---
title: Optimising your Slerp delivery setup
description: A step-by-step guide to getting your delivery channel configured correctly — from your zone and pricing to capacity and couriers. Follow these steps in order the first time, then come back to individual sections as needed.
---

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# Optimising your Slerp delivery setup

## A step-by-step guide to getting your delivery channel configured correctly — from your zone and pricing to capacity and couriers. Follow these steps in order the first time, then come back to individual sections as needed.

### **1. Decide which channels you're running**

Slerp supports several order channels. Before configuring anything, get clear on what you want to offer:

- Same-day delivery — customer orders now, it arrives within 30–60 minutes.
- Pre-orders — customer orders today for a future date. Higher average order value and more predictable to fulfill.
- Nationwide delivery — UK-wide shipping through your own 3PL (DPD, Royal Mail, etc).
- Click & collect and table ordering — in-venue options.

Each channel has separate settings. If you're only running same-day, consider enabling pre-orders too — they typically bring in larger orders and are easier to plan around.

*Same-day and pre-order settings are configured independently. Changes to one do not affect the other.*

### **2. Set your delivery zone**

Controls Dashboard → Locations → Same Day Orders → Delivery → Delivery Zone

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-03-00-29-5486-PM.png?width=670&height=383&name=image-png-May-14-2026-03-00-29-5486-PM.png)

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-02-59-44-0796-PM.png?width=640&height=728&name=image-png-May-14-2026-02-59-44-0796-PM.png)

Your delivery zone controls which customers can place an order. Set it too small and you lose customers; too large and couriers reject jobs because journeys take too long — and your food arrives in poor condition.

**Driving time vs distance:** Use driving time. A 3-mile journey through central London at 6pm is very different from 3 miles in zone 4 at 11am.

| **Product type** | **Suggested max zone** |
| --- | --- |
| Hot food | 2.5–3 miles or 15–20 min drive time |
| Bakery / ambient / non-hot | Can extend further — test and adjust based on quality |

After the zone is auto-drawn, edit the polygon manually. Trim around rivers, motorways, large parks, one-way systems, and any area with consistently difficult access. You know your area better than the map does.

✅ Busy mode zone: You can set a smaller zone that activates only when your store is in Busy mode. This lets you maintain coverage during quiet periods and shrink it at peak — without turning orders off entirely.

⚠️ If you run multiple locations, avoid overlapping zones. Overlap creates inefficient courier routing and you end up competing with your own sites for the same orders.

*Contact your account manager about custom KML files for complex setups.*

**Matching time slots to your zone:** 30-minute slots only work for small zones (≤2.5 miles or ≤15 min drive). Use 60-minute slots for anything larger — traffic and courier pickup time eat into the window fast.

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-03-01-29-7174-PM.png?width=656&height=373&name=image-png-May-14-2026-03-01-29-7174-PM.png)

For more detailed guide, see:

[Custom Delivery Radius](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/custom-delivery-radius?hsLang=en) | [Setting Driving Zone](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/setting-your-busy-driving-zone?hsLang=en) | [Delivery Zone for Pre-orders](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/setting-a-delivery-zone-for-pre-order-deliveries?hsLang=en)

### **3. Configure vehicle assignment**

Controls Dashboard → Settings → Delivery

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-03-02-37-6606-PM.png?width=670&height=502&name=image-png-May-14-2026-03-02-37-6606-PM.png)

Slerp assigns a vehicle type to each order based on basket value thresholds you set. Getting this right saves money and improves courier availability.

| **Vehicle** | **Best for** | **Example threshold** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bike | Small baskets, fastest courier supply | £0–£40 |
| Motorbike | Mid-size baskets | £40–£100 |
| Car / Van / Cargobike | Large or bulky orders | £100+ |

⚠️ Mis-set thresholds are the most common configuration mistake we see.

A £35 food order routed to a car/van because the bike threshold is too low will face thin courier supply, higher fees, and a confused customer. Review your thresholds against your actual average basket sizes.

