> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.mathership.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started

> Set up your restaurant workspace and start using Mathership for ordering, inventory, automation, reports, and settings

# Getting Started with Mathership

Mathership helps restaurants manage ordering, inventory, supplier communication, POS integrations, reorder suggestions, AI assistance, and reporting in one workspace.

This guide shows you what to do first, where to find each feature, and how to move from simple ordering to full inventory automation.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Start ordering" icon="cart-shopping" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/overview">
    Use My Inventory, product lists, and the shopping cart to prepare orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set up inventory" icon="warehouse" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/overview">
    Create storage locations, ingredients, recipes, and inventory workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use automation" icon="robot" href="/en/restaurants/automation/overview">
    Ask the AI Assistant, review suggestions, and connect integrations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Start here

If you are new to Mathership, start with this flow:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the correct company">
    Use the company selector in the sidebar.

    If your organization manages several restaurants, locations, or companies, make sure you are working in the correct one.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check your account">
    Open **Settings** → **Account**.

    Confirm your profile, email address, password, language, and account preferences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review your organization">
    Open **Settings** → **Organization**.

    Check companies, members, invitations, roles, and company access if you are allowed to manage them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add delivery locations">
    Open **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

    Add the addresses where vendors should deliver orders.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Place your first order">
    Open **Order**.

    Use **My Inventory**, add products, review the **Shopping Cart**, and continue to order review.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Track the order">
    Open **Order history**.

    Search, filter, open, export, or archive orders.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  You do not need to set up every inventory, automation, or report feature on day one. Start with the parts your team needs first.
</Note>

## The restaurant workspace

Restaurant users work in the **customer workspace**.

The left sidebar is your main navigation. It is built around the selected company and gives you access to ordering, inventory, automation, reports, and settings.

| Sidebar section  | What you do there                                           |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Home             | Open the dashboard and review what needs attention          |
| Order            | Create orders from the current ordering mode                |
| Order history    | Search, filter, open, export, and archive orders            |
| Manage inventory | Manage storage locations, ingredients, and recipes          |
| Automation       | Use the AI Assistant, reorder suggestions, and integrations |
| Reports          | Review inventory, purchase orders, and export history       |
| Settings         | Manage account, delivery locations, and organization        |
| Support          | Open the Mathership help center                             |

## Company selection

Mathership is company-based.

If your organization has more than one company or restaurant location, the selected company affects what you see and change.

Always check the selected company before you:

* Place an order
* Review order history
* Add delivery locations
* Create storage locations
* Add ingredients
* Receive inventory
* Review reports
* Change settings

<Warning>
  If you are in the wrong company, you may create orders, delivery locations, inventory movements, or reports for the wrong location.
</Warning>

## Permissions and access

Your role and permissions determine what you can see and do.

Depending on your access, you may be able to:

* Create drafts
* Send orders
* View financials
* Manage inventory
* Manage recipes
* Manage integrations
* Manage users
* Manage billing or company settings

If you do not see a page, button, or action, your account may not have permission for it.

Ask an organization owner or admin to review your company access and role.

## Choose your setup path

Mathership can be used in stages.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Path 1: Ordering only" icon="cart-shopping">
    Use this path if you mainly want to create and track orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Path 2: Ordering + inventory" icon="boxes-stacked">
    Use this path if orders should update inventory after delivery.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Path 3: Full automation" icon="sparkles">
    Use this path if you want stock tracking, recipes, reorder suggestions, POS integrations, AI, and reports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Path 1: Start with ordering

Use this path if you want to create orders quickly and track them later.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check Account settings">
    Go to **Settings** → **Account**.

    Confirm your profile, email address, password, language, and account preferences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Organization settings">
    Go to **Settings** → **Organization**.

    Review the organization, companies, members, invitations, and access if you have permission.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Delivery locations">
    Go to **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

    Add the delivery addresses vendors should use.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Order">
    Go to **Order** in the sidebar.

    The default restaurant ordering mode is **My Inventory**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add products">
    Search the product table or use a product list.

    Add quantities with the quantity controls.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the Shopping Cart">
    Check selected products, quantities, prices, and totals.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue to order review">
    Use the review action to create or open the order review.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Order history">
    Open **Order history** to find the order later, check its status, export the list, or archive old orders.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Placing Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/placing-orders">
    Add products, use product lists, and create an order review.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shopping Cart" icon="cart-shopping" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/shopping-cart">
    Review selected products and quantities before continuing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order History" icon="clock-rotate-left" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-history">
    Search, filter, export, archive, and open orders.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Path 2: Add inventory

Use this path when ordered products should become inventory stock after delivery.

