Limitations:
Lead Time does not affect 3PD Ordering settings on service types.
Prep Time Overview:
The Prep Time is the amount of time it will take for a store to prepare the order.
Key Concepts of Prep Time:
Used to determine order ready time.
WARNING: Lead Time should always be 5 minutes above your prep time to avoid time bumping in the Cart.
Calculated at check out after customer has added entire order to cart
Ensures the restaurant has enough time to prepare the customer’s order
Determines the time that the order is fired to POS if you have a POS-integrated system
Consists of 3 cumulative components:
Prep time per service type - configurable by location
Prep time by menu item - configurable at the chain level
Prep time by order subtotal - configurable at the chain level
Phone order example:
Customer: “I’d like to place a pick-up order. How early can I get it?”
Restaurant: “We need at least 15 minutes”
The customer places large order
Restaurant: “Due to the size of your order, we will need two hours to complete it. Would you like to pick it up in two hours or set another time?”
Prep time is what causes the customer to be prompted with the 'Accept updated order time' when attempting to check out with a larger order.
Lead Time Overview:
The Lead Minutes are the earliest possible time that a customer can place an order.
Key Concepts of Lead Time:
Used to determine the earliest available time when the customer is placing an order.
WARNING: Lead Time should always be 5 minutes above your prep time to avoid time bumping in the Cart.Manages customer expectations on the earliest order time.
Used only when the customer starts an order
Configurable by service type (pick-up, delivery, catering) and location
Configurable using time slots by service type
Phone order Lead Time Example: 240 MIN
Customer: “I’d like to place a catering order. How soon can I get it?”
Restaurant: “We need at least 4 hours on catering orders” before knowing what the customer will actually order.
| Lead Time | Prep Time |
Used when starting an order | X | Only if greater than Lead Time |
Used in calculating total order prep time |
| X |
Varies based on orders in the queue | X |
|
Prep Time & Lead Time Example By Service Type:
To help get you start off on the right foot read below for the typical configurations used by Dining Type (QSR, Fast Casual) and Concept (Coffee Shop, Burgers, Pizza).
Typical Coffee Concept with PrePackaged Baked Goods will set the following:
Delivery Lead Time: 25 min | Delivery Prep Time: 20 min | Pick Up Lead Time: 10 min | Pick Up Prep time: 5 min |
Typical Coffee Concept with Fresh Baked Goods inc. Hot Sandwiches will set the following:
Delivery Lead Time: 35 min | Delivery Prep Time: 30 min | Pick Up Lead Time: 15 min | Pick Up Prep time: 10 min |
Typical Pizza Concept with Fresh Baked Goods inc. Hot Sandwiches will set the following:
Delivery Lead Time: 35 min | Delivery Prep Time: 30 min | Pick Up Lead Time: 20 min | Pick Up Prep time: 15 min |
Typical Fried Chicken Concept will set the following:
Delivery Lead Time: 25 min | Delivery Prep Time: 20 min | Pick Up Lead Time: 10 min | Pick Up Prep time: 5 min |
Typical Catering Concept will set the following:
Catering Delivery Lead Time: 1440 min | Catering Delivery Prep Time: 720 min | Catering Pick Up Lead Time: 1440 min | Catering Pick Up Prep time: 720 min |
Summary:
Lead Time is used to set the earliest time a customer can place an order for, before we know what the order is, how big, etc. For example, if a customer comes to the site at 11:00 a.m. and wants to start an ASAP order, and the lead time is set to 15 minutes, then the earliest time they can select is 11:00 + 15 minutes = 11:15 a.m. This is before they’ve added any items to their cart, etc.
Prep Time is calculated, using the specified prep time rules, when the customer checks out. Using the example from above, if the same customer starts checking out at 11:03, with an order of $15.00, the prep time is calculated to be 10 minutes based on the prep time rules. Since 11:03 (current time) + 10 minutes (prep time) = 11:13 and is still less than 11:15, they are allowed to check out and keep the 11:15 promise time. However, if they place a $40.00 order, prep time is calculated to be 30 minutes based on the rules, and since 11:03 (current time) + 30 minutes = 11:33 and is greater than the original time customer selected (11:15), the customer is prompted to accept the new ready time of 11:33 or select a new, later time.
So lead time is a static value that is used to set customer expectations as to the earliest time they can place their order, and it’s set per Service Type in Management. Prep time is calculated at check-out to ensure the location has enough time to prepare the order and order promise time is adjusted accordingly at checkout.