Set thresholds for same-day and pre-order independently — pre-order (especially catering) baskets are typically much larger.

For more detailed guide, see:

[How vehicles are chosen](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/how-is-a-vehicle-chosen-for-an-order?hsLang=en) | [Who delivers your orders |](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/who-will-deliver-your-orders?hsLang=en)[Delivery with Slerp Courier Partners](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/delivery-with-slerp-courier-partners?hsLang=en)<https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/who-will-deliver-your-orders?hsLang=en>

### **4. Set delivery pricing and incentives**

Controls Dashboard → Locations → Same Day Orders → Delivery

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-03-08-00-1982-PM.png?width=670&height=602&name=image-png-May-14-2026-03-08-00-1982-PM.png)

This section has the biggest impact on conversion. Customers compare your delivery fee against what they see on marketplaces — so your pricing needs to match that expectation.

**Optimised vs Standard pricing:** Optimised Delivery Pricing (recommended) shows customers a marketplace-comparable fee. You cover the gap between the courier cost and the fee shown. Standard pricing passes the full courier cost to the customer, which kills conversion.

✅ Example: Courier cost is £5.65. You set the delivery fee at £2.99 and a service fee at £1.50. You receive £4.49 and subsidise £1.16. The customer sees a competitive fee and checks out.

**Tiered delivery discounts** — one of the most under-used features on Slerp. You can offer delivery discounts that scale with basket size. The cart shows a progress prompt during checkout ("*Spend £X more to get 25% off delivery*"), which naturally encourages customers to add items.

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-03-07-04-2823-PM.png?width=670&height=496&name=image-png-May-14-2026-03-07-04-2823-PM.png)

| **Example setup** | **Effect** |
| --- | --- |
| 25% off delivery on baskets over £45 | Upsell prompt appears at checkout |
| 50% off on baskets over £60 | Second incentive tier |
| Free delivery on baskets over £100 | Strong push for large orders |

**Minimum order value:** You can set a minimum basket below which delivery isn't available. Don't set this on day one — wait until you have real order data. Setting it too early suppresses demand before you know what your typical basket looks like.

**Delivery charge discount codes:** Create codes that discount the delivery charge specifically, not the basket. Useful for first-order incentives, weekend campaigns, or loyalty rewards. This is unique to Slerp — most platforms can't target just the delivery fee.

For more details, see:

[Delivery Price by Basket Value](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/delivery-pricing-by-basket-value?hsLang=en) | [Optimised Delivery Rate](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/optimized-ratecard?hsLang=en) | [Delivery Costs](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/delivery-costs?hsLang=en)

### **5. Set up capacity and prep times**

Controls Dashboard → Locations → Same Day Orders → Preparation Time

Slerp has three activity modes, each with its own prep time. You switch between them manually on the Slerp Partner App as your kitchen gets busier or quieter.

| **Mode** | **When to use** | **Example Prep Time** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quiet | Off-peak, few orders | 5–10 min |
| Moderate | Building up, manageable volume | 15–25 min |
| Busy | Peak service, high order volume | 30–60 min |

⚠️ *A mode left on **Busy** when the kitchen is quiet is one of the most common reasons partners lose orders without realising.* Customers see a 60-minute wait time and leave.

Check your active mode regularly — especially after a rush.

**Additional prep time by basket value:** Add extra time on top of the active mode for large orders. For example, orders over £500 automatically add 60 minutes. Essential for kitchens with limited production capacity (pizza ovens, butchery, anything with a finite rate).

**Order limits per slot:** You can cap how many orders are accepted per time slot. Use this carefully — your Slerp store is your highest-margin channel. If your kitchen is at capacity, throttle your marketplace listings first. Try Busy mode or additional prep times before capping direct orders.

**Auto-accept — always turn this on.** If auto-accept is off, every order sits as Pending until someone manually accepts it on the app. During a busy service, this gets missed. Every minute of delay means later prep and a later courier dispatch. Auto-accept off is the single most preventable cause of late deliveries.

