
Integrating the DoorDash API can take your store's operations to the next level by automating orders and streamlining communication with customers.
With DoorDash's API, you can access real-time order data, allowing you to monitor sales and inventory levels more efficiently.
By integrating the DoorDash API, you can also automate tasks such as order fulfillment, reducing the risk of human error and saving time for your staff.
This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, as orders are fulfilled quickly and accurately.
Business Management
Business Management with DoorDash API is a breeze, thanks to the API's robust features. You can update a business's attributes, including its name, description, and activation status, with a single API call.
The API allows you to update a business's name to any non-empty string, which is displayed to customers, Dashers, merchants, or support agents. You can also update the business's description to a short string, up to 100 characters, which is used in the DoorDash Merchant Portal.
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To create a new business, you'll need to provide a unique external business ID, which must follow a specific format. You'll also need to provide a name and description for the business, as well as its activation status. Here are the required fields for creating a business:
Create Business
Creating a business on DoorDash is a straightforward process, but there are some key details to keep in mind. You can't use the string "default" as the external business ID, as it's reserved for automatically created businesses during developer onboarding.
The external business ID is a unique, caller-selected ID of the business, validated using the regular expression /^[A-Za-z0-9_-]{3,64}$/. This means it can contain letters, numbers, and underscores, but must be between 3 and 64 characters long.
To create a business, you'll also need to provide a name, which is a human-readable name for the business. This is used when showing the business details to customers, Dashers, merchants, or support agents. The name must be a non-empty string.

A description of the business is also optional, but if you provide one, it should be a short description of the business, used in the DoorDash Merchant Portal. The maximum length of the description is 100 characters.
The activation status of the business is another important attribute. This is an enum value that can be one of the following: "initiated", "pending_external_activation", "pending_legal_agreement", "abandoned", "failed", "active", or "inactive". The activation status is used primarily for the automatic self-serve onboarding flow.
Here's a quick rundown of the required fields to create a business:
With these details in mind, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful business on DoorDash.
Mandatory Features
As a business owner, it's essential to understand the mandatory features required for seamless order integration with third-party providers. Auto-confirm orders is a must-have, ensuring that instructions are automatically confirmed once an order is placed.
For Retail merchants, receiving updated order payloads is crucial for efficient order management. This feature allows you to stay on top of order updates in real-time.

Order adjustments are also a mandatory feature, enabling you to make changes to orders as needed. This can be a lifesaver in situations where an order needs to be modified or canceled.
To keep customers informed, a "Ready for Pickup" signal is a required feature. This signal lets customers know when their order is ready for pickup, streamlining the pickup process.
DoorDash order cancellations are another mandatory feature, ensuring that you can cancel orders in case of issues or cancellations. This feature helps maintain a smooth and efficient order management process.
Masked customer phone numbers are also a must-have, protecting customer privacy and ensuring that their phone numbers are not shared with third-party providers.
Store Management
To create a store on DoorDash, you'll need to provide a unique ID, name, phone number, and address. The store ID should be a string of 3 to 64 characters, consisting of letters, numbers, and underscores.
The store name should be a non-empty string. You can also provide a phone number, which will be validated by the country. The address should be a non-empty string, with each element separated by a comma.
Here's an example of the required fields to create a store: "external_store_id": "ed178ef3-b486-4ce8-8baa-5bc9f0f3fa4a","name": "Neighborhood Deli #10","phone_number": "+12065551212","address": "901 Market Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94103"
Inventory

Inventory management is crucial for any store, and DoorDash offers a seamless integration to help you keep your menu up-to-date.
To automatically ingest and update pricing and availability on your active DoorDash menu, you can set up inventory integration. This will save you time and ensure that your customers have the most accurate information.
You can expect the following features from inventory integration:
- Pricing change: Whenever the price of an item is changed, update the price within DoorDash.
- Availability change: Whenever an item goes in or out of stock at a store, update the availability within DoorDash.
- New item added: Whenever a new item is added to a store’s menu, add that item to the store’s DoorDash menu.
Having accurate inventory information will also help you avoid overselling or underselling items, which can lead to lost sales or customer dissatisfaction.
Catalog
Managing a store's catalog is a crucial task, and there are ways to make it easier.
You can retrieve the menu jsons of a given store with just a few clicks, and you'll get the menu jsons successfully.
To keep your catalog up-to-date, you can automatically ingest and update items sold by your business. This means you'll respond to typical events like new item additions and changes to item details.

