Configure Future Orders in Multi-Location Management

Description: Learn how to enable Future Orders, configure scheduling limits, set payment requirements, and define when orders are automatically sent to the kitchen.

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Note: This feature is currently available only for Pilot users using Multi-Location Management (Customer Hub). Support for single-location merchants is planned for a future release.

Before You Begin

Future Orders are configured individually for each location by a Customer Hub administrator.

Configuration settings do not inherit from the enterprise or corporate level. Each location must be configured separately.

Key Concepts

Term	Description
Scheduled For	The date and time the customer's order should be ready for pickup or fulfillment.
Fire Time	The system-calculated time when the order is automatically sent to the kitchen.
Prep Lead Time	The amount of time the kitchen needs to prepare the order before its scheduled fulfillment time. This can be set as a location default or overridden for an individual order.
Minimum Advance Notice	The shortest amount of lead time customers must provide when scheduling a Future Order.
Maximum Scheduling Window	The furthest date into the future that customers can schedule a Future Order.

Enable Future Orders

1. Log in to Multi-Location Management and go to Location > Future Orders.
2. Slide the toggle to enable Future Orders.
   
3. Select Save.

After Future Orders are enabled, the following configuration sections become available:

• Scheduling
• Payment Rules
• Kitchen Fire Timing

Configure Scheduling Limits

Configure how far in advance customers can schedule Future Orders.

Setting	Description
Minimum Advance Notice	Defines the minimum lead time required before a Future Order can be scheduled. The maximum supported value is 24 hours.
Maximum Scheduling Window	Defines how far into the future a Future Order can be scheduled.

These settings control different limits:

• Minimum Advance Notice controls the shortest allowable lead time.
• Maximum Scheduling Window controls the furthest date customers can schedule an order.

Configure Payment Rules

Configure whether a payment or a deposit is required when scheduling a Future Order.

Available options include:

• Allow Unpaid Future Orders: Payment is collected upon fulfillment.
• Require Payment Before Fulfillment: Payment requirements must be satisfied before the order can be sent to the kitchen.
• Orders Over ($): Require payment only for orders above a specified amount.
• Scheduled Days in Advance: Require payment only when orders are scheduled a specified number of days ahead.
• Require Amount (% or $): Specify the required deposit or prepayment amount.

Example:

• Orders Over: $100
• Scheduled Days in Advance: 0
• Require Amount: 25%

Requires a 25% deposit for any order over $100, regardless of when it is scheduled.

Configure Kitchen Fire Timing

Choose when Future Orders are automatically sent to the kitchen.

Option	Description
Fire at a Fixed Time Each Day	Sends all Future Orders for the day to the kitchen simultaneously. Recommended for kitchens that prepare orders in batches.
Fire Before Due Time	Sends each order to the kitchen a specified amount of time before its scheduled fulfillment time. Recommended for standard pickup and takeout operations.
Use Prep Lead Time from POS	Allows staff to enter a prep lead time when scheduling an order. When enabled, the per-order prep lead time overrides the location default for that order.

Select Save after making your changes.

Permissions

Access to Future Orders is controlled by the "Manage Future Orders" permission.

1. In the Customer Hub, navigate to Employees > Manage Employees > Jobs.
   

2. Select the Job Type to which you want to add the permission.
   

3. Under Allowed Settings, select +Add Settings.
   

4. Select the checkbox to enable Manage Future Orders.
   

5. Select Save.

6. Select Save again.

Staff without this permission can continue to:

• Take standard orders
• Process payments

However, they cannot schedule or manage Future Orders.

After configuration is complete, visit the Schedule a Future Order on Handheld or Schedule and Manage Future Orders on the Workstation to begin creating Future Orders.