What is SmartPrep?

SmartPrep turns your sales forecast into a daily prep plan so your kitchen knows exactly what, when and how much to prep.

It connects forecasting, prep lists, checklists and labeling into one system, so prep is consistent, trackable and based on real demand.

Article Contents

• How SmartPrep helps
• How it Works
• What SmartPrep setup looks like
• A note on Label Printing
• Pricing & Access
• Common questions

How SmartPrep helps

Most kitchens are still guessing. Prep too little and you're 86'ing mid-service. Prep too much and you're throwing profit in the trash. SmartPrep replaces the guesswork with a clear plan. 

With it, your team can:

• Prep the right amount every day, based on real demand
• Reduce waste and surprise 86’s
• Standardize prep across shifts and locations and see what’s done in real time

It’s the difference between reacting during service and walking in already prepared.

SmartPrep is a strong fit if you:

• Manage prep across shifts or multiple locations
• Struggle with over-prepping or running out mid-service
• Want more consistency and accountability in your kitchen

How it Works

SmartPrep brings the moving parts of prep into one daily workflow.

1. It starts with your sales forecast, so the kitchen understands what to prep for the day ahead.
2. That plan becomes organized prep lists and checklists your team uses during prep.
3. As tasks get completed, managers see what's finished, what's outstanding, and where follow-through is slipping.
4. SmartPrep connects to a label printer to print dissolvable labels with prep details and expiration dates based on each recipe's shelf life.

Over time, SmartPrep learns. After two days of using SmartPrep, it begins predicting how much to prep each day and adjusts as your forecast changes.

What SmartPrep setup looks like

Most teams are up and running in five moves. The full walkthrough lives in the Admin Setup Guide, but at a glance:

You're considered fully set up when: a shared device is activated, a prep list is scheduled with pars added, and your label printer is connected. These three together are what unlock predictions and the full SmartPrep experience.

A note on Label Printing

SmartPrep works with the Zebra ZD411 label printer. It prints dissolvable labels with prep details and expiration dates based on each recipe's shelf life, so your team stays compliant and organized and can follow FIFO. Once the printer is connected, staff print labels during prep or directly from a recipe. The printer is available as part of a SmartPrep hardware bundle at checkout, or you can buy a compatible ZD411 from any vendor.
 

Pricing & Access

SmartPrep is $95/month per location. Billing Contacts can add it to eligible locations directly from the in-app self-serve upgrade flow.

Common Questions

Is this only for large kitchens?
Nope! Any team that wants to reduce waste and improve consistency will benefit.

Do I need Forecasting set up first?
Sales forecasts are already being calculated for your account. If you currently forecast outside of MarginEdge, you can import your forecast. 

Do I need to set up Recipes first?
No need to have recipes built out already. When you start to build your prep lists, we’ll guide you through uploading or creating recipes that you can finalize ahead of your first scheduled prep event.

What if my prep changes daily?
SmartPrep was built with that in mind! Once your prep forecast generates (after 1-2 weeks of tracking your on-hand vs. pars), SmartPrep adjusts with your forecast so your plan stays relevant.