Articles on: Calendar and time configuration

Configure Order Preparation Times

Configure order preparation times to control when customers can select delivery slots based on your store's processing schedule.

Order preparation times control when customers can select delivery slots. They align with your store's processing capabilities. This prevents overbooking and manages customer expectations effectively.

Access Preparation Time Settings

To configure your preparation time settings, follow the steps below based on your store setup:

If you manage a single schedule for all locations, go to Bird App Settings > Pickup & Delivery and access the delivery method settings.

If you have selected "I have different schedule for different store locations", navigate to Bird App Settings > Configure Locations > Select a Location, then access the delivery method settings for that specific location.

Enable Preparation Time Feature

Toggle Enable Preparation Time to activate the feature

Shows the preparation time toggle switch in the Bird app settings interface

Choose Preparation Time Configuration

Select one of two options:

Same Preparation Time for All Days: Use when your processing time remains consistent throughout the week
Customize Preparation Time by Day: Use when you need different processing times for specific days

Displays the two preparation time configuration options - uniform vs. customized by day

Set Lead Time

Lead time is the minimum time required before an order can be fulfilled.

Lead Time Examples

4 Hours Lead Time:

Order placed at 10:00 AM Monday
Earliest available slot: 2:00 PM Monday

1 Day Lead Time:

Order placed Monday at 11:00 AM
Available slots: Tuesday onwards

2 Days Lead Time:

Order placed Monday
Available slots: Wednesday onwards

Understanding Day Boundaries

The system respects day boundaries when calculating lead times. This ensures consistent scheduling and prevents orders from rolling over to early morning hours.

Example with 4-hour lead time:

Order placed at 2:00 PM Monday → Earliest slot: 6:00 PM Monday
Order placed at 7:00 PM Monday → Earliest slot: 11:00 PM Monday
Order placed at 11:00 PM Monday → Earliest slot: 12:00 AM Tuesday (next day)

This approach provides predictable scheduling and aligns with typical business hours.

Shows the lead time configuration interface with time input fields

Configure Cut-Off Time

Cut-off time determines when your store stops accepting new orders each day.

Cut-Off Time Logic

Before Cut-off Time (6:00 PM):

Lead time: 1 day
Customers can select next-day slots

After Cut-off Time (6:00 PM):

Lead time: 2 days
Customers can only select slots starting two days from then (e.g., if ordering Sunday after 6:00 PM, the earliest available slot is Tuesday).

Illustrates the cut-off time configuration with before/after lead time settings

Cut-Off Time Rules

Set the lead time after cut-off to be longer than before cut-off.

This ensures you have enough processing time for orders placed after closing.

Example:

Before 6:00 PM cut-off: 1 day lead time
After 6:00 PM cut-off: 2 days lead time

Why this works:

Orders placed after closing need extra time since your operations have ended for the day.

Important: Configure preparation times for all 7 days when using the "Customize by Day" option.

Shows the complete preparation time configuration with all settings applied

Verify your settings work correctly by previewing the widget.

Click Widget Preview to see your updated configuration on the top right corner in the Bird App. You can use this to simulate any date time you want to check your advanced rules.

Shows the widget preview option in the settings interface for testing configurations

Updated on: 09/01/2025

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