Scheduled Ordering

Scheduled ordering (pre-ordering) allows customers to place orders for a future date and time. This is useful for catering, meal prep, or simply planning ahead.

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Overview

The PublicMenuScheduledOrderingExperience component wraps the standard ordering experience with a scheduling layer:

1. Customers select a future date and time slot.
2. They proceed to the standard menu browsing and ordering flow.
3. The order is submitted with the scheduled pickup/delivery time.
4. The restaurant receives the order and prepares it for the scheduled time.

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How It Works

Accessing Scheduled Ordering

Customers select Scheduled from the mode selector in the public menu header. This option is available when:

• The branch has scheduled ordering enabled
• The branch is accepting pre-orders

Selecting a Date

A calendar view is displayed showing available dates:

• Navigate between weeks using arrow buttons
• Available dates are shown with a visual indicator
• Past dates and fully booked dates are disabled

Selecting a Time Slot

After selecting a date, available time slots are shown:

Slot Information	Description
Time range	Start and end time for the slot
Remaining capacity	How many orders can still be placed for this slot
Status	Available (green) or fully booked (greyed out)

Placing the Order

1. After selecting a date and time slot, the standard ordering experience loads.
2. Customers browse the menu and add items to cart as usual.
3. During checkout, the selected date/time is included with the order.
4. Payment is processed normally.

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Configuration

Branch operators can configure scheduled ordering:

• Enable/disable scheduled ordering
• Time slot duration (e.g. 30-minute or 60-minute windows)
• Advance notice required (e.g. orders must be placed 2 hours before pickup)
• Maximum advance booking (e.g. orders up to 7 days ahead)
• Capacity per slot (maximum orders per time window)
• Blackout dates/times (when scheduled ordering is unavailable)

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Customer Experience

After placing a scheduled order:

• The order confirmation shows the scheduled date and time prominently.
• A calendar entry is added to the guest's order history.
• A reminder may be sent closer to the scheduled time (depending on configuration).
• The customer can track the order status via the order tracking link.

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Related Documentation

• Ordering Flow
• Payment Methods
• Order Tracking
• Public Menu Overview