Busy mode temporarily increases order prep times during your peak periods, so quoted times reflect how long your kitchen is actually taking. You turn it on for the rest of a shift by picking an end time and how much extra prep time to add, and you can also schedule it to repeat during the week. This article covers where to find busy mode, how the extra prep time is calculated, and how to turn it on.
Where to Find Busy Mode
Busy mode lives in a single store's settings, so you turn it on per store rather than across your whole business.
In the Merchant Portal, click Settings in the left sidebar.
On the Stores page, select the store you want to update.
Click Settings for that store.
You will land on the store's status page. Busy mode sits in the Store status card, below Pause all ordering channels.
How Additional Prep Time Works
Busy mode adds additional prep time on top of your normal prep time rather than replacing it. If your normal prep time is 15 minutes and you add an extra 10 minutes, your total prep time becomes 25 minutes.
You can add extra prep time in five-minute increments, from 5 minutes upward.
Turning On Busy Mode
In the Store status card, click Turn on now under Busy mode.
The Turn on busy mode window opens with two fields, End time and Additional prep time.
Select an Additional prep time — how many extra minutes to add to your normal prep time.
Select an End time — when busy mode should switch off. End times are offered in 15-minute increments.
Click Save.
Note: Save stays greyed out until you have set both fields. If you cannot click it, one of the two is still empty.
Scheduling Busy Mode for Recurring Rushes
If the same periods are busy every week, you can schedule busy mode instead of switching it on each time. Scheduling lets you choose when to add extra prep time during the week, and you can adjust your schedule at any time.
Scheduling busy mode can help minimize early Dasher arrivals and reduce wait times at your store.
To set one up, use Schedule busy mode in the Schedule busy mode card, to the right of Store status. Until you create one, this card shows No schedule yet.
Questions? If you need help with this process or have questions, reach out to DoorDash Support at oosupport@doordash.com.