How to Set Up Pickup Time for Online Orders

Introduction

This user guide provides step-by-step instructions for configuring pickup time settings for online orders using the Blogic POS Dashboard. These settings allow you to manage how and when online orders are sent to the preparation area, control customer pickup scheduling, limit order volumes, and define store operating hours.

Proper configuration ensures a smooth workflow for your staff while providing flexibility and convenience for customers placing online orders.

Whether you want to delay kitchen printing, restrict pickup times, or manage order limits during peak hours, this guide will help you set up the system to meet your business needs.

Step 1: Access the POS Dashboard and Settings

Open the POS Dashboard (labeled “Blogic POS Dashboard” at the top).
Click on the Settings menu located at the top navigation bar.
On the left sidebar, locate and click on Online Ordering to access its settings.

Step 2: Configure General Pickup Time Settings

In the General tab (visible in the first screenshot), you’ll find configurations for how orders with pickup times are handled before being sent to the preparation area (e.g., kitchen).

Section: Delay or Send Orders to the Prepare Area

Configuration: “For accepted order with Pickup time, instead of sending the order to the prepare area immediately we can delay it.”
- Option 1: Send order to the prepare area … minutes before specified pickup time
  When this option is checked, orders with items assigned to printers will be sent to the kitchen for printing a specified number of minutes before the customer’s selected pickup time.
  - Input Field: Enter the number of minutes (e.g., 15 minutes).
  - How It Works: If a customer selects a pickup time of 10:20 AM and you set this to 15 minutes, the order will be sent to the kitchen at 10:05 AM for items assigned to printers. This ensures the kitchen has enough time to prepare the order before the customer arrives.
  - Use Case: Useful for managing kitchen workload by delaying printing until closer to the pickup time, avoiding early preparation for orders that aren’t needed immediately.
- Option 2: Send immediately
  When this option is checked, orders with items assigned to printers will be sent to the kitchen immediately upon order completion on the web, regardless of the pickup time.
  - How It Works: If a customer places an order at 9:00 AM with a pickup time of 10:20 AM, the order will be sent to the kitchen for printing at 9:00 AM.
  - Use Case: Ideal for businesses that want to start preparing orders as soon as they are placed, especially if preparation times are long or the kitchen can handle orders well in advance.

Step 3: Configure Web Order Pickup Time Settings

Click on the Web Order tab (visible in the first screenshot) to access additional pickup time configurations.

Section: Setup Pickup Time

This section allows you to control how customers can schedule their pickup times and set limits on orders.

Configuration 1: Allow Ordering When Store is Closed

Option: Check the box to enable this feature.
How It Works: When checked, customers can place orders even if the store is closed, as long as the pickup time is scheduled for a future date when the store is open.
Additional Setting: This works in conjunction with the Allow to choosing a pickup or scheduled delivery time … days from today option (explained below), which lets customers schedule pickups for a specific number of days in the future.
Use Case: Useful for businesses that want to accept orders outside of operating hours, allowing customers to plan ahead for future pickups.
Example: If the store is closed on Monday but this option is enabled, a customer can place an order on Monday for a pickup on Tuesday, assuming Tuesday’s schedule allows it.

Configuration 2: Allow to choosing a pickup time or driver pickup order time … minutes from current time

Option: Input the minimum number of minutes from the current time that customers can select for their pickup.
How It Works: This setting ensures customers cannot choose a pickup time too close to the current time, giving the store enough time to prepare the order.
- Input Field: Enter the number of minutes (e.g., 15 minutes).
- Example: If the current time is 6:40 PM and this is set to 15 minutes, the earliest available pickup time will be 6:55 PM. To avoid overly close times, the system adjusts to the next reasonable slot (e.g., 7:00 PM, 7:05 PM, 7:10 PM, etc., in 5-minute increments).
Use Case: Prevents customers from selecting pickup times that are too soon, ensuring the kitchen has enough time to prepare the order.
Note: The system automatically balances the time slots to avoid edge cases where the pickup time is too close to the current time.

Configuration 3: Allow users to choose a pickup time or scheduled delivery time

Option: This is checked by default. Uncheck to disable.
How It Works:
- Checked: Customers can manually select their preferred pickup time based on the store’s open hours and the configurations set above (e.g., minimum minutes from current time).
- Unchecked: The system will automatically assign the nearest available pickup time for the customer, based on the store’s schedule and settings.
Use Case: Checking this option gives customers flexibility to choose a pickup time that suits them, while unchecking it simplifies the process for businesses that prefer to control pickup times automatically.
Example: If checked, a customer ordering at 6:00 PM might see options like 7:00 PM, 7:05 PM, etc. If unchecked, the system might assign 7:00 PM as the pickup time without customer input.

