Skip to main content
This guide walks you through the complete ordering process on CampusBite, from browsing menus to picking up your food.

Getting started

Before you order, make sure you:
  • Have a verified CampusBite account
  • Are logged in to the platform
  • Have access to a UPI payment app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.)
CampusBite uses UPI for secure, instant payments directly to campus stores. No payment gateway fees or delays.

Step 1: Browse and select a store

Start by finding the outlet you want to order from.

Find available stores

On the home page, you’ll see all active campus food outlets:
  • Store cards show the store name, description, and operating hours
  • Search bar lets you find stores by name
  • Store images help you identify outlets visually
Check the operating hours badge on each store card. Stores only accept orders during their active hours.

View active orders

If you have any orders in progress:
  • An active orders banner appears at the top of the page
  • Shows how many orders you have pending
  • Click “View” to jump to your order tracking page
You can browse stores while you have active orders, but you can only order from one store at a time.

Step 2: Browse the menu

Once you select a store, you’ll see their full menu.
  • Store header: Shows store name, description, and image
  • Search bar: Find specific items quickly
  • Category filters: Filter items by type (if the store uses categories)
  • Item cards: Display each dish with photo, name, description, and price

Understanding item availability

Each menu item shows:
  • Available items: Have an “Add to Cart” button or quantity controls
  • Unavailable items: Marked with an “Unavailable” badge and grayed out
Items can become unavailable during the day if the store runs out of ingredients. The menu updates in real-time.

Step 3: Build your cart

Add items

1

Add your first item

Click “Add to Cart” on any available item. A success notification confirms the item was added.
2

Adjust quantities

After adding an item, you’ll see +/- buttons. Click to increase or decrease the quantity.
3

Continue shopping

Keep browsing and adding items. A floating cart bar at the bottom tracks your total.
4

View cart

When ready, click “View Cart” from the floating bar or the top navigation.

Cart rules

Single store limitation: You can only order from one store at a time.
  • If you try adding items from a different store, a dialog appears
  • You can choose to replace your current cart or keep it
  • This prevents mixing orders from multiple stores
This limitation ensures your order can be prepared and picked up efficiently from a single location.

Step 4: Review your cart

The cart page lets you finalize your order before checkout.

What you can do

Adjust quantities

Use the +/- buttons to change item quantities or the trash icon to remove items completely.

Add instructions

Enter special requests like “extra spicy”, “no onions”, or “well done” in the special instructions field.

Review total

See your subtotal and final total before proceeding to payment.

Continue shopping

Click “Continue Shopping” to go back to the store menu and add more items.

Order summary

The cart displays:
  • Store name: Which outlet you’re ordering from
  • Item list: All items with individual prices and quantities
  • Item subtotals: Price × quantity for each item
  • Total amount: The final amount you’ll pay
Double-check your order before proceeding to checkout. It’s easier to make changes now than after payment.

Step 5: Checkout and payment

The checkout process generates your payment details and processes your order.

Initiate payment

1

Proceed to checkout

Click “Proceed to Checkout” from your cart.
2

Review order summary

The checkout page shows:
  • Store name and items ordered
  • Total payable amount
  • Your trust tier status (if applicable)
  • Special instructions (if added)
3

Continue to payment

Click “Continue to Payment” to generate your payment session.

Payment session details

Once the payment session is ready, you’ll receive:
  • Store UPI ID: The UPI address to send payment to
  • Payment reference: A unique code like “CBPAYABC123XYZ” to include with your payment
  • UPI QR code: Scan this to pre-fill payment details
  • Exact amount: The total to pay
The payment reference is crucial. It helps the store identify your specific order. Always include it in the UPI note field.

Make payment

You have multiple options to pay: Option 1: Scan QR code (recommended)
  1. Open any UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.)
  2. Use the scan feature
  3. Scan the QR code shown on screen
  4. Verify the amount and store details
  5. Complete the payment
Option 2: Manual UPI transfer
  1. Open your UPI app
  2. Enter the store UPI ID manually
  3. Enter the exact amount
  4. Add the payment reference in the note/remarks field
  5. Complete the payment
QR code payment is faster and includes the payment reference automatically. Manual transfer requires you to copy and paste the payment reference.