Start with the ordering path, then set up the inventory foundation.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create storage locations">
    Open **Manage inventory** → **Storage locations**.

    Create the physical places where stock is stored, such as kitchen, bar, cold room, dry storage, freezer, or warehouse.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create ingredients">
    Open **Manage inventory** → **Ingredients**.

    Add the items you track in stock, such as tomatoes, milk, flour, beef, butter, wine, or cleaning products.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map products to ingredients">
    Connect ordered vendor products to internal ingredients so receiving can update stock correctly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Receive orders">
    Receive delivered products and post them into the correct storage location.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the ledger">
    Use the **Ledger** to understand why stock changed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use reports">
    Review stock levels, movements, values, and activity in the **Inventory Report**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  In the app sidebar, the label is **Storage locations**. In some documentation pages, the same concept may be called **Storage Units**.
</Note>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Storage Units" icon="warehouse" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/storage-units">
    Create and manage physical inventory locations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ingredients" icon="carrot" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/ingredients">
    Manage the ingredient master list used across inventory workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Product Mapping" icon="link" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/product-mapping">
    Connect vendor products to internal ingredients and conversion factors.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Receiving Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/receiving-orders">
    Receive delivered products into ingredient stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stock Counts" icon="clipboard-check" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/stock-counts">
    Count physical stock and adjust book stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ledger" icon="list" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/ledger">
    Review stock movement history.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Path 3: Use full automation

Use this path when you want Mathership to help with recipes, reorder suggestions, POS integrations, AI, and reporting.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create recipes">
    Open **Manage inventory** → **Recipes**.

    Build dishes from ingredients, use sub-recipes, and calculate ingredient usage.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set reorder rules">
    Add reorder configurations for important ingredients so Mathership can suggest what to order.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Suggestions">
    Open **Automation** → **Suggestions**.

    Review recommended orders based on stock, consumption, lead time, and safety stock.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect integrations">
    Open **Automation** → **Integrations**.

    Connect POS systems or CSV uploads so sales can update inventory.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask the AI Assistant">
    Open **Automation** → **AI Assistant**.

    Ask questions about orders, inventory, stock levels, suggestions, and activity.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review reports">
    Open **Reports**.

    Use Inventory Report, Purchase Orders Report, and Export History.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Recipes" icon="book-open" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/recipes">
    Create recipes, use sub-recipes, and calculate ingredient needs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reorder Suggestions" icon="lightbulb" href="/en/restaurants/automation/reorder-suggestions">
    View and act on reorder recommendations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integrations" icon="plug" href="/en/restaurants/integrations/overview">
    Connect POS systems and CSV uploads.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Assistant" icon="robot" href="/en/restaurants/automation/ai-assistant">
    Ask questions about inventory, orders, and suggestions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Inventory Report" icon="chart-line" href="/en/restaurants/reports/inventory-report">
    Review stock levels, values, movements, and activity.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Purchase Orders Report" icon="file-spreadsheet" href="/en/restaurants/reports/purchase-orders">
    Analyze purchasing activity.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What can be done where

Use this table when you know what you want to do but are not sure where to go.

| I want to...                                       | Go to                                        |
| -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Change my name, email, password, or language       | **Settings** → **Account**                   |
| Manage companies, members, invitations, and access | **Settings** → **Organization**              |
| Add or edit delivery addresses                     | **Settings** → **Delivery locations**        |
| Place an order                                     | **Order**                                    |
| Review selected products before order review       | **Order** → **Shopping Cart**                |
| Use recurring products                             | **Order** → **Product Lists**                |
| Find old, draft, or scheduled orders               | **Order history**                            |
| Create storage locations                           | **Manage inventory** → **Storage locations** |
| Create ingredients                                 | **Manage inventory** → **Ingredients**       |
| Create recipes                                     | **Manage inventory** → **Recipes**           |
| Map vendor products to ingredients                 | **Manage inventory** → **Product Mapping**   |
| Receive delivered products                         | **Inventory** → **Receiving Orders**         |
| Count physical stock                               | **Inventory** → **Stock Counts**             |
| Record waste                                       | **Inventory** → **Waste**                    |
| Move stock between locations                       | **Inventory** → **Transfers**                |
| Understand why stock changed                       | **Inventory** → **Ledger**                   |
| Ask inventory or order questions                   | **Automation** → **AI Assistant**            |
| Review reorder recommendations                     | **Automation** → **Suggestions**             |
| Connect POS or CSV imports                         | **Automation** → **Integrations**            |
| Review inventory performance                       | **Reports** → **Inventory Report**           |
| Review purchase orders                             | **Reports** → **Purchase Orders Report**     |
| Review generated exports                           | **Reports** → **Export History**             |