Customers can manually select their preferred pickup time

The system will automatically assign the nearest available pickup time for the customer

Configuration 4: Limit the total number of online pickup and delivery orders on Web Order … online pickup and delivery orders every … minutes (on Pickup Time)

Steps to Configure:
1. Check the box to Allow users to choose a pickup time or scheduled delivery time (this must be enabled to use this feature).
2. Check the box to enable limiting the number of pickup orders.
3. Set the maximum number of pickup orders allowed and the time interval.
  - Input Field 1: Maximum number of orders (e.g., 15 orders).
  - Input Field 2: Time interval in minutes (e.g., every 15 minutes).
How It Works: This setting caps the number of pickup and delivery orders allowed within a specific time window to prevent overwhelming the store.
- Example: If set to 15 orders every 15 minutes, the system will not allow more than 15 pickup orders to be scheduled between 7:00 PM and 7:15 PM. If the limit is reached, customers will need to select a later pickup time (e.g., 7:15 PM–7:30 PM).
Use Case: Helps manage high order volumes during peak hours, ensuring the kitchen and staff can handle the workload without delays.

Step 4: Set Up Open/Close Times for Online Orders

Navigate to Settings > Online Ordering > Open Time (visible in the third screenshot) to configure the store’s operating hours and pickup times for each day.

Configure Daily Operating Hours

Configuration: A list of days (Monday to Sunday) is displayed, with options to set operating hours and pickup times for each day.
- Option 1: Closed
  - Check the Closed box if the store is closed on that day.
  - How It Works: If checked, customers cannot schedule pickups for that day unless Allow Ordering When Store is Closed (from the Web Order tab) is enabled, allowing future scheduling.
  - Use Case: Use this to block orders on days the store is not operational, such as holidays or regular closure days.
- Option 2: Opening Time, Closing Time, Last Pickup Time
  - Set the Opening Time (e.g., 12:00 PM), Closing Time (e.g., 11:59 PM), and Last Pickup Time (e.g., 11:59 PM) for each day.
  - How It Works:
    - Opening Time: The earliest time customers can place or schedule orders for that day.
    - Closing Time: The latest time the store accepts orders for that day.
    - Last Pickup Time: The latest time a customer can schedule a pickup, which must be on or before the closing time.
  - Example: If Monday’s opening time is 12:00 PM, closing time is 11:59 PM, and last pickup time is 11:59 PM, customers can schedule pickups between 12:00 PM and 11:59 PM.
  - Use Case: Ensures customers can only schedule pickups during operational hours, preventing orders outside of business hours.
- Option 3: Add More Hours
  - Click Add more hours to set multiple time frames for a single day.
  - How It Works: You can add additional operating windows, such as 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 5:00 PM–10:00 PM, if the store has a break in between.
  - Use Case: Useful for businesses with split shifts or breaks during the day, allowing precise control over when orders can be scheduled.

FAQ

Q: What happens if I don’t allow users to choose a pickup time?
A: If the Allow users to choose a pickup time or scheduled delivery time option is unchecked, the system will automatically select the nearest available pickup time based on the store’s open hours and other configurations.

Q: How does the “Send immediately” option affect my kitchen workflow?
A: When Send immediately is checked, orders with items assigned to printers will be sent to the kitchen for printing as soon as the order is completed on the web, regardless of the pickup time. This can help with early preparation but may overwhelm the kitchen if many orders come in at once.

Q: Can customers place orders for future dates if the store is closed?
A: Yes, if Allow Ordering When Store is Closed is checked, and you’ve set the Allow to choosing a pickup or scheduled delivery time … days from today option, customers can schedule pickups for future dates within the specified number of days, even if the store is currently closed.

Q: How do I prevent too many pickup orders at once?
A: Use the Limit the total number of online pickup and delivery orders setting in the Web Order tab. Set a maximum number of orders (e.g., 15) within a time interval (e.g., every 15 minutes) to control order volume during peak hours.

Q: What happens if I don’t set a Last Pickup Time?
A: If the Last Pickup Time is not set or matches the Closing Time, customers can schedule pickups up until the store’s closing time. It’s recommended to set a Last Pickup Time earlier than the closing time to give staff enough time to prepare orders before closing.