Submit confirmation

After completing payment:
1

Get transaction ID (optional)

Your UPI app shows a transaction ID after successful payment. Copy it if you want faster verification.
2

Return to CampusBite

Go back to the checkout page.
3

Enter transaction ID (optional)

Paste your UPI transaction ID in the field. This is optional but helps speed up verification.
4

Confirm payment

Click “I Paid Successfully” to submit your order.
If payment fails or you close the app by mistake, click “Payment Failed” to restart the payment process.

Step 6: Order confirmation

After submitting your payment confirmation, you’ll see the order success screen.

What you’ll see

  • Success message: Confirms your order is submitted
  • Order number: Your unique order identifier (e.g., #CB2024-001)
  • Payment reference: The reference you used for payment
  • Transaction ID: The ID you entered (if provided)
  • Amount: Total amount paid

Save your order details

Two options to keep your order info:
  1. Copy Details: Copies all order information to your clipboard to share with the store if needed
  2. Track Order: Go directly to the order tracking page
Take a screenshot or copy the order details. They’re helpful if you need to verify your order with the store.

Step 7: Track your order

After placing your order, you can monitor its progress in real-time.

Order status timeline

Your order moves through these stages:
  1. Order Placed → Payment submitted, waiting for store verification
  2. Accepted → Store confirmed payment and accepted your order
  3. Preparing → Your food is being cooked
  4. Ready for Pickup → Order complete, head to the store

Tracking page features

  • Visual timeline: Shows which stage your order is in
  • Live updates: Status updates automatically (no refresh needed)
  • Connection status: Shows if you’re receiving real-time updates
  • Order details: Full item list, amounts, and special instructions
Real-time updates use server-sent events (SSE) for instant notifications. If the connection drops, polling takes over automatically.

Commitment confirmation

If you’re in the “watch” trust tier or have previous no-shows, you may need to confirm your commitment:
  1. After payment, a prompt appears: “Confirm you are on the way”
  2. Click “I Am On The Way” to confirm
  3. This tells the store you’ll definitely pick up the order
  4. The store can then start preparing your food
Confirm your commitment as soon as possible. Orders with pending commitment may be cancelled if not confirmed within the deadline.

Step 8: Pick up your order

When your order is ready, you’ll receive a pickup notification.

Pickup notification

When the store marks your order ready:
  • Notification: You’ll receive an in-app and email notification
  • 6-digit OTP: Appears on the tracking page
  • Expiry time: Shows how long the OTP is valid
  • Countdown timer: Indicates time remaining until OTP expires

Collect your order

1

Head to the store

Go to the food outlet as soon as you receive the ready notification.
2

Show your OTP

Open the order tracking page and show the 6-digit OTP to the store staff.
3

Verify OTP

The store will verify your OTP matches their system.
4

Receive your order

Once verified, collect your food and enjoy!
The OTP expires after a set time. Pick up your order promptly to avoid expiration and potential no-show penalties.

No-show policy

To maintain fairness:
  • Pickup deadline: Orders must be picked up within the specified time
  • No-show count: Not picking up orders increases your no-show count
  • Trust tier impact: Multiple no-shows lower your trust tier
  • Temporary restriction: Repeated no-shows result in temporary ordering restrictions
Always pick up your orders on time. If you can’t make it, it’s better to not place the order than to let it go to waste.

Troubleshooting

Payment issues

Problem: Payment was deducted but order not created
  • Wait 2-3 minutes for the system to sync
  • Check your “Order History” page
  • If the order still doesn’t appear, contact support with your transaction ID
Problem: Payment failed but money was deducted
  • UPI refunds are automatic and usually process within 24-48 hours
  • Check with your bank if refund doesn’t arrive within 3 business days

Order tracking issues

Problem: Order status not updating
  • Check your internet connection
  • Refresh the page manually
  • The connection status indicator shows if you’re receiving real-time updates
Problem: Can’t find my order
  • Check the “Order History” page in your account
  • Make sure you’re logged in to the correct account
  • Search by order number if you saved it

Pickup issues

Problem: OTP expired before pickup
  • Contact the store directly
  • They can manually verify your order using the order number
  • Future orders may require earlier pickup to maintain your trust tier
Problem: Store says they didn’t receive my order
  • Show them your order number and payment reference
  • Check your order status on the tracking page
  • Use the “Copy Details” option to share all order information
Always keep your order number and payment reference handy until you’ve picked up your order.

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love