How to develop DoorDash integration - Kitchenhub know-how, tips and tricks

We at KitchenHub did the impossible – we’ve described the entire integration process between a POS and DoorDash!
This is the most unique and practical guide you’ll find online (and that’s no exaggeration).

How does the integration work, and why is it essential for restaurants?
What are the common pitfalls, insider tips, and step-by-step instructions for a successful integration? Plus, we’ve included a real-world example to show you exactly how it’s done.

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DoorDash POS integration offers several key benefits:

1. Order Syncing
   DoorDash orders are automatically imported into your POS system, eliminating the need for staff to re-enter orders manually. This reduces human errors and saves valuable time, allowing your team to focus on customer service rather than troubleshooting discrepancies.
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2. Real-Time Inventory Updates
   Changes to menu items or inventory levels in your POS are instantly reflected on DoorDash. This ensures customers see an accurate menu, helping to avoid issues with out-of-stock items. For staff, this reduces confusion and enhances operational efficiency.

While integrating with DoorDash POS offers incredible benefits, the process has its fair share of hidden challenges. These roadblocks, often buried beneath layers of technical documentation, can catch you off guard. Being aware of them beforehand can save you both time and frustration.

1. Breaking Through the Waiting List

Gaining access to DoorDash’s integration process isn’t as simple as filling out a form and waiting. While the official waiting list acknowledges your request, approvals are often influenced by internal priorities and relationships.

• Our experience: Real progress only began after we connected with the right contact at DoorDash. This required persistence, networking, and presenting a clear value proposition for why the collaboration would benefit both sides.
• Pro Tip: Use LinkedIn to find and connect with relevant DoorDash team members in partnerships, integrations, or developer support roles. Personalizing your message and demonstrating mutual value can help you get noticed faster.

2. Hidden Complexities in API Documentation

Even though DoorDash’s developer portal provides detailed documentation, the reality can be more complicated. Some features labeled as “optional” turned out to be mandatory during final acceptance testing.

• Example: The experience property in orders was marked as optional in the documentation but was required to pass the review stage. While many POS systems don’t rely on this property, implementing it became critical.
• Pro Tip: During the planning phase, review the entire API documentation and acceptance criteria in detail. Reach out to DoorDash support early to clarify ambiguities, especially for properties marked as “optional” or “conditionally required.”

3. Testing: More Complex Than Expected

DoorDash provides a robust testing environment, but navigating it is not always straightforward.

• Menu Upload Delays: During development, menu uploads had to undergo a validation process that could take several days. This slowed down testing iterations and created bottlenecks.
• Unpredictable Glitches: Certain bugs in the test environment caused delays, requiring extra debugging and adaptations.
• Pro Tip: Maintain a shared log of bugs, validation bottlenecks, and workarounds with your team. Proactively share these insights in your support tickets to get faster resolutions from DoorDash’s technical team.

4. The Overwhelmed Launch Procedure

Even after completing the technical integration, the launch process was surprisingly intensive and time-consuming.

• Submission Requirements: DoorDash requires detailed company information, including logos, website links, and knowledge base references. Preparing these assets took additional effort.
• Post-Launch Adjustments: The integration required 2-3 months of fine-tuning to address unforeseen complexities. For example, reconciling existing DoorDash menus with new POS systems demanded custom solutions to avoid duplicate entries or data mismatches.
• Pro Tip: Treat the launch process as a project of its own. Create a checklist with all deliverables, such as marketing assets, FAQs, and customer support workflows, to avoid last-minute scrambling.

Make Sure Your System Works with DoorDash APIs

Before connecting your POS  system to DoorDash, confirming compatibility and addressing potential issues upfront is essential. By thoroughly reviewing DoorDash’s API documentation and evaluating your system’s capabilities, you can avoid common pitfalls and ensure a smoother integration. Check  the key areas to assess:

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1. Check Data Formats

DoorDash uses JSON to send and receive information. Your system must support this format to handle critical data like orders, menu updates, and inventory changes. Here are some specifics to watch for:

• Authentication: Ensure your system supports DoorDash’s authentication methods, such as API keys or tokens, to establish secure connections. Without this, your integration won’t function properly.
• Order Events: DoorDash sends updates such as “Order Placed,” “Order Confirmed,” and “Order Cancelled.” If your system fails to process or retry missed updates, critical order information could be lost.

Pro Tip: Build a retry mechanism for failed API calls, ensuring no updates are missed even if there’s a temporary connection issue.

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2. Check Endpoints and Webhooks

DoorDash relies on webhooks to send real-time updates (e.g., order statuses) to your system. Key challenges include:

• Endpoint Reliability: Your system must consistently receive webhook messages, even under heavy traffic. Avoid processing duplicate messages when DoorDash resends due to errors.
• Error Handling: If your system doesn’t support complex menu setups (e.g., nested options or modifiers), webhook updates could fail. Implement robust error handling to prevent crashes.

