Getting started with Cenaly
Cenaly combines sales, customer service, staff, stock, finances and communication. Your business type selects the initial workflow and terminology: restaurant, store, salon, hotel, pickup point, service business, school, website or widgets.
1. Create your account and check the location#
Open the administration panel from the website you registered on. Follow Account and sign-in, then check the location's name, business type, country, currency, time zone and working hours.
A location can be a shop, branch, hotel, school or website. For a mixed business, choose the main operating model and add the required modules. Availability also depends on country, service, subscription and employee permissions.
2. Follow the checklist for your business#
First day: choose your business type is the starting point.
| Business | First working scenario |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, cafe, bar, fast food or canteen | Menu, order, preparation and payment |
| Retail or online store | Product, stock, sale, delivery or collection |
| Salon or appointment services | Service, specialist, resource, time slot and visit |
| Hotel | Room, rate, reservation, check-in and guest folio |
| Pickup point | Carrier, parcel, storage cell and handover |
| Professional services | Enquiry, customer, proposal, invoice and payment |
| School | Course, group, student, attendance and family account; dedicated modules are being introduced |
| Company website, blog, widgets or chat | Page, enquiry form or conversation with a visitor |
3. Prepare your data#
Import an existing catalog or start with a few representative items. Products need prices and stock, services need durations and resource requirements, hotel rooms need capacity and rates, and school courses need groups and pricing rules.
Use Catalog import or Switch to us for existing data. Review the import preview and translations before publishing. Add employees and permissions through Staff.
4. Connect the customer entry point#
Share your storefront link or QR code, publish a site, or add widgets to an existing site. A restaurant may use table QR codes; a hotel uses room QR codes; a salon shares a booking link. They serve different workflows.
See QR codes, My website and Custom domain.
5. Complete a test transaction#
Check the whole workflow, including the employee's view and the customer's confirmation. Verify prices, availability, the location's time zone, payment status and the resulting record. Test cancellation or refund where relevant.
Online payment requires a supported provider connected to your location. Creating an order or invoice does not mean it has been paid. See Payments and the relevant business checklist.
Add modules as work grows#
App store lists additional sections. Finance, Documents, Telephony and Knowledge base support several business types. Configure the ones needed for your workflow.
Schools, group classes, advanced hotel workflows and communication automation are expanding. The First day guide distinguishes current workflows from additions being introduced. Check Subscription for the current plan and Support for help.