Managing Pilot supermarkets
Pilot supermarkets are stores that Tradar has chosen to support closely before normal billing starts. They are real supermarkets on the platform, not demo accounts.
The admin job is to make sure Pilot access is intentional, time bound, and operationally ready.
When to use Pilot
Use Pilot when Tradar wants a supermarket to test the full workflow before becoming a paying customer.
Good Pilot candidates are supermarkets that:
- Are commercially important enough to receive hands on onboarding.
- Need to validate catalogue upload, order handling, rider operations, or payout flow with real usage.
- Are likely to convert to a paid plan if the pilot succeeds.
- Have someone on the Tradar team responsible for the relationship.
Do not use Pilot as a general discount, a workaround for missing billing details, or a permanent free plan.
Setting up a Pilot supermarket
Start with the normal store review. FreshMart still needs a valid business profile, address, phone number, payout account, opening hours, and delivery setup.
Then set the commercial state:
- Pick the plan that matches the supermarket's expected catalogue and feature needs.
- Mark the supermarket as Pilot.
- Record the pilot start date and expected end date.
- Add the internal owner or notes for the relationship.
- Confirm that payment enforcement is waived for the pilot period.
The plan and the Pilot state should both be visible. The plan explains what access the supermarket has. Pilot explains why payment is not currently required.
What to watch during the pilot
Pilot supermarkets should be treated like live accounts.
Watch whether they complete onboarding, upload products, keep stock accurate, accept orders quickly, and have riders available when orders are ready.
If the supermarket keeps its existing till or stock system running, make sure the Tradar stock is a separate, agreed quantity, that it is counted at opening and closing, and that stock and money are reconciled every day by a named person. Stop and review if the counts or the money do not match. If they are stuck, the point of the pilot is to notice early and help them through it.
The commercial owner should also track whether the pilot is proving what it was meant to prove. A supermarket that never imports its catalogue or never opens for orders is not really evaluating Tradar.
Ending a pilot
Before the end date, decide one of four outcomes:
Convert to paid. Remove the Pilot state and keep the supermarket on the selected plan.
Extend. Update the end date and note the reason.
Downgrade. Move the supermarket to Open if it fits the free plan limits.
Suspend. If the relationship is not continuing, suspend access while preserving the account history.
Expired pilots should show up clearly for admins. No supermarket should remain on unpaid full access just because nobody reviewed it.