## Settings in detail

Settings should usually be checked before the first order.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Account" icon="user" href="/en/restaurants/settings/accounts">
    Manage your profile, password, language, and account preferences.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organization" icon="building" href="/en/restaurants/settings/organization">
    Manage companies, members, invitations, roles, and access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delivery Locations" icon="location-dot" href="/en/restaurants/settings/delivery-locations">
    Manage delivery addresses and link them to storage locations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Account

Open **Settings** → **Account**.

Use Account settings to:

* Update your first and last name
* Check or update your email address
* Change your password
* Choose your language
* Manage the default order attachment format, if you have access

### Organization

Open **Settings** → **Organization**.

Use Organization settings to:

* Review the current organization
* See companies that belong to the organization
* Add or manage companies, if allowed
* Invite members, if allowed
* Manage company access
* Review pending invitations
* Control who can access which company

### Delivery locations

Open **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

Delivery locations define where vendor orders should be delivered.

Use delivery locations for:

* Restaurant addresses
* Kitchens
* Bar storage
* Cold rooms
* Dry storage
* Central warehouses
* Catering locations
* Other receiving points

A delivery location can also be linked to a storage location for inventory receiving.

## Ordering in detail

Ordering starts from **Order** in the sidebar.

The default restaurant ordering mode is **My Inventory**.

Use ordering to:

* Browse products
* Search by product name or article number
* Use product lists
* Add quantities to the shopping cart
* Review selected products
* Continue to order review
* Find created orders in Order history

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Placing Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/placing-orders">
    Learn how to browse products, use lists, add quantities, and create an order review.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shopping Cart" icon="cart-shopping" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/shopping-cart">
    Review selected products, quantities, prices, and totals.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Product Lists" icon="list" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/product-lists">
    Create and use lists for frequently ordered products.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order Drafts and Scheduling" icon="calendar-clock" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-drafts-and-scheduling">
    Prepare orders before sending and find draft or scheduled orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order Attachments" icon="paperclip" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-attachments">
    Understand PDF and CSV order files.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order History" icon="clock-rotate-left" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-history">
    Search, filter, export, archive, and open orders.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Inventory in detail

Open **Manage inventory** from the sidebar.

The inventory section starts with three core pages:

| Page              | What it is for                                                      |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Storage locations | Physical places where stock is stored                               |
| Ingredients       | Items you track in inventory                                        |
| Recipes           | Ingredient-based recipe structures used for usage and POS deduction |

### Storage locations

Open **Manage inventory** → **Storage locations**.

Use storage locations for places like:

* Main kitchen
* Bar
* Cold room
* Dry storage
* Freezer
* Beverage storage
* External warehouse

Storage locations are used when receiving orders, counting stock, recording waste, transferring stock, and reviewing inventory movements.

### Ingredients

Open **Manage inventory** → **Ingredients**.

Ingredients are the items you track in stock.

Examples:

* Tomatoes
* Milk
* Flour
* Beef
* Butter
* Wine
* Cleaning products

Use ingredients for inventory quantities, receiving, stock counts, waste, transfers, recipes, reorder suggestions, and reports.

### Recipes

Open **Manage inventory** → **Recipes**.

Recipes help you connect ingredients to production and sales workflows.

Use recipes to:

* Build dishes from ingredients
* Use sub-recipes
* Calculate ingredient usage
* Support POS stock deductions
* Understand expected usage

## Inventory operations

After storage locations and ingredients are ready, you can start using inventory operations.

| Workflow         | Use it when                                                            |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Receiving orders | Delivered vendor products should increase stock                        |
| Stock counts     | Physical stock should correct book stock                               |
| Waste            | Stock is spoiled, damaged, expired, spilled, or unusable               |
| Transfers        | Stock moves from one storage location to another                       |
| Ledger           | You want to understand why stock changed                               |
| Unit conversions | You need to understand how product units become ingredient stock units |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Receiving Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/receiving-orders">
    Receive vendor orders and post mapped products into inventory.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stock Counts" icon="clipboard-check" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/stock-counts">
    Count physical inventory and adjust book stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Waste" icon="trash" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/waste">
    Record wasted ingredients and reduce inventory stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transfers" icon="right-left" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/transfers">
    Move stock between storage locations or company locations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ledger" icon="list" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/ledger">
    Review the movement history of ingredient stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Unit Conversions" icon="scale-balanced" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/unit-conversion">
    Understand how product quantities convert into ingredient stock units.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Automation in detail

Open **Automation** from the sidebar.