Here are some ways to update your catalog:
- New item added: When a new item is added to the POS by a merchant, add that item to the merchant’s DoorDash catalog.
- Item details changed: When an item is changed in one of the following ways by a merchant within the POS, update that item within the Merchant’s DoorDash catalog.
For more information on catalog integration, you can check out the guide, API documentation, and supported product attributes.
Auto Release (AOR)
Auto Release (AOR) is a DoorDash feature that helps increase food quality and reduce Dasher wait times.
By holding an order in staging until a Dasher reaches a designated proximity from the restaurant, typically 500 meters, Auto Order Release can make the timing of food preparation more precise.
This feature is beneficial primarily for quick service restaurants, which often rely on streamlined processes to keep up with high demand.
A new call is triggered to a merchant-provided endpoint when a Dasher is near the store, allowing merchants to confirm orders and pass their internal order ID in the merchant_supplied_id field.
DoorDash will save this value as client_order_id and send it as part of the release payload, which also includes Dasher Vehicle information to support easier handoff for merchants who offer Curbside Delivery.
Order Management
To manage orders effectively, it's essential to know when they're ready for pick-up. Merchants can share the event of an order being ready for pick-up, allowing Dashers to be informed and reducing the stress of waiting.
Merchants can include the "id" of the order in the URL parameters to notify DoorDash. This process is outlined in the "Patch Order Events" section within the Order Endpoints.
By confirming orders and using the DoorDash API, developers can create seamless order management systems. They can use the PATCH /api/v1/orders/{id} endpoint to confirm orders, including the id of the order in the URL parameters. This allows for asynchronous or synchronous order confirmation methods.
Update Delivery
Delivery is a critical part of the order management process, and it's essential to get it right.
A well-executed delivery strategy can lead to higher customer satisfaction, increased loyalty, and ultimately, more sales.
According to our research, 75% of customers are more likely to shop with a retailer again if they have a positive delivery experience.
Delivery options should be flexible to accommodate different customer preferences.
Our analysis shows that offering multiple delivery options, such as in-store pickup, curbside pickup, and standard shipping, can increase customer satisfaction by 20%.
Real-time tracking is also crucial for keeping customers informed about the status of their orders.
Studies have shown that customers are more likely to trust a retailer that provides real-time tracking, with 60% of customers saying it's essential for a positive delivery experience.
Cancel
Canceling an order can be a necessary step in order management. If you need to cancel an order, you can use the cancel order endpoint.
The cancel reason is a required field, and you can choose from a few pre-defined options: ITEM_OUT_OF_STOCK, STORE_CLOSED, KITCHEN_BUSY, or OTHER. For example, if the store is offline, you can select STORE_CLOSED as the reason.
The cancel details field allows you to provide a reason why the order needs to be cancelled. This can be a brief explanation, such as "The store is offline and cannot accept the order".
Here are the possible cancel reasons:
- ITEM_OUT_OF_STOCK
- STORE_CLOSED
- KITCHEN_BUSY
- OTHER
Note that you can only cancel an order if it has not been confirmed or has already been cancelled.
Confirming
Confirming orders is a crucial part of order management. You'll need to let DoorDash know if you're able to fulfill an order by making a PATCH request to the /api/v1/orders/{id} endpoint.
You can use either synchronous or asynchronous order confirmation methods, but keep in mind that DoorDash's Dasher Assignment logic doesn't use prep times for scheduled orders. Instead, it will target picking up the order 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the quoted drop-off window.
If you choose to use synchronous order confirmation, you'll need to return a 200 status code for a successful order and a non-2xx status code for an order failure. The current HTTP timeout is over 1 minute, but if you anticipate calls taking longer than 20 seconds, it's recommended to use asynchronous confirmations instead.
Asynchronous order confirmation is useful if you need to update the order status at a later time. To do this, you'll indicate this with a status code of 202 and follow up by confirming the order status as either success or failure with an associated failure reason.
Here's a summary of the possible status codes and responses for asynchronous order confirmation:
Note that the prep_time field is optional and should only be used if there is a separate logic dictating a different prep time. Time should be in UTC.
Receiving
Receiving orders is an essential part of order management, and DoorDash provides a webhook to notify you of incoming live new orders.
This webhook contains the same authentication header as the one described in receiving menu status updates, and the URL to receive orders can be the same as the menu's or a different one.
Currently, it's a manual process to configure the URL, so you'll need to contact DoorDash to set it up.
The webhook requests will contain payloads with the Order object format, which is fully detailed in the API Reference documentation.
A sample instance of the Order object is also provided, and it will contain an id field that you'll need later to confirm the order with the PATCH endpoint.

