> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.mesobordering.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Automate Menu Pricing with Dynamic Pricing Rules
> Create time-based and day-based pricing rules in MesobOrdering to automatically apply discounts or surcharges during specific hours. Rules deploy instantly.
Dynamic pricing lets you automatically adjust menu prices based on the time of day and day of the week — no manual edits required during service. You define a set of rules at `/admin/pricing`, and MesobOrdering applies them in real time whenever a guest opens the menu. Rules are evaluated in descending order of priority: **Rule #1 is evaluated first**, Rule #2 second, and so on. If two rules overlap on the same time window and days, the higher-positioned rule takes precedence.
***
## Stats Overview
At the top of the pricing page, three stat cards give you a quick health check on your rule configuration:
| Stat | Description |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Total Rules** | The total number of pricing rules configured, active or inactive. |
| **Active Now** | The number of rules currently in effect based on the current time and day. |
| **Conflicts** | The number of rules that overlap with another rule on the same time window and days. Should always be **0**. |
If the **Conflicts** stat shows a non-zero count, two or more of your rules are targeting the same time slot and days. Only the higher-priority rule will apply — review and reorder or remove the conflicting rules to keep your pricing predictable.
***
## Quick-Start Presets
To help you get started quickly, MesobOrdering includes four built-in pricing presets. Click any preset tile to instantly add it as a new rule in your list — you can then edit or reorder it like any custom rule.
| Preset | Adjustment | Days | Time Window |
| ----------------- | ---------- | --------- | ------------- |
| **Lunch Special** | −10% | Mon – Fri | 12:00 – 14:00 |
| **Dinner Peak** | +10% | All days | 18:00 – 22:00 |
| **Happy Hour** | −15% | All days | 16:00 – 18:00 |
| **Weekend Extra** | +8% | Sat – Sun | 12:00 – 22:00 |
***
## Creating a Custom Rule
Scroll to the bottom of the rules list and click **"+ Add Custom Strategic Rule"**. A new rule card expands inline.
Configure the rule using the following fields:
| Field | Description |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Strategy Name** | A descriptive label for the rule, e.g. "Weekend Rush" or "Early Bird Discount". |
| **Adjustment** | Enter a numeric value and select the unit — **%** for a percentage change or **ETB** for a fixed amount. Positive values are markups; negative values are discounts. |
| **Start Time** | The time of day the rule begins applying. |
| **End Time** | The time of day the rule stops applying. |
| **Active** | Toggle on to enable the rule when deployed; toggle off to save it as inactive. |
| **Day Pills** | Click each day pill — **Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat** — to select the days this rule applies. Selected days are highlighted; click again to deselect. |
As you fill in the adjustment value and unit, the **Price Preview** pill on the rule card updates live to show you what guests will see — for example, **📈 +10%** for a surcharge or **📉 −15%** for a discount.
Click the **"Deploy Rules"** button (yellow, at the top of the page) to push all rule changes to the server. Rules take effect immediately after deployment.
***
## Rule Priority
Rules are numbered sequentially — **#1**, **#2**, **#3**, and so on — and applied top-to-bottom. Rule #1 has the highest priority. If two rules are active at the same time on the same day, only the rule with the lower number (higher position) is applied.
You can reorder rules at any time using the **↑** and **↓** buttons on each rule card. The rule number badge updates automatically to reflect the new order. After reordering, click **"Deploy Rules"** to save the new priority sequence.
***
## Saving Rules
Pricing rules do not save automatically. You must explicitly deploy them for changes to take effect.
Click the yellow **"Deploy Rules"** button at the top of the `/admin/pricing` page. This applies to all unsaved changes — new rules, edits, deletions, and reordering.
A **"Saving…"** spinner appears while the changes are being written. Once complete, you'll see the message **"System synchronized successfully!"** Rules are now live and begin applying to guest menus immediately.
***
Use the **Happy Hour** and **Lunch Special** presets as your starting point, then adjust the time windows to match your hotel's actual peak and off-peak periods. Most hotels find that even a modest 10–15% discount during slow hours noticeably increases order volume from guests already on the premises.