For more detailed information, see:

<https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/dynamic-preparation-time?hsLang=en>[How to use Activity Mode](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/changing-your-preparation-time?hsLang=en)[| Dynamic Preparation Time](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/dynamic-preparation-time?hsLang=en) | [Order Limit By Time Slot |](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/order-limit-by-time-slot?hsLang=en)

### **6. Configure pre-order cut-offs**

Controls Dashboard → Locations → Pre-Orders → Cut-off Times

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-14-2026-03-19-22-4819-PM.png?width=976&height=842&name=image-png-May-14-2026-03-19-22-4819-PM.png)

Cut-off times control the latest point at which a customer can order for a given delivery date. You can set a different cut-off for each day of the week.

Keep cut-offs as short as your kitchen can realistically handle. Catering buyers — PAs, office managers, event planners — often plan only a few days ahead. Over-cautious cut-offs lose orders you could have fulfilled.

✅ Good Example:

Cut-off set to "1 day before at 14:00." A buyer ordering Monday morning for Wednesday delivery gets through.

⚠️ Common Mistake:

Cut-off set to "2 days before at 23:59." That same buyer is told the next available date is Thursday and books elsewhere.

**Holiday overrides:** You can set special cut-offs for peak periods like Christmas and Easter. Plan ahead — capacity legitimately changes at these times and your standard cut-offs probably won't apply.

**Pre-order time period:** Controls how far ahead customers can book. Default is 1 month. If your menu changes frequently, shorten this window so customers can't book into a period where the menu has changed.

### **7. Fine-tune at the product and category level**

The location-level settings above apply to your whole store. These tools let you override behaviour for specific products or categories without changing your defaults.

- Product-level prep times — set a fixed prep time on a single item. Useful for items that always take longer regardless of how busy the kitchen is (e.g. a celebration cake that needs 90 minutes).
- Category-level cut-offs — set a custom cut-off for one category. Useful when some items need more lead time than the rest of your menu (e.g. whole hams need 48 hours, but everything else is next-day).
- Special availability (time- and date-based menus) — show certain products only at specific times of day or on specific dates. Christmas hampers can appear automatically on 1 Dec and disappear on 24 Dec with no manual management needed.

### **8. A few features worth knowing about**

**Dispatch self-serve:** Book a courier through Slerp Dispatch without a Slerp order attached. Useful for offline orders (phone or walk-in), stock transfers between sites, or one-off errands. Most partners don't realise this exists.

For more information, see: 🏍️ [Dispatch Self-Serve](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/dispatch-self-serve?hsLang=en)

**Nationwide delivery via Composer:** If you ship UK-wide, your pre-orders flow into Slerp Composer. From there you can generate packing slips, production summaries, and a CSV export formatted for your 3PL (DPD, Royal Mail, UPS, etc.). You upload the CSV to your carrier — Slerp doesn't integrate directly with 3PLs, so you'll set up that relationship yourself.

**[Setting up nationwide delivery](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/how-to-set-up-a-nationwide-store-in-your-slerpspace-1?hsLang=en) | [National shipping with any carrier](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/national-shipping-with-any-carrier?hsLang=en)**

### 🏆 **Quick wins — do these first**

If you're short on time, these five changes have the biggest impact and take under 30 minutes combined.

1. Switch to **Optimised Delivery Pricing** if you haven't already. Standard pricing kills conversion.
2. Set up **at least one tiered delivery discount** based on basket value. The checkout progress prompt is one of the easiest ways to increase average order value.
3. Review your **vehicle assignment thresholds** against your actual last few weeks of order data.
4. Manually **adjust your delivery zone polygon** — trim away rivers, motorways, and known dead zones.
5. Turn **auto-accept on**. This is the single most preventable cause of late deliveries.

---

**❔ Need help?**

The Slerp Support team is available 8 AM to 10 PM, every day. They can walkthrough your setup with you and recommend changes specific to your business.

- 🗨️ Live chat in Controls or the Slerp Partner App
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