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How do I set up preparation times (lead times) and order cut-off times?

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


Lead times ensure you have enough time to fulfill orders before customers can select delivery or pickup slots. This prevents overbooking and manages customer expectations effectively.


Set Up General Preparation Times


  1. Navigate to Bird Settings > Pickup & Delivery or Configure Locations based on your setup.
  2. Toggle Enable Preparation Time to activate the feature.
  3. Choose your configuration:
  • Same Preparation Time for All Days: Use when your lead time is consistent throughout the week
  • Customize Preparation Time by Day: Use when you need different processing times for specific days


Understanding Lead Time


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


Examples:

  • 4 Hours: Order placed at 10:00 AM Monday → Earliest slot: 2:00 PM Monday
  • 1 Day: Order placed Monday at 11:00 AM → Available slots: Tuesday onwards
  • 2 Days: Order placed Monday → Available slots: Wednesday onwards


Configure Cut-off Times


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


Before Cut-off Time (e.g., 6:00 PM):

  • Set lead time: 1 day
  • Customers can select next-day slots


After Cut-off Time (e.g., 6:00 PM):

  • Set lead time: 2 days
  • Customers can only select slots starting two days from then


Important: Set the lead time after cut-off to be longer than before cut-off to ensure proper functionality.


Product-Specific Preparation Times


For products requiring different preparation times, use the Product Override feature to set unique lead times for specific SKUs or tags.


  1. Go to Bird App Settings > Product Override
  2. Click Add Override
  3. Enter the SKUs or Tags for products needing different lead times
  4. Choose Same Lead Time for All Days or Customize Lead Time by Day
  5. Set the specific lead time in days, hours, or minutes


You can create multiple override rules for different products. Note that if a day is disabled in your main availability settings, it cannot be made available through an override.


For detailed configuration steps and advanced settings, see our complete preparation time setup guide.


Updated on: 09/28/2025

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