Time Slots Management Guide

Time Slots Management Guide


Overview


Time Slots allow customers to select specific delivery windows (e.g., "9 AM - 11 AM") in addition to the delivery date. This is optional but highly recommended for better delivery planning.


When to Use Time Slots


Use time slots if:

  • ✅ You need to schedule deliveries in specific windows
  • ✅ You want to limit orders per time period
  • ✅ You have multiple delivery runs per day
  • ✅ Customers need to be home for delivery


Skip time slots if:

  • ❌ You only need date selection
  • ❌ You deliver anytime during the day
  • ❌ You have flexible delivery schedules


Creating Time Slots


Step 1: Enable Time Slots


  1. Go to Pickup Time in the app menu
  2. Toggle Enable Pickup Time to ON
  3. Select which delivery methods should show time slots


Step 2: Add Your First Time Slot


Click Add Time Slot and configure:


Start Time

  • Format: HH:MM (24-hour)
  • Example: 09:00 for 9 AM


End Time

  • Format: HH:MM (24-hour)
  • Must be after start time
  • Example: 11:00 for 11 AM


Active Days

Select which days this slot is available:

  • ☑️ Monday
  • ☑️ Tuesday
  • ☑️ Wednesday
  • ☑️ Thursday
  • ☑️ Friday
  • ☑️ Saturday
  • ☐ Sunday (closed)


Max Capacity

  • Number of orders this slot can handle
  • 0 = Unlimited
  • Example: 10 orders per slot


Display Order

  • Controls the order slots appear to customers
  • Lower numbers appear first
  • Example: 1 for first slot, 2 for second, etc.


Step 3: Add More Slots


Repeat for each time window you offer. Common patterns:


Morning/Afternoon/Evening:

  • 09:00 - 12:00 (Morning)
  • 12:00 - 15:00 (Afternoon)
  • 15:00 - 18:00 (Evening)


2-Hour Windows:

  • 09:00 - 11:00
  • 11:00 - 13:00
  • 13:00 - 15:00
  • 15:00 - 17:00
  • 17:00 - 19:00


Lunch/Dinner:

  • 11:00 - 14:00 (Lunch)
  • 17:00 - 21:00 (Dinner)


Time Slot Examples by Business Type


Restaurant Delivery

Slot 1: Lunch Service
- Time: 11:00 - 14:00
- Active Days: Mon-Fri
- Capacity: 30 orders
- Display Order: 1

Slot 2: Dinner Service
- Time: 17:00 - 21:00
- Active Days: Mon-Sun
- Capacity: 50 orders
- Display Order: 2


Grocery Delivery

Slot 1: Morning
- Time: 08:00 - 10:00
- Active Days: Mon-Sun
- Capacity: 20 orders
- Display Order: 1

Slot 2: Mid-Morning
- Time: 10:00 - 12:00
- Active Days: Mon-Sun
- Capacity: 25 orders
- Display Order: 2

Slot 3: Afternoon
- Time: 14:00 - 16:00
- Active Days: Mon-Sun
- Capacity: 25 orders
- Display Order: 3

Slot 4: Evening
- Time: 18:00 - 20:00
- Active Days: Mon-Fri
- Capacity: 15 orders
- Display Order: 4


Furniture Delivery

Slot 1: Morning Delivery
- Time: 09:00 - 12:00
- Active Days: Wed, Sat
- Capacity: 5 orders
- Display Order: 1

Slot 2: Afternoon Delivery
- Time: 13:00 - 17:00
- Active Days: Wed, Sat
- Capacity: 5 orders
- Display Order: 2


Pharmacy

Slot 1: Morning Express
- Time: 09:00 - 11:00
- Active Days: Mon-Fri
- Capacity: 15 orders
- Display Order: 1

Slot 2: Lunch Time
- Time: 12:00 - 14:00
- Active Days: Mon-Fri
- Capacity: 10 orders
- Display Order: 2

Slot 3: Evening
- Time: 17:00 - 19:00
- Active Days: Mon-Fri
- Capacity: 15 orders
- Display Order: 3

Slot 4: Weekend
- Time: 10:00 - 14:00
- Active Days: Sat
- Capacity: 20 orders
- Display Order: 4


Managing Time Slots


Editing a Time Slot


  1. Find the slot in the list
  2. Click the Edit button
  3. Update any settings
  4. Click Save


Note: Changes apply immediately to new orders.