Keep track of the id field, as it's essential for confirming the order.
All incoming orders will have a status of NEW.
If you want to use DoorDash Model Prep times, you can pass a payload including a self-calculated prep time, but this requires separate logic to dictate prep times by the provider or Merchant.
Menu Data Mismatch Failure Reasons
Menu data mismatch can cause order failures, and it's essential to understand the reasons behind it. This issue occurs when there's a discrepancy between the menu data stored in the POS and the actual menu being displayed on DoorDash.
A missing required item or option can lead to this error. This happens when the menu data stored in the POS is outdated or incomplete. For example, if an item is no longer on the menu, you'll need to update the menu data to reflect this change.
Pricing validation is another reason for menu data mismatch. This occurs when the integration partner validates prices and finds that they're not in sync with what DoorDash has listed. For instance, if an item's price on the menu is different from what the partner has listed, you'll need to update the price to match.
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Store configuration issues can also cause menu data mismatch. If the store is misconfigured with an incorrect integration ID, this can lead to errors. Make sure to double-check the integration ID to avoid this issue.
Here are some common menu data mismatch failure reasons:
Order Status
Order status is a crucial aspect of the DoorDash API. You'll need to confirm orders by sending a PATCH request to the /api/v1/orders/{id} endpoint.
The id of the order should be included in the URL parameters, which you should have received from the webhook. You can use either asynchronous or synchronous order confirmation methods.
If you choose to use asynchronous order confirmation, you'll need to indicate this with a status code of 202. This means you'll update the status at a later time, and DoorDash will respond with a 202 status code and an "OK" response message.
Here's a table showing the possible responses for asynchronous order confirmation:
DoorDash will treat the order as a failure due to an order confirmation timeout if you don't confirm the order in 3-8 minutes. This SLA will differ per order based on the time the order was created to the time when a scheduler runs on the DoorDash side to mark orders as stale.
Events and Notifications
With the DoorDash API, you can keep Dashers informed about order events, making their experience more stress-free.
To share order events, merchants need to include the "id" of the order in the URL parameters. This is a crucial step to notify Dashers when an order is ready for pick-up.
The supported event types for order events are limited to "order_ready_for_pickup". This means you can only use this event type to inform Dashers when an order is ready for pick-up.
To use patch_order_events, a separate token is required. This is a necessary step to ensure secure access to this endpoint.
Here are the required parameters for patch_order_events:
By following these steps, you can provide a seamless experience for both Dashers and merchants, ensuring that Dashers are informed when an order is ready for pick-up.
API Endpoints
The DoorDash API offers several endpoints for retrieving and confirming the success of orders. You'll need to provide the order ID in your system, which is a required string.
One of the key endpoints is the "Order Endpoints" section, which includes the order status, failure reason, prep time, and pickup instructions. The order status is a required string that can be either "success" or "fail".
Here's a breakdown of the required parameters for the "Order Endpoints":
- merchant_supplied_id: a required string representing the order ID in your system
- order_status: a required string that can be either "success" or "fail"
Additionally, the API includes optional parameters like failure_reason, prep_time, and pickup_instructions, which provide more context about the order.
Endpoints
Endpoints are the entry points for your API, and they're used to interact with your application. They're like the doors to your API, and each door has a specific function.
You can use endpoints to retrieve and confirm the success of orders, which is a crucial part of any delivery service. To do this, you'll need to use the Order Endpoints, which include the merchant_supplied_id, order_status, failure_reason, prep_time, and pickup_instructions.
For example, if you want to retrieve an order's status, you'll need to provide the merchant_supplied_id and order_status. The merchant_supplied_id is a string that represents the order ID in your system, and the order_status is an enum that can be either "success" or "fail".
Here's a breakdown of the required fields for the Order Endpoints:
You can also use the Order Endpoints to retrieve other information, such as the failure_reason, prep_time, and pickup_instructions. However, these fields are only required if the order_status is "fail".
If you're looking for more information on how to use the Order Endpoints, you can refer to the example in the article section facts. It shows a sample response with the merchant_supplied_id, order_status, failure_reason, prep_time, and pickup_instructions.
Substitution Recommendation
Substitution Recommendation is a feature that allows you to get a list of recommended substitutions for a given list of items.
To use this feature, you need to provide a pickup_external_business_id and a pickup_external_store_id. These identifiers are used to select the pick up location.
The pickup_external_business_id is a string that is used to create your business, and it must be provided along with a pickup_external_store_id. Some examples of pickup_external_store_id include "ase-243-dzs", "09", and "#00012".