Pro Tip: Use idempotency keys to ensure duplicate webhook events (e.g., retries) don’t trigger duplicate actions in your POS system.

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3. Menu Structure Compatibility

DoorDash menus often include advanced configurations that may exceed your POS system’s capabilities. Address these potential issues:

• Multiple Menus: DoorDash supports separate menus for breakfast, lunch, and special events. If your POS doesn’t, you’ll need to modify your structure.
• Nested Modifiers: DoorDash allows layered menu options (e.g., pizza crusts with additional toppings). If your POS only supports flat menus, integration may require significant adjustments.
• Delivery-Specific Pricing: DoorDash may use different prices for delivery vs. pickup (e.g., a $30 Family Meal for pickup might cost $35 for delivery). If your POS lacks price differentiation, this could cause mismatches.

Pro Tip: Conduct a full menu audit to identify mismatches between DoorDash’s capabilities and your POS system. Address these gaps during development.

4. Order Status Differences

DoorDash uses unique order statuses that may not align with your POS system’s workflow. Examples include:

• Order Adjustments: DoorDash allows edits to orders (e.g., removing unavailable items). If your POS doesn’t permit post-placement changes, you may need custom workarounds.
• Status Mapping: DoorDash statuses like “Order Picked Up” or “Order Completed” may not match your POS system. You’ll need to map them to equivalent statuses (e.g., “Closed”).

Pro Tip: Create a status-mapping table to translate DoorDash statuses into your POS system’s equivalents. This ensures consistent tracking across platforms.

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5. How Restaurants Turn On the Integration

Think about how restaurants will activate the integration between your POS system and DoorDash. Common approaches include:

• Manual Setup by Your Team: This approach involves your team configuring settings such as API keys or matching menus for each restaurant. It provides flexibility for complex cases but can be time-intensive.some text
  • Example: A small restaurant with an intricate menu might require custom adjustments to sync with DoorDash.
• Customer Self-Setup: This method empowers restaurants to set up integration themselves through a simple interface. However, errors such as missing menu items or incorrect pricing could arise.

Pro Tip: Provide a guided setup wizard with validation checks (e.g., missing fields or pricing mismatches) to minimize user errors during self-setup.

6. Other Things to Watch For

Beyond the common challenges above, be mindful of the following:

• Tax Handling: Different tax configurations between DoorDash and your POS system can lead to mismatches.
• Advanced Features: Features like scheduling special menus or running promotions may require additional development.
• System Performance: Ensure your system can handle real-time updates without slowing down or crashing.

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Allocate the Right Development Resources

DoorDash connection requires dedicated resources and a skilled team to ensure a seamless and efficient process. A well-planned resource allocation can prevent delays, tackle unforeseen challenges, and streamline the integration process. Below, we break down the skills, roles, and time commitments needed for a successful integration.

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Skill Requirements

To handle the complexities of DoorDash integration, your team should have the following expertise:

• RESTful API Expertise: Developers must know how to use HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to interact effectively with DoorDash APIs.
• Integration Knowledge: Familiarity with third-party API integrations, especially in environments like POS or food delivery systems, is critical.
• Product Knowledge: Developers should deeply understand your internal product’s architecture, workflows, and limitations. This ensures the integration aligns with your system and avoids unnecessary rework.

Pro Tip: Conduct a pre-project briefing to align the team on DoorDash API specifics and your product’s architecture. This will help avoid misaligned development efforts later.

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Team Structure and Roles

Here’s an ideal team setup for DoorDash POS integration:

• Lead Developer:
  • Oversees the integration process, ensures compliance with DoorDash’s API documentation, and writes the core integration logic.
  • Acts as the primary liaison with DoorDash’s technical support team.
• Support Developer:
  • Handles auxiliary tasks, including writing unit tests, managing edge cases, and resolving dependencies.
  • Provides backup to ensure progress continues smoothly if the lead developer is unavailable.
• Quality Assurance (QA):
  • Tests the integration rigorously, simulating real-world scenarios such as incorrect menu data, order cancellations, and system downtime.
  • Ensures the integration is stable and resilient under various conditions.
• Frontend or Mobile Developer (Optional):
  • If your system has a customer-facing frontend or mobile app, you may need updates to UI components. For instance, modifications might be needed to display new menu structures or order statuses from DoorDash.

Pro Tip: Assign a single point of contact (e.g., the Lead Developer) for communication with DoorDash’s technical team to avoid miscommunications and streamline support.

Time Allocation

The timeline for DoorDash POS integration depends on the complexity of your system and any required customizations. Here’s a general guideline:

• Active Development: Plan for 4–8 weeks of coding, debugging, and initial testing.
• Buffer Time: Allocate additional time for unexpected challenges or advanced customizations, such as handling menu variations or delivery-specific pricing.
• Post-Launch Stabilization: Reserve 2–4 weeks for resolving post-launch issues and fine-tuning the integration.