Automation contains:

| Page         | What it is for                                                  |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| AI Assistant | Ask questions about inventory, orders, suggestions, and reports |
| Suggestions  | Review reorder suggestions based on stock and consumption       |
| Integrations | Connect systems such as POS integrations and CSV uploads        |

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="AI Assistant" icon="robot" href="/en/restaurants/automation/ai-assistant">
    Ask questions about inventory, orders, and reorder suggestions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reorder Suggestions" icon="lightbulb" href="/en/restaurants/automation/reorder-suggestions">
    View and act on automatically generated reorder recommendations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integrations" icon="plug" href="/en/restaurants/integrations/overview">
    Connect external systems such as POS integrations and CSV uploads.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Ask the AI Assistant while onboarding

You can use the AI Assistant to help you find the next step.

Try asking:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="First steps" icon="seedling">
    What should I set up first in Mathership?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ordering" icon="cart-shopping">
    How do I place my first order?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delivery locations" icon="location-dot">
    Where do I add delivery locations?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Inventory setup" icon="warehouse">
    How do I start using inventory?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Receiving" icon="boxes-stacked">
    How do I receive an order into stock?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reports" icon="chart-line">
    Where can I review stock and purchase activity?
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  The AI Assistant uses Mathership help documentation to answer onboarding questions. Clear questions such as “How do I place my first order?” or “How do I add a delivery location?” usually work best.
</Note>

## Reports in detail

Open **Reports** from the sidebar.

Reports help you review inventory and purchasing activity.

| Report                 | Use it for                                                    |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Inventory Report       | Stock levels, values, activity, movements, and critical stock |
| Purchase Orders Report | Purchase and order analysis                                   |
| Export History         | Previously generated exports                                  |

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Inventory Report" icon="chart-line" href="/en/restaurants/reports/inventory-report">
    Review stock levels, movements, values, and activity.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Purchase Orders Report" icon="file-spreadsheet" href="/en/restaurants/reports/purchase-orders">
    Analyze purchase order data.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Export History" icon="download" href="/en/restaurants/reports/export-history">
    Review generated report exports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common first-week checklist

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Day 1: Access and settings" icon="user">
    Check company selection, account settings, organization access, and delivery locations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 2: First order" icon="cart-shopping">
    Add products, review the shopping cart, and create your first order review.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 3: Order history" icon="clock-rotate-left">
    Search, filter, open, export, and archive orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 4: Storage and ingredients" icon="warehouse">
    Create storage locations and ingredients.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 5: Receiving and ledger" icon="boxes-stacked">
    Receive delivered products into stock and review ledger movements.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Later: Automation and reports" icon="sparkles">
    Add recipes, suggestions, integrations, AI workflows, and reports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Best practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Start small" icon="seedling">
    Begin with ordering and delivery locations before setting up every inventory feature.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use the correct company" icon="building">
    Always check the selected company before ordering, receiving, reporting, or changing settings.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Keep names clear" icon="tag">
    Use simple names for delivery locations, storage locations, ingredients, recipes, and product lists.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Review before posting" icon="clipboard-check">
    Check products, quantities, delivery locations, and stock movements before saving.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use reports regularly" icon="chart-line">
    Review inventory and purchase reports to catch mistakes early.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ask the assistant" icon="robot">
    Use the AI Assistant for questions about stock, orders, suggestions, reports, and next steps.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What should I do first?">
    Start with **Settings** → **Account**, then **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

    After that, place your first order from **Order**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I place an order?">
    Open **Order** in the sidebar.

    The default restaurant ordering mode is **My Inventory**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I see old orders?">
    Open **Order history**.

    Use filters for vendor, status, delivery location, date, or transfer status.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I manage stock?">
    Open **Manage inventory**.

    Start with **Storage locations** and **Ingredients**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I receive delivered products?">
    Use **Receiving Orders** after the relevant products, ingredients, mappings, and storage locations are set up.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I connect POS or external systems?">
    Open **Automation** → **Integrations**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I review inventory and purchase activity?">
    Open **Reports**.

    Use **Inventory Report**, **Purchase Orders Report**, and **Export History**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why do I not see a page or button?">
    Your permissions may limit what you can access.

