Overview
Configuring pickup and delivery schedules allows you to set specific time slots and working hours for your ecommerce fulfillment operations. This guide walks you through setting up working hours, time slots, and cutoff times to optimize order fulfillment for your online store.
What Are Pickup and Delivery Schedules?
Pickup and delivery schedules define when customers can place orders and select fulfillment time slots. These schedules include:
Working Hours: The operational hours when delivery or pickup is available
Time Slots: Specific windows when orders can be fulfilled
Cutoff Times: Deadlines for customers to place orders for specific time slots
Properly configured schedules help manage customer expectations, optimize logistics, and prevent order fulfillment conflicts.
Step-by-Step Configuration Guide
Step 1: Set Your Working Hours
Working hours define the overall timeframe when delivery or pickup services are available.
Navigate to either Pickup Schedules or Delivery Schedules tab and click the +Add button
Navigate to the Working Hours section
Enter the start time when customers can begin placing orders
Enter the end time when order placement closes for the day
These hours represent your store's operational window for fulfillment services
Note: Working hours apply to the entire day's operations and serve as the boundary for all time slots.
Step 2: Choose Time Slot Configuration Method
You have two options for creating delivery time slots:
Option A: Automatic Time Slot Generation
Locate the Automatic generation of time slot toggle
Switch the toggle to Active (enabled)
The system will automatically create:
One-hour time slots spanning your entire working hours
30-minute cutoff times for each slot
Best for: Stores with consistent, evenly-spaced delivery windows throughout the day.
Option B: Manual Time Slot Configuration
If you need custom time slots with varying durations:
Keep the Automatic generation of time slot toggle disabled
Proceed to manual time slot entry (see Step 3)
Best for: Stores with peak delivery periods, varied slot lengths, or specific operational requirements.
Step 3: Configure Individual Time Slots (Manual Method)
For each time slot, you'll need to enter three key details:
Time Slot Parameters
Starts At: The time when deliveries in this slot begin
Finish At: The time when deliveries in this slot end
Cut Off Time: The deadline for customers to order for this slot
Important Requirements:
The cutoff time must be at least 1 minute before the Finish At time
Customers must complete their orders before the cutoff time to receive delivery in that time slot
Time slots should not overlap
Adding Multiple Time Slots
Click the plus (+) icon to add a new time slot row
Fill in the Starts At, Finish At, and Cut Off Time fields
Repeat for each delivery window you want to offer
Use the Remove (trash icon) button to delete unwanted slots
Enable or Disable Specific Slots
Use the Disable toggle to temporarily deactivate a time slot without deleting it
Use the Express toggle to designate priority or expedited delivery slots (delivery only configuration)
Step 4: Apply Configuration Across Multiple Days
Same Schedule for All Days
If your schedule is consistent throughout the week:
Configure your working hours and time slots for one day
Locate the Apply this configuration to everyday toggle
Switch it to Active/On (green)
Your settings will automatically apply to all seven days
Different Schedules for Different Days
If your schedule varies by day of the week:
Keep the Apply this configuration to everyday toggle inactive
Use the day-of-the-week tabs (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.)
Click each tab and enter that day's specific working hours and time slots
Repeat for each day that requires unique configuration
Common Use Cases:
Reduced hours on weekends
No delivery on specific days
Extended hours on high-demand days
Different time slots for peak vs. off-peak days
Step 5: Save Your Configuration
After completing your schedule setup:
Review all entered information for accuracy
Click the Save button to preserve your changes
Hit Purge to propagate your schedule changes to your website
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Time Slots Not Appearing at Checkout
Possible Causes:
Configuration not saved
Changes not published
Working hours conflict with time slots
All slots disabled
Solution: Verify Save and Publish actions were completed, check working hours encompass all time slots.
Cutoff Time Errors
Issue: System rejects cutoff time entry
Solution: Ensure cutoff time is at least 1 minute before the Finish At time of the same slot.
Schedule Not Applying to All Days
Issue: Configuration only shows on one day
Solution: Check that "Apply this configuration to everyday" toggle is active, or manually configure each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I have different schedules for pickup vs. delivery?
A: Yes, configure separate schedules for each fulfillment method in their respective zones or settings.
Q: What happens to orders placed after the cutoff time?
A: Customers will see the next available time slot that hasn't passed its cutoff.
Q: Can I edit schedules after they're published?
A: Yes, make changes, click Save, and Publish again to update the live schedule.