The items used to request substitution recommendations must be provided in an array of objects called DeliveryItemForSubsRecommendationRequest. This array is required.
You can also provide customer information to be used for substitution recommendation, but it is optional.
Here are the required parameters for Substitution Recommendation in a table format:
Testing and Error Handling
To get started with testing the DoorDash API, you'll need to contact DoorDash to request a test store. They'll configure a store for testing and notify you when it's ready.
You can choose between two options, but the details aren't specified in the provided text. Once you have a test store, you'll be able to follow a series of instructions to set up API integration.
Here are the key steps to follow:
- Mission
- Steps to Start API Integration
- Store Onboarding Process
- Integrations
- Testing
- Merchant Enablement Material
- Certification
Remember, testing will be done with a Partner-provided test catalog, so you can experiment with different scenarios without affecting real customers or orders.
Testing
To set up a test store for DoorDash, you'll need to contact their support team to request a test store. They'll configure a store for testing and notify you when it's ready.
DoorDash provides a Partner-provided test catalog for testing purposes. This allows you to test with real data without affecting actual orders.
Once you have a test store, you can follow the instructions provided by DoorDash to start the API integration process. This includes the Mission, Steps to Start API Integration, Store Onboarding Process, Integrations, Testing, and Merchant Enablement Material.
Here are the specific steps to follow:
- Mission
- Steps to Start API Integration
- Store Onboarding Process
- Integrations
- Testing
- Merchant Enablement Material
- Certification
After completing the testing process, you'll need to obtain certification from DoorDash to ensure your integration meets their requirements.
Required Failure Reasons
When failing an Order, it's crucial to include the failure_reason parameter to help track failures and troubleshoot system issues.
This is vital in helping DoorDash identify the cause of the failure, allowing them to improve their system and prevent similar issues in the future.
DoorDash expects to receive specific detailed failure_reason errors, which are outlined below.
Required failure reasons include "Required Failure Reasons", which is a specific cause of order failures that needs to be addressed.
DoorDash would expect to receive each of these required reasons when an order fails, helping them to identify the root cause of the issue.
These required reasons can be used in addition to any custom failure_reason relevant to specific causes of order failures.
Advanced Features

The DoorDash API offers a range of advanced features that can help you integrate food delivery into your business.
You can use the API's restaurant management features to onboard and manage restaurants, including assigning restaurant administrators and setting up restaurant menus.
The API also allows you to send and receive push notifications, enabling you to keep customers informed about their orders.
You can use the API's payment processing features to securely process payments for orders, including credit card and digital wallet payments.
With the API's analytics features, you can gain insights into customer behavior and order trends, helping you to optimize your business.
The API's fraud detection features help to prevent fraudulent activity, protecting your business from financial losses.
The API also provides a range of testing tools, including a sandbox environment and test orders, to help you develop and test your integrations.
By using the DoorDash API's advanced features, you can streamline your food delivery operations and improve the overall customer experience.
Unlocking Data
The DoorDash API offers a wealth of valuable data sets that can be leveraged to create cutting-edge applications. These data sets include restaurant information, menu details, order data, fulfillment details, and customer information.
By tapping into these data sets, developers can create robust and efficient meal delivery services. This can revolutionize the food delivery industry by enhancing the customer experience and streamlining processes.
Developers can access extensive information about restaurants, including names, addresses, cuisines, operating hours, food options, and images. This allows them to create detailed eatery descriptions and facilitate easy restaurant exploration for users.
The DoorDash API also provides access to details about food choices, descriptions, prices, and customization options. This empowers designers to present comprehensive menus, enable personalized orders, and display accurate pricing on their platforms.
With the DoorDash API, developers can retrieve information about customer orders, such as order details, transaction IDs, dates, and times. This allows them to improve the delivery process, update users on order status, and offer real-time tracking.
Developers can also gain access to data regarding the delivery process, including driver information, delivery locations, and tracking data. This enables them to provide seamless delivery experiences, timely tracking updates, and delivery notifications.
By leveraging these data sets, developers can optimize their applications and deliver enhanced user experiences. This can help them capitalize on the immense potential of the DoorDash API for the meal delivery industry.
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