on the menu and it will bring you to the menu details page, which is where you'll find all the details about the specific menu and caterer, as well as where you'll begin the checkout process. Click the "Create Group Order Poll" button to start! (Clicking the "Customize & Pay" button takes you through a normal checkout process)

4. Build Your Poll

From this page you'll be able to pick the options that you want your team to choose from. You'll know your team best in terms of if you want to give them more vegetarian options, no pork options, etc.

4a. If you don't like the options listed out, certain menus allow you to create your own choices or allow for custom combinations. If you want to customize the proteins and sides, you'll scroll down to the bottom of the list where you'll find a "Create Your Own Combo" button. Click that button to open up the options you can customize. You'll create the item(s) and then click "add to my options" so that you can now select that choice for your team. Once you are done making custom combos, you can then click the blue "Create Group Order Poll" button:

5. Send the Poll to Your Team

Once you've created the poll, you'll be brought to a page with a link to that specific poll. You can then send that link to your team via email, Slack, etc. so they can respond! From that same page you can also go to the "Poll Results", which is where all your team responses will be recorded. If you will be setting up multiple polls for multiple days, you'll click the "Share on Team Calendar" checkbox (you can send the link of your "team calendar" by clicking the "team poll calendar" blue hyperlink and sending the URL on that page)

6. You've just built a Group Poll order!

Well done. Your teammates will be asked to sign up when they make their menu selection so that for further ordering, checking out and choosing options is a breeze. They'll also be able to update their choices if they'd like as well. What will the poll look like for your team? Please see the below screenshot.

7. Officially Submit Your Poll Order to the Caterer

If you clicked on the blue "Go To Poll Results" button in #5, you'll be brought to the page where you can track the options your team has selected, you'll have access to the poll link if needed, and will also have a countdown timer that shows the specific cut off time and date to order this specific menu. Once you have teammates respond, you'll see the data start to fill in. When you've received all the responses, you can click the "Apply Selections To Your Order" which will automatically add your team's choices to the order:

8. Finish Checking Out and Pay

After pressing the "Apply Selections" button, you'll be shifted down on the page to the order details section where you'll be able to review the selections, customize further if needed, add on additional items like drinks, desserts etc. (if offered), and after reviewing all of your details, place your order.

9. Find Your Polls On Your Account

Now that you have a poll or two created you might be wondering where to access them from your CaterCow account. We have a few ways to do so. If you are on the search or home page, you will see a blue (active polls) or grayed out (nothing active) bell at the top center-right of the webpage. Clicking that bell will show you your active polls, and you can click whichever ones you need to get to.

9a. From your CaterCow Dashboard or Orders Page you'll hover over your name in the top right corner of the page which will drop down a menu where you can select your polls!

Happy Polling!