Hold and Fire
Food ready exactly when the driver arrives. Not before.
Problem
Delivery orders were being prepared too early. Food sat ready and got cold while waiting for drivers. When the driver arrived, food quality had already degraded. Customers complained. Refunds followed.
What I built
A just-in-time cooking system that triggers food preparation at the optimal moment based on driver ETA and restaurant prep time.
When a driver is assigned, the system compares driver ETA against the order prep time.
If driver ETA is greater than prep time, the order is held with a visible countdown. Cooking starts automatically when the countdown reaches zero.
If driver ETA is less than or equal to prep time, cooking starts immediately so food is ready when the driver arrives.
For restaurants using manual driver assignment, the system supports own drivers and third-party driver requests with a clear confirmation flow before charges are incurred.
Key decisions
Hold orders in a visible dedicated tab so kitchen staff always know what is waiting. Show a countdown not just a status so timing is actionable. Separate automated and manual delivery partner flows cleanly.
Outcome
Food prepared just in time for driver arrival. Driver wait time at restaurant reduced. Cold food complaints and associated refunds reduced.