Payments-led restaurant POS
Heartland + DirectOrders
Heartland is a restaurant POS and payment processing system commonly used by mid-size restaurants, cafes, and fast-casual concepts. It combines point-of-sale terminals with integrated credit card processing, making it a single-vendor solution for many operators. Integrating DirectOrders with Heartland means you can accept commission-free online orders through your own branded website while continuing to use Heartland for in-store transactions and payment processing. Your menu stays consistent across both channels, and you retain full ownership of customer data from every direct order. This integration is ideal for Heartland users who want to grow their takeout and delivery revenue without paying per-order fees to third-party platforms.
Why Heartland restaurants add DirectOrders
- Keep Heartland for in-store POS and payment processing
- Accept online orders through your own branded website with no commissions
- Maintain a consistent menu across in-store and online channels
- Retain full ownership of customer contact information and order history
- Grow takeout and delivery revenue without third-party marketplace fees
The Heartland developer surface
An open portal, payments first, and how DirectOrders maps
Heartland publishes a developer portal at developer.heartlandpaymentsystems.com with the Global Payments docs at developer.globalpayments.com.
Heartland developer portal
An open API directory with sandbox keys, sample code, and docs.
DirectOrders: Where a Heartland integration is scoped and tested before launch.
Heartland Restaurant 3rd-party key
A unique, location-specific key given to integrators to pull data from Heartland Restaurant.
DirectOrders: Roadmap: pull your Heartland menu and sales for reconciliation. Today DirectOrders runs side by side.
Portico gateway
The Global Payments gateway behind Heartland's card processing.
DirectOrders: Stays on Heartland for in-store. DirectOrders runs its own gateway for the direct online channel.
Global Payments platform
Heartland is part of Global Payments, with a unified developer portal.
DirectOrders: An enterprise-grade, vetted integration path rather than instant self-serve keys.
Limitations to know
Payments come first
Heartland's strength is integrated processing, so its online ordering features are thinner than a purpose-built platform. That is the gap DirectOrders fills with a full branded ordering experience.
Access via location-specific keys
Heartland Restaurant exposes data to third parties through a per-location key, so a multi-location operator coordinates a key per site.
Native ordering and customer data
Heartland tracks transactions but does not build a portable marketing database. DirectOrders captures every direct customer's email, phone, and order history for you to own.
Step by step
Going live alongside Heartland
Most Heartland restaurants run DirectOrders alongside Heartland in under two weeks. Heartland keeps in-store POS and payments; DirectOrders runs the direct online and Voice AI phone channels.
1Keep Heartland for in-store POS and payments
Your Heartland terminals and integrated card processing keep handling dine-in and walk-in transactions exactly as configured.
2Rebuild your menu in DirectOrders
The DirectOrders team mirrors your Heartland menu (categories, modifiers, prices, photos) in the dashboard, with online-only pricing where it helps.
3Configure delivery, hours, and Voice AI
Set delivery zones, prep times, and tip handling. Turn on Uber Direct or DoorDash Drive, and activate Voice AI on your existing restaurant phone number.
4Point your ordering domain at DirectOrders
Update DNS so your branded ordering URL serves the DirectOrders site. If you do not have one, DirectOrders provides a domain during onboarding.
5Wire DirectOrders to your Epson kitchen printer
Online and Voice AI orders print on the same Epson thermal tickets your kitchen already uses for Heartland dine-in orders.
Typical go-live: 7 to 14 days, including menu import, branding, Voice AI, and kitchen printer wiring.
What Heartland does not do, and DirectOrders does
Heartland focuses on payments, not online ordering
Heartland is primarily a payment processing and POS system. Its online ordering capabilities are limited compared to purpose-built platforms. DirectOrders adds a full restaurant ordering experience with modifier menus, scheduling, and delivery zones.
No branded ordering website
Heartland does not provide a customer-facing ordering website with your restaurant's branding. DirectOrders gives you a professional, fully branded site with your menu, photos, and domain.
No Voice AI for phone orders
Heartland has no AI phone answering. DirectOrders adds Voice AI that picks up calls, takes orders, handles menu questions, and captures sales your staff would miss during busy periods.
No multi-channel ordering distribution
Heartland does not distribute your menu across external channels. DirectOrders places your menu on 15+ platforms: Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Apple Maps, SMS, and more.
No delivery orchestration
Heartland does not manage delivery drivers. DirectOrders integrates Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive so mid-size restaurants can offer professional delivery without managing a fleet.
No customer database for marketing
Heartland tracks transactions but does not build a customer marketing database. DirectOrders captures emails, phone numbers, and order history from every direct order for SMS and email campaigns.
Common questions about Heartland + DirectOrders
Do I need to replace Heartland to use DirectOrders?+
No. DirectOrders works alongside Heartland. You continue using Heartland for in-store POS and payments while DirectOrders handles your online ordering channel.
Can I use Heartland's payment processing for online orders?+
DirectOrders handles online payment collection separately, so your Heartland payment processing setup remains unchanged for in-store transactions.
How do I keep my menu consistent between Heartland and DirectOrders?+
You manage your online menu through the DirectOrders dashboard. Any updates you make to your online menu are reflected immediately on your ordering website.
Does DirectOrders support Heartland's integrated payment processing?+
DirectOrders handles online payment processing separately from Heartland. Your Heartland payment processing rates and setup for in-store transactions remain unchanged. Online orders through DirectOrders use their own payment gateway.
Can I track online vs in-store revenue separately?+
Yes. DirectOrders provides its own analytics dashboard showing online order revenue, customer data, repeat rates, and channel performance. Heartland continues to track in-store sales, giving you a clear view across both channels.
DirectOrders features Heartland restaurants use most
Other POS integrations
Add direct ordering to Heartland
Book a demo and we will rebuild your menu, set up Voice AI on your existing number, and route printing to your Epson. Your Heartland POS and processing stay exactly as they are.