Managing delivery operations can be challenging for busy restaurants, especially when orders are flowing in during peak hours. Toast POS offers a comprehensive delivery management system, but sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Orders may need to be re-assigned to another driver due to delays, driver issues, or other unforeseen circumstances. If you’re using Toast Delivery Services, knowing how to efficiently re-dispatch an order can save time and ensure a better experience for your customers.
In this post, we’ll walk you through how to re-dispatch an order in Toast Delivery Services and keep your delivery operations running smoothly.
1. Why Would You Need to Re-Dispatch an Order?
There are various reasons why a restaurant might need to re-dispatch an order:
- Driver is unavailable: Your assigned driver may have run into a problem (vehicle issues, running late, etc.), and you need to quickly reassign the order to someone else.
- Route Optimization: You might find that another driver is better suited for the delivery based on their current location or route.
- Customer Request: The customer may need to change the delivery address or delivery time, which could mean re-dispatching the order to accommodate the change.
Regardless of the reason, Toast makes it easy to re-dispatch orders to keep your deliveries on track.
2. Step 1: Access Your Delivery Dashboard
To begin the re-dispatch process, first navigate to your Toast POS Delivery Dashboard. This feature is the hub where you manage all active, in-progress, and completed orders.
Steps:
- Log in to your Toast POS terminal or web dashboard.
- Click on the “Delivery” tab located on the sidebar.
- Here, you’ll see a list of all current delivery orders, categorized by status (pending, in-progress, completed).
3. Step 2: Identify the Order to Be Re-Dispatched
Next, find the order that needs to be re-dispatched. Toast provides detailed information about each delivery order, such as:
- Order number
- Delivery time
- Driver currently assigned to the order
- The estimated delivery time and address
Once you’ve identified the specific order, you’re ready to move to the next step. 
4. Step 3: Select the Re-Dispatch Option
Once you’ve located the order, select the Re-Dispatch option. Here’s how:
- Click on the delivery order from the list.
- A detailed order screen will appear, giving you more options to manage the delivery.
- Look for the option labeled “Reassign Driver” or “Re-Dispatch Order” (depending on your Toast configuration).
This will allow you to select a new driver to handle the delivery.
5. Step 4: Choose a New Driver
In the re-dispatch window, you will see a list of available drivers, along with key information like:
- Current location (if using GPS tracking)
- Number of orders currently assigned to each driver
- Estimated time to complete each driver’s current route
Choose the driver best suited to take over the delivery based on this information.
6. Step 5: Confirm and Notify the New Driver
Once you’ve selected the new driver, confirm the reassignment. Toast will automatically send a notification to the new driver through the Toast Driver App, letting them know they’ve been assigned a new delivery. This ensures that the driver is quickly aware of the change and can prepare for the new route.
7. Step 6: Notify the Customer (If Necessary)
In some cases, you may need to inform the customer that their delivery has been re-dispatched. Toast POS allows you to send automated updates or manual messages to your customers. A quick heads-up can go a long way in maintaining a positive customer experience, especially if the re-dispatch causes a slight delay.
8. Benefits of Toast’s Re-Dispatch Feature
Re-dispatching an order is a seamless process with Toast, offering several key benefits:
- Faster Delivery Times: You can optimize delivery times by assigning the most suitable driver based on real-time conditions.
- Flexibility: Toast’s system allows you to quickly adapt to changing situations without disrupting your delivery flow.
- Customer Satisfaction: Keeping customers informed and managing their expectations is crucial, and the Toast system allows you to do this efficiently.
9. Streamlining Your Delivery Operations with Toast
Toast Delivery Services is more than just a POS—it’s a powerful tool for managing and optimizing your restaurant’s delivery service. From re-dispatching orders to tracking drivers in real-time, the platform offers everything you need to ensure your customers get their food on time, every time. By mastering the re-dispatch process, you can improve your restaurant’s delivery efficiency and keep your customers happy, even when the unexpected happens.
