Pikit's flat design aesthetic with a loose and fun brand identity

The problem

Small food businesses like bakeries and cafes often struggle with chaotic ordering systems. Customers call, send messages, or show up in person, creating confusion and long lines. Business owners juggle emails, paper lists, and phone calls while trying to manage inventory and production schedules. This fragmented approach leads to:

Lost orders and disappointed customers
Inefficient production planning
Difficulty tracking inventory
Long wait times during peak hours
Reliance on expensive third-party delivery platforms

The solution

Pikit transforms this chaos into a streamlined click & collect system. The platform works simply: businesses create online menus with time slots, customers place orders through a unique store link, and teams receive organized production lists. No more guessing, no more lines, no more lost orders.

Customers order via a simple link, select time slots and products, then receive confirmation

Core features

For business owners: - Multi-store support with individual settings - Flexible menu creation and management - Time slot-based ordering with capacity limits - Real-time inventory control - Revenue analytics and reporting - Holiday and special event scheduling

For customers: - Simple ordering through unique store links - Real-time slot availability - Direct payment processing - Order tracking and notifications - No account creation required

For production teams: - Automated production sheets - Consolidated order lists by time slot - Order status tracking (prepared, packed, collected) - Email and SMS notifications - Mobile-friendly production views

Key benefits

No long lines: Customers order ahead and pick up at their chosen time slot, eliminating wait times and crowded stores.

Direct customer relationship: Unlike third-party delivery platforms, Pikit keeps businesses in direct contact with their customers without commission fees.

Precise inventory control: Set limits per product and time slot to prevent overselling and reduce waste.

Simplified production: Automated production sheets organize orders by category and time slot, making kitchen workflow seamless.

Growth-oriented: Analytics help identify top-selling products and peak times, enabling data-driven business decisions.

Technical implementation

Built on Rails 8 with modern web technologies, Pikit prioritizes simplicity and performance:

Multi-tenant architecture: Seamless subdomain-based store isolation using actsastenant
Slot-based inventory system: Real-time stock management across time windows and locations
Responsive design: Tailwind CSS 4.0 with custom DaisyUI theme
Enhanced interactivity: Hotwire/Turbo for real-time updates without page reloads
Background processing: Solid Queue for automated emails and notifications
Comprehensive testing: RSpec test suite with 90+ examples ensuring reliability
PDF generation: Chrome-based PDF generation for production documents and receipts

The core innovation lies in the sophisticated slot-based ordering system that prevents overselling while providing real-time availability updates. This ensures accurate stock levels across multiple store locations and gives production teams the visibility needed for efficient order fulfillment.

Results

Pikit transforms the ordering experience for small food businesses by replacing chaotic, fragmented processes with a streamlined digital solution. The platform successfully handles complex requirements including multi-store operations, time-based inventory control, and production workflow management—all while maintaining the simplicity that small businesses need to focus on what they do best: creating great food.