Quote time strategies

The following sections describe the various quote time strategies available.

SmartQuote

Note

To use SmartQuote, you must have a subscription to the Digital Storefront Suite and at least one Kitchen Display System (KDS).

The SmartQuote strategy automatically sets quote times based on your restaurant’s historical order data and other various data inputs. You can set minimum and maximum prep time values and SmartQuote provides a prep time estimate that falls within the values set.

Important

The accuracy of SmartQuote predictions relies heavily on the quality and quantity of the data used for training the AI model. Insufficient or biased data could lead to inaccurate predictions. Please consider these limitations when interpreting results.

Example: Estimated immediate fulfillment time when SmartQuote quote time strategy is enabled

In this example:

  • Your restaurant is currently accepting Toast online orders.

  • You set your minimum prep time for 10 minutes.

  • You set your maximum prep time for 30 minutes.

A guest places an ASAP online order for takeout at 1:00 PM. The Toast-provided SmartQuote prep time is 20 minutes. The guest’s order will be ready at 1:20 PM.


Manual

Important

If you do not have a subscription to the Digital Storefront Suite, you can only use the Manual quote time strategy.

The Manual strategy sets quote times based on the amount of time the kitchen needs to prepare the items in an order placed for takeout or delivery. The delivery quote time only applies to first-party delivery and not Toast Delivery Services (TDS) orders. The delivery quote time must be the same or more than the takeout time.

Example: Estimated immediate fulfillment time when Manual quote time strategy is enabled

In this example:

  • Your restaurant is currently accepting Toast online orders.

  • Takeout time = 15 minutes.

  • Delivery time = 25 minutes.

A guest places an ASAP Toast online order for takeout at 1:00 PM. The configured Manual quote time is 15 minutes. The guest’s order will be ready at 1:15 PM.

A guest places an ASAP Toast online order for delivery at 1:00 PM. The configured Manual quote time is 25 minutes. The guest’s order will be ready and delivered by 1:25 PM.


Kitchen capacity

The Kitchen capacity strategy sets quote times based on the number of orders or items the kitchen can prepare in a 15-minute time interval. First, set a quote time, which serves as the base time for the Kitchen capacity strategy. Then set your kitchen capacity by either the number of orders or by the number of items that your kitchen can prepare in a 15-minute interval. If you use the Kitchen capacity strategy it applies to both takeout and delivery orders.

When the Kitchen capacity strategy is enabled, it affects Toast Online Ordering in the following ways:

  • The estimated fulfillment time for orders placed for immediate fulfillment increases when the kitchen capacity is reached for the next available 15-minute interval.

  • When the kitchen capacity is reached for any 15-minute interval, that time is removed from the list of available fulfillment times that guests can choose when scheduling future orders.

  • The estimated fulfillment time for orders placed for immediate fulfillment increases when the kitchen capacity or an order pricing condition is met.

  • Order items are either prepared in the single time slot (if the slot can contain all the order items) or in sequential time slots.

Example: Estimated immediate fulfillment time increases when kitchen capacity is reached

In this example:

  • Your restaurant is currently accepting Toast online orders for immediate fulfillment.

  • Quote time = 15 minutes.

  • You have specified a capacity of three orders per 15 minutes.

Three guests place online orders at 1:00 PM. Due to the configured prep time of 15 minutes, they see an estimated fulfillment time of 15-20 minutes. When these three orders are placed, the capacity for the 15-minute time interval is met. When a fourth guest places an order for immediate availability, the estimated fulfillment time increases.


Example: Time slot removed from list of available times when kitchen capacity is reached

In this example:

  • Your restaurant allows guests to schedule Toast online orders for future fulfillment.

  • Quote time = 15 minutes.

  • You have specified a capacity of three orders per 15 minutes.

Three guests place online orders for future fulfillment and choose the same available fulfillment time of 3:00 PM on a specific business day. When these three orders are placed, the capacity for that 15-minute time interval is met. When a fourth guest schedules an order on the same business day, the 3:00 PM time slot no longer appears on the list of available fulfillment times. Only time slots for where order capacity hasn't already been met are displayed.


You can use the Kitchen capacity quote time strategy with an Order price rule.

Example: Estimated immediate fulfillment time increases when kitchen capacity is reached or the order pricing condition is met

In this example:

  • Your restaurant allows guests to place online orders for immediate fulfillment.

  • Quote time = 15 minutes.

  • You have specified a capacity of three orders per 15 minutes.

  • You have specified an order price rule to add 20 minutes for orders over $20.00.

Three guests each place a $40.00 Toast online order. The quote time for each order is adjusted and increases from 15 to 35 minutes due to the order price rule. When these three orders are placed, the capacity for the 15-minute time interval is met and exceeded.


Example: Estimated quote time for an immediate order when the kitchen capacity item throttling setting is reached

In this example:

  • Your restaurant is currently accepting Toast online orders for immediate fulfillment.

  • Quote time = 15 minutes.

  • You have specified a capacity of five items per 15 minutes.

    It is 4:00 PM and you have the following time slots filled with orders:

    • 4:15 - 4:30 PM with a three item order.

    • 4:45 - 5:00 PM with a two item order.

    • 5:45 - 6:00 PM with a five item order.

  • A guest places a 15 item order.

In this example, there are three sequential time slots available starting at 5:00 - 5:15 PM, 5:15 - 5:30 PM, and 5:30 - 5:45 PM. The Toast platform prioritizes sequential time slots if available. The order is completed by filling in the available time slots:

  • 5:00 - 5:15 PM with five items.

  • 5:15 - 5:30 PM with five items.

  • 5:30 - 5:45 PM with five items.

The guest’s quote time for their 15 item order is 5:45 PM.


Order price

The Order price strategy sets quote times based on the total order price. This strategy applies to both takeout and delivery orders.

When the Order price strategy is enabled, the estimated fulfillment time for orders placed for immediate fulfillment increases if the pricing condition is met.

Example: Estimated fulfillment time increases when the order pricing condition is met

In this example:

  • Your restaurant allows guests to place Toast online orders for immediate fulfillment.

  • Prep time = 15 minutes.

  • You have specified an order price rule to add 20 minutes for orders over $20.00.

A guest places a $40.00 Toast online order for immediate fulfillment. The quote time is adjusted and increases from 15 to 35 minutes due to the total order price.