📌 What is Block Time?
The Block Time feature on OU Blue gives you better control over dine-in ordering by setting a short pause between consecutive orders from the same table. This ensures that your kitchen doesn’t get overwhelmed with multiple orders coming in all at once.
For example, if you set a 2-minute block time, customers won’t be able to place another order from the same table until those 2 minutes are up. Instead, they’ll see a friendly message telling them how long they need to wait before reordering.
This feature helps streamline kitchen workflows, reduce duplicate orders, and improve the overall dining experience.
👁️ What Will Your Customers See?
If a customer tries to place another order before the block time ends, they’ll see a pop-up message with a countdown showing exactly how long they need to wait. This timer is synced across all their devices, making the experience seamless no matter what device they’re using.
⚙️ How Does It Work?
Merchant Setup (From Your Admin Portal):
Log into your backend portal.
Go to: Online Ordering > Configuration > Configuring Block Time
Turn on Block Time.
Set the duration (e.g., 2 minutes).
Enter the custom message you want to display to customers.
Save your settings—done!
Customer Experience:
A customer places a Dine-In order.
The block time countdown begins.
If they try to order again before the time ends, they’ll see a wait message.
Once the countdown is over, they can place a new order.
✅ Note: Block Time only applies to Dine-In orders. It does not affect Takeaway or Delivery.
🌟 Why Use Block Time?
Top Benefits for Your Restaurant:
✅ Avoids duplicate or accidental re-orders from the same table.
✅ Reduces kitchen stress by spacing out incoming orders.
✅ Enhances service quality with more organized operations.
✅ Delivers a smooth guest experience across all devices.
🎯 Who Should Use This Feature?
This feature is perfect for:
🍽️ Restaurants offering Dine-In ordering through OU Blue.
👨🍳 Busy kitchens that need more control over order flow.
Common Challenges This Solves:
⚠️ Duplicate or too-frequent orders from one table.
⚠️ Kitchens getting swamped with back-to-back orders.
⚠️ Lack of timing control in dine-in order processes.