Terminology

**1. Prep Time**

Definition: The time required by the merchant to prepare an order before it is ready for delivery or pickup.
Purpose: Ensures enough time to process, pack, and prepare the order.
Example: A bakery requires 2 hours to bake and package fresh cakes after an order is placed. This 2-hour period is the prep time.

**2. Delay Time**

Definition: The minimum time buffer between order completion (after prep) and the start of the delivery process.
Purpose: Allows merchants to account for factors like assigning drivers, delivery loading, and travel time.
Example: A florist needs an additional 1 hour after prepping an order to assign a delivery driver and transport the flowers. This is the delay time.

**3. Cut-off Time**

Definition: The latest time during the day when customers can place an order for same-day or next-day delivery.
Purpose: Prevents orders from being scheduled too late for the merchant to reasonably fulfill them.
Example: A meal delivery service sets a cut-off time of 5 PM for next-day delivery. Orders placed after 5 PM will show delivery slots based on prep time and delay time starting from the following day.

How They Work Together

IMPORTANT LOGIC: When customers place an order, the system calculates the earliest available delivery slot after the cut-off time, based on prep time and delay time.

**Example Scenario**

Merchant Details:
Prep Time: 2 hours
Delay Time: 1 hour
Cut-off Time: 4 PM
Order Placed:
Time: 3 PM
The system calculates:
Prep Time (2 hours): 3 PM → 5 PM
Delay Time (1 hour): 5 PM → 6 PM
Earliest Delivery Slot: 6 PM same day.
If Order is Placed After Cut-off (e.g., 5 PM):
The system shifts delivery slots to the next day, starting from prep time + delay time after the new day begins.

Scenerio 1: You offer single date schedule type

You only can use prep and delay in day unit (not hour, and minute)


You want to offer same-day schedule
Prep time = 0 day => offer same day
After cut-off (eg. 5PM) => delay = 1 day => orders after cut-off will only available for next-day schedule

You want to offer next-day or pre-order schedule

Prep time = 1 day => tomorrow slot
After cut-off (eg. 5pm) => delay = 1 day => orders after 5 PM will only available for slots in next 2 days

Scenerio 2: You offer date with fixed time or date with time range schedule type

You only can use the same unit for prep & delay time (day - day, hour - hour , minutes - minutes)

You want to offer same-day schedule

Prep time = 2 hours
After cut-off (eg. 5PM) => delay = 6 hours => customers can only see next-day slot

You want to offer next-day schedule

Prep = 1 day
After cut - off (eg. 5PM) => delay = 1 day => customers can only see slots from 2 days (the order day is counted as 1 day)

Updated on: 01/06/2025