    Ask an organization owner or admin to review your company access and role.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related pages

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Dashboard" icon="layout-dashboard" href="/en/restaurants/dashboard">
    Review the restaurant dashboard and daily inventory status.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ordering Overview" icon="cart-shopping" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/overview">
    Understand the full ordering workflow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Inventory Overview" icon="warehouse" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/overview">
    Learn how inventory features fit together.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automation Overview" icon="robot" href="/en/restaurants/automation/overview">
    Use AI, suggestions, and integrations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reports Overview" icon="chart-line" href="/en/restaurants/reports/overview">
    Review inventory, purchases, and exports.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Settings Overview" icon="gear" href="/en/restaurants/settings/overview">
    Manage account, organization, and delivery locations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Mathership helps restaurants manage ordering, inventory, supplier communication, POS integrations, reorder suggestions, AI assistance, and reporting in one workspace.

This guide shows you what to do first, where to find each feature, and how to move from simple ordering to full inventory automation.

## Start here

If you are new to Mathership, start with this flow:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the correct company">
    Use the company selector in the sidebar.

    If your organization manages several restaurants, locations, or companies, make sure you are working in the correct one.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check your account">
    Open **Settings** → **Account**.

    Confirm your profile, email address, password, language, and account preferences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review your organization">
    Open **Settings** → **Organization**.

    Check companies, members, invitations, roles, and company access if you are allowed to manage them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add delivery locations">
    Open **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

    Add the addresses where vendors should deliver orders.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Place your first order">
    Open **Order**.

    Use **My Inventory**, add products, review the **Shopping Cart**, and continue to order review.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Track the order">
    Open **Order history**.

    Search, filter, open, export, or archive orders.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  You do not need to set up every inventory, automation, or report feature on day one. Start with the parts your team needs first.
</Note>

The left sidebar is your main navigation. It is built around the selected company and gives you access to ordering, inventory, automation, reports, and settings.

| Sidebar section  | What you do there                                           |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Home             | Open the dashboard and review what needs attention          |
| Order            | Create orders from the current ordering mode                |
| Order history    | Search, filter, open, export, and archive orders            |
| Manage inventory | Manage storage locations, ingredients, and recipes          |
| Automation       | Use the AI Assistant, reorder suggestions, and integrations |
| Reports          | Review inventory, purchase orders, and export history       |
| Settings         | Manage account, delivery locations, and organization        |
| Support          | Open the Mathership help center                             |

## Company selection

Mathership is company-based.

If your organization has more than one company or restaurant location, the selected company affects what you see and change.

Always check the selected company before you:

* Place an order
* Review order history
* Add delivery locations
* Create storage locations
* Add ingredients
* Receive inventory
* Review reports
* Change settings

<Warning>
  If you are in the wrong company, you may create orders, delivery locations, inventory movements, or reports for the wrong location.
</Warning>

## Permissions and access

Your role and permissions determine what you can see and do.

Depending on your access, you may be able to:

* Create drafts
* Send orders
* View financials
* Manage inventory
* Manage recipes
* Manage integrations
* Manage users
* Manage billing or company settings

If you do not see a page, button, or action, your account may not have permission for it.

Ask an organization owner or admin to review your company access and role.

## Choose your setup path

Mathership can be used in stages.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Path 1: Ordering only" icon="cart-shopping">
    Use this path if you mainly want to create and track orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Path 2: Ordering + inventory" icon="boxes-stacked">
    Use this path if orders should update inventory after delivery.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Path 3: Full automation" icon="sparkles">
    Use this path if you want stock tracking, recipes, reorder suggestions, POS integrations, AI, and reports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Path 1: Start with ordering

Use this path if you want to create orders quickly and track them later.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check Account settings">
    Go to **Settings** → **Account**.

    Confirm your profile, email address, password, language, and account preferences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Organization settings">
    Go to **Settings** → **Organization**.

    Review the organization, companies, members, invitations, and access if you have permission.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Delivery locations">
    Go to **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

    Add the delivery addresses vendors should use.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Order">
    Go to **Order** in the sidebar.

    The default restaurant ordering mode is **My Inventory**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add products">
    Search the product table or use a product list.

    Add quantities with the quantity controls.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the Shopping Cart">
    Check selected products, quantities, prices, and totals.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue to order review">
    Use the review action to create or open the order review.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Order history">
    Open **Order history** to find the order later, check its status, export the list, or archive old orders.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Placing Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/placing-orders">
    Add products, use product lists, and create an order review.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shopping Cart" icon="cart-shopping" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/shopping-cart">
    Review selected products and quantities before continuing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order History" icon="clock-rotate-left" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-history">
    Search, filter, export, archive, and open orders.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Path 2: Add inventory

Use this path when ordered products should become inventory stock after delivery.