Disabling a Time Slot


Instead of deleting, you can temporarily disable:


  1. Edit the slot
  2. Toggle Enabled to OFF
  3. Click Save


Use case: Temporarily disable during staff shortages or busy periods.


Deleting a Time Slot


  1. Find the slot in the list
  2. Click the Delete button
  3. Confirm deletion


Warning: This cannot be undone. Consider disabling instead.


Reordering Time Slots


Change the Display Order number to control how slots appear to customers:

  • Lower numbers appear first
  • Same numbers: sorted by start time
  • Best practice: Use increments of 10 (10, 20, 30) for easy reordering


How Time Slots Work


Customer Experience


  1. Customer selects delivery date
  2. App shows available time slots for that date
  3. Customer selects preferred time slot
  4. Selection is saved with the order


Availability Logic


A time slot is available if:

  • ✅ The selected date matches slot's active days
  • ✅ Slot is enabled
  • ✅ Capacity limit not reached
  • ✅ Not blocked by a holiday


A time slot is unavailable if:

  • ❌ Selected date is not in active days
  • ❌ Slot is disabled
  • ❌ Capacity limit reached
  • ❌ Holiday blocks this delivery method


Capacity Tracking


  • Counts orders with matching date + time slot
  • Updates in real-time
  • When capacity reached, slot becomes unavailable
  • Resets for each date


Advanced Tips


1. Overlapping Slots


You can create overlapping slots for flexibility:

Slot A: 09:00 - 13:00 (Morning, 20 orders)
Slot B: 09:00 - 11:00 (Early Morning, 10 orders)
Slot C: 11:00 - 13:00 (Late Morning, 10 orders)


Customers can choose broad or specific windows.


2. Different Slots for Different Days


Create separate slots for weekdays vs. weekends:

Weekday Lunch: 11:00 - 14:00 (Mon-Fri)
Weekend Brunch: 10:00 - 15:00 (Sat-Sun)


3. Peak vs. Off-Peak Capacity


Adjust capacity based on demand:

Peak Dinner: 18:00 - 20:00 (Capacity: 30)
Off-Peak Dinner: 20:00 - 22:00 (Capacity: 15)


4. Express Slots


Create premium slots with limited capacity:

Express Morning: 08:00 - 09:00 (Capacity: 5)
Standard Morning: 09:00 - 12:00 (Capacity: 25)


5. Seasonal Adjustments


Update slots for seasonal changes:

  • Summer: Add evening slots (longer daylight)
  • Winter: Reduce evening slots (shorter daylight)
  • Holidays: Increase capacity or add special slots


Best Practices


1. Keep It Simple

  • Start with 3-4 slots
  • Use clear time windows (2-3 hours)
  • Add more based on demand


2. Set Realistic Capacity

  • Consider your delivery resources
  • Account for preparation time
  • Better to under-promise


3. Balance Coverage

  • Offer morning, afternoon, and evening options
  • Cover peak demand times
  • Don't over-commit


4. Monitor Performance

  • Track which slots fill up first
  • Adjust capacity based on actual performance
  • Remove underutilized slots


5. Communicate Clearly

  • Use Settings to customize slot labels
  • Explain delivery windows on your site
  • Set clear expectations


Troubleshooting


Problem: No time slots showing

  • Check that Pickup Time is enabled
  • Verify selected date matches slot active days
  • Ensure at least one slot is enabled


Problem: All slots show as full

  • Check capacity limits
  • Verify order counts for that date
  • Consider increasing capacity


Problem: Wrong slots appearing

  • Review active days configuration
  • Check display order settings
  • Verify slot times are correct


Problem: Customers confused about times

  • Customize labels in Settings
  • Add clear descriptions
  • Use 12-hour format if preferred


Free vs. Paid Plans


Free Plan:

  • Up to 5 time slots
  • Basic capacity management
  • Standard features


Standard/Pro Plans:

  • Unlimited time slots
  • Advanced rules per slot
  • Priority support


Need More Help?


Updated on: 20/02/2026

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