How to Set Up Driving Distance-Based Delivery Zones

Set up driving distance-based delivery zones. Customers enter their address, and Bird App automatically assigns them to the nearest store location based on actual road distance — not a straight-line radius.

Step 1: Get Your Google Maps API Key

You need a Google Maps API key with the following APIs enabled:

1. Go to Google Cloud Console
2. Create a new project or select an existing one
3. Enable the Places API, Geocoding API, and Routes API
4. Create an API key in the Credentials section
5. Set up billing for your Google Cloud project (required for API usage)

For detailed setup instructions, follow Google's official documentation.

Step 2: Configure Driving Distance Validation

1. Navigate to Bird App Settings > Delivery
2. Scroll to "Distance Validation Mode"
3. Click the "Driving distance validation (Google Maps)" radio button

4. Enter your Google Maps API Key in the dialog that appears
5. Click Save to validate and store your key

The app validates your API key automatically. You will see green checkmarks next to Places API, Geocoding API, and Routes API once your key is valid.

If you see an error, check that your key has all three APIs enabled in Google Cloud Console.

Step 3: Set Up Store Locations and Delivery Zones

Create multiple locations to serve different delivery areas:

1. Go to Bird App Settings > Configure Locations
2. Create or duplicate locations for different delivery zones
3. Rename locations to reflect zones (e.g., "Main Store", "Downtown Zone", "Extended Zone")

Step 4: Configure Driving Distance for Each Location

Set the driving distance limit for each store location:

1. Select a location and enable Local Delivery
2. Click "Edit Settings" in the Local Delivery section
3. Scroll to the "Driving distance" section
4. Enter the maximum driving distance in km or miles for each location:

Step 5: Configure Rates for Each Location

1. Go to Bird App > Rates
2. Select "I have different rates for different store locations or delivery zones" under Delivery section
3. Set up rates for each location:

Each location uses the rate conditions you set for that particular location, and these rates apply to all addresses within that location's driving distance limit. The app automatically assigns customers to the nearest location by road and applies that location's rate.

How Driving Distance Validation Works

1. Customer types their address in delivery widget
2. Google Maps provides address suggestions as they type
3. Customer selects their address from dropdown
4. Bird App calls the Google Routes API to calculate driving distance to each store location
5. App assigns customer to nearest location within driving distance limit
6. App applies that location's rates and delivery schedules

Important behavior:

• Bird App selects location with the smallest driving distance limit if multiple locations overlap
• Each location's delivery rate applies to all addresses within that location's driving distance limit
• Customers select delivery date and time from that location's schedule
• If no location is reachable by road within its limit, the customer is shown as outside the delivery zone

Step 6: Update Input Field Labels and Validation Messages

Update the labels and validation messages for driving distance delivery zones:

1. Navigate to Bird App Settings > Text and Languages
2. Click Edit on the language you want to modify
3. Update the following elements:

• Pin codes header: Change from "Enter postal code to check if you are eligible for local delivery" to "Enter your address to check if you are eligible for local delivery"
• Pin codes label: Change from "Enter your postal code" to "Enter your address"
• Pin codes success: Update to reflect address validation instead of postal code (optional)
• Pin codes error: Update error message to reflect address validation instead of postal code (optional)

Note: These label changes ensure customers understand they should enter their full address rather than just a postal code when driving distance validation is enabled.

Step 7: Test Your Configuration

Verify driving distance delivery works correctly:

1. Test with addresses at various driving distances from store locations
2. Verify Google Maps address autofill functionality
3. Confirm correct location assignment based on road distance (not straight-line)
4. Check proper rate application
5. Test addresses that are outside all driving distance limits
6. Verify updated labels and validation messages display correctly

Related Articles

• Local Delivery: Driving Distance Validation
• How to Set Up Radius-Based Delivery Zones
• How to Configure Delivery Rates
• I am getting an error Order can't be shipped to the Address or Order not available for address

Updated on: 04/13/2026