Start with the ordering path, then set up the inventory foundation.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create storage locations">
    Open **Manage inventory** → **Storage locations**.

    Create the physical places where stock is stored, such as kitchen, bar, cold room, dry storage, freezer, or warehouse.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create ingredients">
    Open **Manage inventory** → **Ingredients**.

    Add the items you track in stock, such as tomatoes, milk, flour, beef, butter, wine, or cleaning products.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map products to ingredients">
    Connect ordered vendor products to internal ingredients so receiving can update stock correctly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Receive orders">
    Receive delivered products and post them into the correct storage location.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the ledger">
    Use the **Ledger** to understand why stock changed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use reports">
    Review stock levels, movements, values, and activity in the **Inventory Report**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  In the app sidebar, the label is **Storage locations**. In some documentation pages, the same concept may be called **Storage Units**.
</Note>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Storage Units" icon="warehouse" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/storage-units">
    Create and manage physical inventory locations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ingredients" icon="carrot" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/ingredients">
    Manage the ingredient master list used across inventory workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Product Mapping" icon="link" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/product-mapping">
    Connect vendor products to internal ingredients and conversion factors.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Receiving Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/receiving-orders">
    Receive delivered products into ingredient stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stock Counts" icon="clipboard-check" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/stock-counts">
    Count physical stock and adjust book stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ledger" icon="list" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/ledger">
    Review stock movement history.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Path 3: Use full automation

Use this path when you want Mathership to help with recipes, reorder suggestions, POS integrations, AI, and reporting.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create recipes">
    Open **Manage inventory** → **Recipes**.

    Build dishes from ingredients, use sub-recipes, and calculate ingredient usage.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set reorder rules">
    Add reorder configurations for important ingredients so Mathership can suggest what to order.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Suggestions">
    Open **Automation** → **Suggestions**.

    Review recommended orders based on stock, consumption, lead time, and safety stock.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect integrations">
    Open **Automation** → **Integrations**.

    Connect POS systems or CSV uploads so sales can update inventory.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask the AI Assistant">
    Open **Automation** → **AI Assistant**.

    Ask questions about orders, inventory, stock levels, suggestions, and activity.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review reports">
    Open **Reports**.

    Use Inventory Report, Purchase Orders Report, and Export History.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Recipes" icon="book-open" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/recipes">
    Create recipes, use sub-recipes, and calculate ingredient needs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reorder Suggestions" icon="lightbulb" href="/en/restaurants/automation/reorder-suggestions">
    View and act on reorder recommendations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integrations" icon="plug" href="/en/restaurants/integrations/overview">
    Connect POS systems and CSV uploads.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Assistant" icon="robot" href="/en/restaurants/automation/ai-assistant">
    Ask questions about inventory, orders, and suggestions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Inventory Report" icon="chart-line" href="/en/restaurants/reports/inventory-report">
    Review stock levels, values, movements, and activity.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Purchase Orders Report" icon="file-spreadsheet" href="/en/restaurants/reports/purchase-orders">
    Analyze purchasing activity.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What can be done where

Use this table when you know what you want to do but are not sure where to go.

| I want to...                                       | Go to                                        |
| -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Change my name, email, password, or language       | **Settings** → **Account**                   |
| Manage companies, members, invitations, and access | **Settings** → **Organization**              |
| Add or edit delivery addresses                     | **Settings** → **Delivery locations**        |
| Place an order                                     | **Order**                                    |
| Review selected products before order review       | **Order** → **Shopping Cart**                |
| Use recurring products                             | **Order** → **Product Lists**                |
| Find old, draft, or scheduled orders               | **Order history**                            |
| Create storage locations                           | **Manage inventory** → **Storage locations** |
| Create ingredients                                 | **Manage inventory** → **Ingredients**       |
| Create recipes                                     | **Manage inventory** → **Recipes**           |
| Map vendor products to ingredients                 | **Manage inventory** → **Product Mapping**   |
| Receive delivered products                         | **Inventory** → **Receiving Orders**         |
| Count physical stock                               | **Inventory** → **Stock Counts**             |
| Record waste                                       | **Inventory** → **Waste**                    |
| Move stock between locations                       | **Inventory** → **Transfers**                |
| Understand why stock changed                       | **Inventory** → **Ledger**                   |
| Ask inventory or order questions                   | **Automation** → **AI Assistant**            |
| Review reorder recommendations                     | **Automation** → **Suggestions**             |
| Connect POS or CSV imports                         | **Automation** → **Integrations**            |
| Review inventory performance                       | **Reports** → **Inventory Report**           |
| Review purchase orders                             | **Reports** → **Purchase Orders Report**     |
| Review generated exports                           | **Reports** → **Export History**             |

