Setting Up Kitchen Capacity Throttling (Order Caps)

Turning On Order Caps

1. In Toast's back-end, navigate to the Other Setup section and select Online Ordering Schedule.  

2. Under Order Caps, select Enable Order Caps.  

3. Then, enter the number of orders you want to come through to the kitchen every 15 minutes.  

4. Select Save and Publish Now to finalize your changes.  

Have any feedback after using this feature in your restaurant? Let us know how we can improve here.

Can I set different limits for different times of the day? Or for different Dining Options?
Only one limit can be set at this time. The same order limit will apply to all 15 minute increments through the day when online ordering is active, and will be the same for all dining option behaviors (Takeout and Delivery).

Can I set different time increments other than 15 minutes?
No, only 15 minute increments are able to be set at this time. This is to align with the Toast Online Ordering guest experience, which currently displays order schedule time slots in 15 minute increments.

Can I set limits based on the number of menu items or based on total dollar amount?
No, Kitchen Capacity Throttling only accounts for limiting the number of orders at this time. This means that large orders will count the same toward capacity as a smaller order.  

When does an order count toward a specific time slot's capacity?

Toast Online Ordering / Toast TakeOut Orders:

• Automatic Approval - Orders will count toward a time slot's capacity as soon as it's placed and reaches the POS or Toast Now order management screen. 
• Manual Approval / Approval Rules - Orders will only count toward capacity once they are Approved. This means it could be possible for a specific slot to overfill if the order is not approved in a timely manner.

POS Orders:

• Orders taken on the POS - Phone-in orders will take up capacity as soon as they are placed, since order approval rules do not affect POS orders. 

Is Kitchen Capacity Throttling available to integration partners through APIs?
No, Kitchen Capacity Throttling is only currently available through Toast Online Ordering and the Toast TakeOut app.

What does this look like for guests placing orders through Online Ordering, Phone, and Toast Now?

• Toast Online Ordering - On your restaurant's online ordering page, future order time slots will disappear from the drop down menu as they become full. For ASAP orders, the prep time will adjust according to the existing Prep Time settings and the availability of upcoming slots. 
• Toast POS Orders - For orders taken on a POS device (e.g., over the phone) the POS will not prevent an employee from placing a future order if a slot is at capacity. The POS does not currently take into account the current capacity of slots or the adjusted prep times as shown in Online Ordering. Therefore, it will be up to the employee to assess the availability of phone-in orders and manage the guest's expectations accordingly. 
• Toast Now Digital Orders - On your restaurant's online ordering page, future order time slots will disappear from the drop down menu as they become full. For ASAP orders, the prep time will adjust according to the existing Prep Time settings and the availability of upcoming slots. 

Have any feedback after using this feature in your restaurant? Let us know how we can improve here.