Telegram Integration

Connect OrderNow to Telegram to receive instant notifications about new orders, status changes, and important events directly in your messaging app. Perfect for keeping staff informed without constantly checking the dashboard.

::: note What is Telegram? Telegram is a free messaging app available on smartphones and computers. If you don't have it yet, download it from telegram.org or your device's app store. :::

How It Works

The integration connects your OrderNow location to a Telegram group chat:

1. Create a Telegram group for your staff
2. Add the OrderNow bot to the group
3. Set the group name using a specific format that includes your API key
4. OrderNow automatically detects the group and sends notifications

Prerequisites

• Telegram app installed on your device(s)
• An active OrderNow location with API access
• Administrator access to your OrderNow license

Setup Steps

Step 1: Get Your API Key

You need an API key to link Telegram to your location:

1. Log into OrderNow as an administrator
2. Navigate to Admin → API Keys
3. Find an existing key or create a new one for your location
4. Copy the API key (it looks like a long string of letters and numbers)

Example API Key:
d2a7a6a8-a52e-4a48-a2e5-4129d135a37b

WARNING

Security: Treat API keys like passwords. Only share with trusted staff members.

Step 2: Create a Telegram Group

1. Open Telegram on your phone or computer
2. Tap the New Message icon, then New Group
3. Add the staff members who should receive notifications
4. Give the group a temporary name (you'll change it in Step 3)
5. Tap Create

Step 3: Add the OrderNow Bot

1. In your new Telegram group, tap the group name at the top
2. Tap Add Members
3. Search for the OrderNow bot username (provided by your administrator)
4. Select the bot and tap Add
5. The bot will join the group

Step 4: Set the Group Title

This is the crucial step that links Telegram to your location:

1. In Telegram, tap the group name to open group info
2. Tap the current name to edit it
3. Enter the group title using this exact format:

GroupName|APIKey

• GroupName: Any descriptive name (e.g., "Kitchen Notifications", "Main St Orders")
• | (pipe character): Required separator
• APIKey: The API key from Step 1

Examples:
Main Street Cafe|d2a7a6a8-a52e-4a48-a2e5-4129d135a37b
Kitchen Orders|f1c4e2b3-a8d9-4e5f-9b6c-1e2d3f4a5b6c

TIP

Important: The pipe character (|) is required between the name and API key. Do not add spaces around it.

Step 5: Verification

Once the group title is set correctly:

1. The OrderNow bot will send a confirmation message in the group
2. You'll start receiving notifications immediately
3. Test by placing a test order in OrderNow

Notification Types

OrderNow can send various notifications to your Telegram group:

Notification	Description	When Sent
New Order	Order number, table, items summary	Customer places order (reaches PLACED status)
Failed Order	Order that could not be sent to POS system	Order reaches FAILED status
Urgent Order	High-priority notification for special requests	Customer adds note or special instruction

::: note POS-Related Statuses: OrderNow only tracks orders up to when they're sent to your POS system. Notifications about kitchen preparation, "ready for pickup," or delivery are handled by your POS system, not OrderNow. :::

Managing Notifications

Enabling/Disabling per Location

You can control whether notifications are sent:

1. Go to Orders Overview
2. Find your location in the list
3. Use the Telegram toggle switch in that row
4. Green = notifications enabled, Gray = disabled

Multiple Groups

You can create multiple Telegram groups for different purposes:

• One group for kitchen staff (all orders)
• One group for managers (summary only)
• One group for bar staff (drink orders only)

::: note Tip: Use different API keys for different groups to control what each group receives, or use the same key and let staff mute notifications they don't need. :::

Complete Example

Here's how to set up notifications for "Main Street Cafe":

1. Get the API key: d2a7a6a8-a52e-4a48-a2e5-4129d135a37b
2. Create Telegram group called "Cafe Orders"
3. Add the manager, head chef, and bartender to the group
4. Add the OrderNow bot to the group
5. Change group name to: Main Street Cafe|d2a7a6a8-a52e-4a48-a2e5-4129d135a37b
6. Receive confirmation message from the bot
7. Place a test order to verify notifications work

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
No notifications received	Verify API key is correct in group title; check bot is in group; ensure toggle is ON in Orders Overview
Bot doesn't confirm setup	Double-check the pipe character (|) is present; verify no spaces around the pipe
Stopped working after changing group name	Always include the API key when renaming; format must remain Name|APIKey
Wrong location's notifications	Verify you're using the correct API key for your location
Bot not responding	Try removing and re-adding the bot to the group

Best Practices

• Group naming: Use descriptive names so staff know which location the group is for
• Staff training: Ensure all group members know how Telegram notifications work
• Notification sounds: Set distinctive sounds for Telegram so staff recognize order alerts
• Backup plan: Don't rely solely on Telegram; keep the OrderNow dashboard accessible
• Privacy: Only add staff who need order information; remove departed employees promptly

TIP

Pro Tip: Pin important messages in the Telegram group (like daily specials or opening procedures) so they're always visible to staff.