## Settings in detail

Settings should usually be checked before the first order.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Account" icon="user" href="/en/restaurants/settings/accounts">
    Manage your profile, password, language, and account preferences.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organization" icon="building" href="/en/restaurants/settings/organization">
    Manage companies, members, invitations, roles, and access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delivery Locations" icon="location-dot" href="/en/restaurants/settings/delivery-locations">
    Manage delivery addresses and link them to storage locations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Account

Open **Settings** → **Account**.

Use Account settings to:

* Update your first and last name
* Check or update your email address
* Change your password
* Choose your language
* Manage the default order attachment format, if you have access

### Organization

Open **Settings** → **Organization**.

Use Organization settings to:

* Review the current organization
* See companies that belong to the organization
* Add or manage companies, if allowed
* Invite members, if allowed
* Manage company access
* Review pending invitations
* Control who can access which company

### Delivery locations

Open **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

Delivery locations define where vendor orders should be delivered.

Use delivery locations for:

* Restaurant addresses
* Kitchens
* Bar storage
* Cold rooms
* Dry storage
* Central warehouses
* Catering locations
* Other receiving points

A delivery location can also be linked to a storage location for inventory receiving.

## Ordering in detail

Ordering starts from **Order** in the sidebar.

The default restaurant ordering mode is **My Inventory**.

Use ordering to:

* Browse products
* Search by product name or article number
* Use product lists
* Add quantities to the shopping cart
* Review selected products
* Continue to order review
* Find created orders in Order history

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Placing Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/placing-orders">
    Learn how to browse products, use lists, add quantities, and create an order review.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shopping Cart" icon="cart-shopping" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/shopping-cart">
    Review selected products, quantities, prices, and totals.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Product Lists" icon="list" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/product-lists">
    Create and use lists for frequently ordered products.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order Drafts and Scheduling" icon="calendar-clock" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-drafts-and-scheduling">
    Prepare orders before sending and find draft or scheduled orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order Attachments" icon="paperclip" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-attachments">
    Understand PDF and CSV order files.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order History" icon="clock-rotate-left" href="/en/restaurants/ordering/order-history">
    Search, filter, export, archive, and open orders.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Inventory in detail

Open **Manage inventory** from the sidebar.

The inventory section starts with three core pages:

| Page              | What it is for                                                      |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Storage locations | Physical places where stock is stored                               |
| Ingredients       | Items you track in inventory                                        |
| Recipes           | Ingredient-based recipe structures used for usage and POS deduction |

### Storage locations

Open **Manage inventory** → **Storage locations**.

Use storage locations for places like:

* Main kitchen
* Bar
* Cold room
* Dry storage
* Freezer
* Beverage storage
* External warehouse

Storage locations are used when receiving orders, counting stock, recording waste, transferring stock, and reviewing inventory movements.

### Ingredients

Open **Manage inventory** → **Ingredients**.

Ingredients are the items you track in stock.

Examples:

* Tomatoes
* Milk
* Flour
* Beef
* Butter
* Wine
* Cleaning products

Use ingredients for inventory quantities, receiving, stock counts, waste, transfers, recipes, reorder suggestions, and reports.

### Recipes

Open **Manage inventory** → **Recipes**.

Recipes help you connect ingredients to production and sales workflows.

Use recipes to:

* Build dishes from ingredients
* Use sub-recipes
* Calculate ingredient usage
* Support POS stock deductions
* Understand expected usage

## Inventory operations

After storage locations and ingredients are ready, you can start using inventory operations.

| Workflow         | Use it when                                                            |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Receiving orders | Delivered vendor products should increase stock                        |
| Stock counts     | Physical stock should correct book stock                               |
| Waste            | Stock is spoiled, damaged, expired, spilled, or unusable               |
| Transfers        | Stock moves from one storage location to another                       |
| Ledger           | You want to understand why stock changed                               |
| Unit conversions | You need to understand how product units become ingredient stock units |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Receiving Orders" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/receiving-orders">
    Receive vendor orders and post mapped products into inventory.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stock Counts" icon="clipboard-check" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/stock-counts">
    Count physical inventory and adjust book stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Waste" icon="trash" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/waste">
    Record wasted ingredients and reduce inventory stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transfers" icon="right-left" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/transfers">
    Move stock between storage locations or company locations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ledger" icon="list" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/ledger">
    Review the movement history of ingredient stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Unit Conversions" icon="scale-balanced" href="/en/restaurants/inventory/unit-conversion">
    Understand how product quantities convert into ingredient stock units.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Automation in detail

Open **Automation** from the sidebar.