Pro Tip: Use agile sprints to break the development process into manageable chunks. This allows for iterative progress and quicker problem-solving.

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Successfully integrating with DoorDash involves multiple steps, from initial setup to ongoing management. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the process:

Step 1: Signing Up for the DoorDash Developer Portal

• Create an Account: Start by registering on the DoorDash Developer Portal. Once your account is verified, you’ll gain access to the sandbox environment—a safe testing space.
• Explore the Tools: Use resources like API guides, example requests, and responses to familiarize yourself with the system. Pay special attention to data formatting rules and API endpoint documentation.

Pro Tip: Bookmark key sections of the API guide and share them with your team. Create a quick reference document for the most frequently used endpoints and payloads.

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Step 2: Exploring the API with Postman

• Get Hands-On: Use tools like Postman to send test requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to the API. Experiment with different payloads, headers, and parameters to understand how the API behaves.
• Learn from Errors: Document common issues (e.g., missing fields, invalid payloads) and how to resolve them.
• Prepare for Coding: Use these insights to streamline your actual development process later.

Pro Tip: Save frequently used API requests in Postman collections. Share these collections with your team for consistent and efficient testing.

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Step 3: Setting Up API Authentication

• Obtain Sandbox API Keys: These keys grant you access to the testing environment. Implement OAuth 2.0 for authentication, ensuring tokens refresh automatically when expired.
• Verify Webhooks: Set up webhooks to receive real-time updates like order status changes. Validate webhook signatures to secure your system.

Example in Python to get an access token:

1import requests‍
2auth_url = "https://api.doordash.com/v2/auth/token"
3payload = 
4{    
5"client_id": "your_client_id",
6"client_secret": "your_client_secret",
7"grant_type": "client_credentials"
8}
9response = requests.post(auth_url, json=payload)
10access_token = response.json().get("access_token")
11print(f"Token: {access_token}")

Pro Tip: Use environment variables to store sensitive credentials like client secrets and tokens securely.

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Step 4: Syncing Menus with DoorDash

• Format Your Menu: Extract menu details (names, descriptions, prices, modifiers) from your POS system and format them to match DoorDash’s requirements.
• Upload to DoorDash: Use the POST /v2/menus endpoint to upload your menu. Validate nested modifiers and delivery-specific pricing.
• Test in Sandbox: Ensure the menu displays correctly in the sandbox environment. Menu validation might take time, so plan for delays.

Pro Tip: Build a menu validation script to automatically check for formatting errors before uploading.

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Step 5: Handling Orders

• Set Up Endpoints: Configure webhooks to receive and process orders. Orders will include item details, modifiers, prices, and special instructions.
• Manage Order Statuses: Implement logic to handle order lifecycle stages like “Placed,” “In Progress,” and “Completed.” Notify DoorDash when order statuses change.

Pro Tip: Test edge cases, such as orders with missing modifiers or invalid pricing, to ensure robust error handling.

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Step 6: Helping Restaurants Get Started

• Simple Setup Interface: Create a user-friendly interface for restaurants to connect their DoorDash accounts and sync menus.
• Support Team Training: Train your support team to assist restaurants with setup and troubleshoot common issues like incorrect pricing or missing items.

Pro Tip: Provide in-app tips or setup wizards to guide restaurants step by step during the setup process.

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Step 7: Letting Restaurants Manage Their Availability

• Online/Offline Toggle: Add a feature that allows restaurants to mark themselves as online or offline in real time.
• Reminders for Offline Status: Send alerts to restaurants if they remain offline for extended periods to help them avoid missed opportunities.

Pro Tip: Use automated email or SMS reminders for restaurants that frequently forget to switch back online.

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Step 8: Keeping Menus and Inventory Synced

• Real-Time Sync: Schedule regular updates between your POS system and DoorDash to prevent customers from ordering out-of-stock items.
• Manual Adjustments: Allow restaurants to manually update availability for special situations, like limited-time offers or holiday menus.

Pro Tip: Implement a low-stock alert system to notify restaurants and adjust item availability on DoorDash automatically.

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Step 9: Testing Everything Before Going Live

• Acceptance Testing: DoorDash will conduct an acceptance test to review your setup. Include optional fields like the experience field to meet their requirements.
• Test Scenarios: Run all test cases provided by DoorDash to identify and fix potential issues early.

Pro Tip: Create a test checklist covering API calls, webhooks, menu syncs, and edge cases to ensure nothing is overlooked.

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Step 10: Launching the Integration

• Finalize Setup: Submit your completed integration, menu, and branding materials (e.g., logos, help guides) to DoorDash.
• Switch to Production Keys: Replace sandbox API keys with production keys to start handling live orders.
• Inform Restaurants: Notify participating restaurants about the launch date so they can prepare for real orders.