Automation contains:

| Page         | What it is for                                                  |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| AI Assistant | Ask questions about inventory, orders, suggestions, and reports |
| Suggestions  | Review reorder suggestions based on stock and consumption       |
| Integrations | Connect systems such as POS integrations and CSV uploads        |

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="AI Assistant" icon="robot" href="/en/restaurants/automation/ai-assistant">
    Ask questions about inventory, orders, and reorder suggestions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reorder Suggestions" icon="lightbulb" href="/en/restaurants/automation/reorder-suggestions">
    View and act on automatically generated reorder recommendations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integrations" icon="plug" href="/en/restaurants/integrations/overview">
    Connect external systems such as POS integrations and CSV uploads.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Ask the AI Assistant while onboarding

You can use the AI Assistant to help you find the next step.

Try asking:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="First steps" icon="seedling">
    What should I set up first in Mathership?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ordering" icon="cart-shopping">
    How do I place my first order?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delivery locations" icon="location-dot">
    Where do I add delivery locations?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Inventory setup" icon="warehouse">
    How do I start using inventory?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Receiving" icon="boxes-stacked">
    How do I receive an order into stock?
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reports" icon="chart-line">
    Where can I review stock and purchase activity?
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  The AI Assistant uses Mathership help documentation to answer onboarding questions. Clear questions such as “How do I place my first order?” or “How do I add a delivery location?” usually work best.
</Note>

## Reports in detail

Open **Reports** from the sidebar.

Reports help you review inventory and purchasing activity.

| Report                 | Use it for                                                    |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Inventory Report       | Stock levels, values, activity, movements, and critical stock |
| Purchase Orders Report | Purchase and order analysis                                   |
| Export History         | Previously generated exports                                  |

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Inventory Report" icon="chart-line" href="/en/restaurants/reports/inventory-report">
    Review stock levels, movements, values, and activity.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Purchase Orders Report" icon="file-spreadsheet" href="/en/restaurants/reports/purchase-orders">
    Analyze purchase order data.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Export History" icon="download" href="/en/restaurants/reports/export-history">
    Review generated report exports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common first-week checklist

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Day 1: Access and settings" icon="user">
    Check company selection, account settings, organization access, and delivery locations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 2: First order" icon="cart-shopping">
    Add products, review the shopping cart, and create your first order review.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 3: Order history" icon="clock-rotate-left">
    Search, filter, open, export, and archive orders.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 4: Storage and ingredients" icon="warehouse">
    Create storage locations and ingredients.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 5: Receiving and ledger" icon="boxes-stacked">
    Receive delivered products into stock and review ledger movements.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Later: Automation and reports" icon="sparkles">
    Add recipes, suggestions, integrations, AI workflows, and reports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Best practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Start small" icon="seedling">
    Begin with ordering and delivery locations before setting up every inventory feature.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use the correct company" icon="building">
    Always check the selected company before ordering, receiving, reporting, or changing settings.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Keep names clear" icon="tag">
    Use simple names for delivery locations, storage locations, ingredients, recipes, and product lists.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Review before posting" icon="clipboard-check">
    Check products, quantities, delivery locations, and stock movements before saving.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use reports regularly" icon="chart-line">
    Review inventory and purchase reports to catch mistakes early.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ask the assistant" icon="robot">
    Use the AI Assistant for questions about stock, orders, suggestions, reports, and next steps.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What should I do first?">
    Start with **Settings** → **Account**, then **Settings** → **Delivery locations**.

    After that, place your first order from **Order**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I place an order?">
    Open **Order** in the sidebar.

    The default restaurant ordering mode is **My Inventory**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I see old orders?">
    Open **Order history**.

    Use filters for vendor, status, delivery location, date, or transfer status.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I manage stock?">
    Open **Manage inventory**.

    Start with **Storage locations** and **Ingredients**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I receive delivered products?">
    Use **Receiving Orders** after the relevant products, ingredients, mappings, and storage locations are set up.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I connect POS or external systems?">
    Open **Automation** → **Integrations**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I review inventory and purchase activity?">
    Open **Reports**.

    Use **Inventory Report**, **Purchase Orders Report**, and **Export History**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why do I not see a page or button?">
    Your permissions may limit what you can access.

    Ask an organization owner or admin to review your company access and role.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>