Pro Tip: Host a webinar or Q&A session for restaurants to address last-minute questions and ensure a smooth transition.

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Step 11: Keeping Things Running Smoothly

• Monitor Performance: Use dashboards to track API usage, errors, and order processing rates. Set up logs for quick problem detection and resolution.
• Share Insights: Provide performance reports to restaurants, such as order fulfillment times and error rates, to help them optimize their operations.

Pro Tip: Schedule quarterly reviews of the integration to ensure all systems are functioning efficiently and identify areas for improvement.

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Even with careful planning, integration bugs are inevitable. Here are some common issues you might encounter during your DoorDash POS integration and how to resolve them efficiently.

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Bug: Missing Mandatory Fields in Order Payload

• Symptom: During the acceptance test, the order payload you submit is rejected because a required field (e.g., experience) is missing.
• Fix:some text
  1. Review DoorDash’s API documentation to confirm all required fields for order payloads.
  2. Update your payload mapping logic in the code to always include these fields, even if they seem optional in the documentation.
  3. Retest the updated payload in the sandbox environment before re-submitting for acceptance.

Pro Tip: Implement a pre-validation check for payloads to flag missing fields early in the development process.

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Bug: Menu Sync Delays

• Symptom: After uploading a menu update, approval takes several days, causing bottlenecks in testing and development.
• Fix:some text
  1. Open a detailed support ticket with DoorDash to request an expedited review. Include specifics like the restaurant name and uploaded menu file.
  2. Double-check that your menu data adheres strictly to DoorDash’s formatting guidelines to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth.
  3. Test smaller menu segments first to identify potential issues faster.

Pro Tip: If delays are frequent, establish a direct point of contact with DoorDash’s technical support team to speed up future requests.

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Bug: Incorrect Handling of Webhooks

• Symptom: Orders appear on DoorDash but fail to appear in your POS system, leading to missing orders.
• Fix:some text
  1. Verify that your webhook endpoints are: some text
     • Reachable and publicly accessible.
     • Properly signed and validated to ensure the request is genuinely from DoorDash.
  2. Ensure your endpoint responds with the correct HTTP status codes (e.g., 200 OK for successful processing).
  3. Add detailed logging to capture webhook payloads, response codes, and errors. This makes it easier to identify where the failure is occurring.

Pro Tip: Use a tool like ngrok or Postman to simulate webhook requests during testing. This allows you to validate endpoint behavior before going live.

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Additional Advice

• Regularly review API logs and system dashboards to identify recurring issues early.
• Schedule periodic tests of your webhooks, menus, and order payloads to ensure compliance with DoorDash’s evolving requirements.
• Establish a feedback loop with your team and DoorDash’s support to refine your integration process continuously.

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Building your DoorDash integration from scratch gives you complete control, but it’s not always the most efficient or cost-effective approach. Partnering with an experienced integration provider can save time, reduce complexity, and help you launch faster. Here’s a breakdown of the options:

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Pros and Cons of Building In-House

Pros:

• Full Customization: You can tailor every integration detail to fit your unique requirements.
• Direct Oversight: Your internal team has full control over the process, enabling faster fixes when issues arise.

Cons:

• Longer Timelines: Without prior experience, trial-and-error phases can extend your development time.
• Resource-Intensive: Your best developers may need to shift focus from other high-priority projects.

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Pros and Cons of Outsourcing to a Third-Party Integrator

Pros:

• Speed: Experienced integrators have completed similar projects and can significantly shorten your launch timeline.
• Reduced Risk: They’re familiar with common pitfalls and know how to avoid them, improving overall reliability.

Cons:

• Less Direct Control: You’ll need to trust an external partner to uphold quality standards and follow best practices.
• Onboarding Costs: Initial setup and support costs can add up but may still offer a good ROI by speeding up your time-to-market.

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What to Look for in a Third-Party Integrator

• Flexibility: Ensure the integrator can adapt to your current tech stack and workflows, rather than forcing you to conform to theirs.
• Speed: Choose providers with a proven track record of completing multiple integrations – experience leads to faster development cycles.
• Reliability & Transparency: A trustworthy partner will keep you informed, provide clear timelines, and set realistic expectations.

If you’re considering an integration partner, KitchenHub offers a proven track record with over five years of experience in the restaurant technology space. Our streamlined approach ensures:

• Efficient Execution: We’ve completed ten successful integrations, helping teams avoid common pitfalls and launch with confidence.
• Scalability: We design integrations to be effective today and adaptable for future growth.
• Restaurant-Focused Solutions: With deep expertise in the restaurant ecosystem, we specialize in bridging multiple platforms seamlessly.

Partnering with KitchenHub means you can focus on running your business while we handle the technical complexities of DoorDash integration.

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