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Delivery Zones

Admin

Delivery zones let you define the geographic areas your store delivers to and set delivery fees for each zone. Zones are defined using postal code patterns, so you can be as broad or as specific as your delivery coverage requires.

Delivery Zones

Feature flag required

Delivery zones are only available when Enable Local Delivery is enabled in your store settings. Navigate to Settings > Edit Settings > Operations tab and toggle on Enable Local Delivery.

How Delivery Zones Work​

When a customer places a delivery order, Brother POS matches their postal code against your configured zones to determine:

  1. Whether delivery is available to that address.
  2. What delivery fee to charge.
  3. Which zone the order belongs to for routing purposes.

If the customer's postal code does not match any zone, delivery is not available for that address.

Accessing Delivery Zones​

  1. Log in to the Admin Panel.
  2. Navigate to Delivery Zones (accessible when local delivery is enabled in Settings).
  3. The zone list loads, showing all configured zones.

Understanding the Zone Table​

ColumnDescription
Zone NameDescriptive name for the zone, with description shown below it.
Postal CodesThe postal code patterns that define this zone.
Delivery FeeThe fee charged, with free delivery threshold shown below it.
Same DayWhether same-day delivery is available for this zone.
PriorityZone priority for matching.
StatusActive or inactive, with a dedicated toggle button.
ActionsEdit and delete buttons.

Creating a Delivery Zone​

  1. Click the Add Delivery Zone button.
  2. Fill in the zone details:

Zone Name​

A descriptive name for the zone. This is used internally for routing and reporting.

  • Required: Yes
  • Example: "Downtown Core", "Suburb West", "Rural East"

Postal Code Patterns​

Define which postal codes belong to this zone. You can enter patterns using wildcards:

  • Exact match: S7K 1A1 -- Matches only this specific postal code.
  • Prefix match: S7K* -- Matches all postal codes starting with S7K.
  • Partial prefix: S7* -- Matches all postal codes starting with S7.
  • Multiple patterns: Enter multiple patterns in the text area, one per line.
Canadian postal code format

Canadian postal codes follow the format A1A 1A1 (letter-digit-letter space digit-letter-digit). When entering patterns, you can include or omit the space. Brother POS normalizes postal codes for matching.

Delivery Fee​

The fee charged to the customer for delivery to this zone.

  • Required: Yes
  • Format: Decimal with two places (e.g., 5.00)
  • Set to 0.00 for free delivery zones.

Free Delivery Threshold​

An optional order amount above which delivery is free for this zone.

  • Required: No
  • If set, orders above this amount receive free delivery. Orders below this amount are charged the delivery fee.
  • Example: Set to $50.00 so that orders over $50 get free delivery.

Same Day Available​

A boolean flag indicating whether same-day delivery is offered for this zone.

  1. Click Create Delivery Zone.

Editing a Delivery Zone​

  1. Click the Edit button on the zone row.
  2. Modify any fields.
  3. Click Update Delivery Zone.
Active orders

Changing a delivery fee only affects new orders. Orders already placed use the fee that was active when the order was created.

Zone Priority and Overlapping Patterns​

If a postal code matches multiple zones, Brother POS uses the most specific match:

  1. Exact postal code match takes priority over prefix match.
  2. Longer prefix matches take priority over shorter ones.
  3. If two zones have identical specificity, the zone listed first (by sort order) wins.

Example: A customer with postal code S7K 1A1:

  • Zone "Downtown" with pattern S7K 1A1 (exact) -- wins.
  • Zone "Central" with pattern S7K* (prefix) -- would match, but is less specific.
Avoid overlaps

For simplicity, try to design your zones so postal code patterns do not overlap. If you need tiered pricing (e.g., cheaper delivery to nearby areas), use non-overlapping patterns.

Disabling a Delivery Zone​

If you need to temporarily stop delivering to an area:

  1. Click the toggle active button on the zone row to switch it between active and inactive.

Inactive zones are skipped during postal code matching. Customers in that zone will see delivery as unavailable.

Deleting a Delivery Zone​

  1. Open the zone detail page.
  2. Click Delete Zone.
  3. Confirm the deletion.
Historical data

Deleting a zone does not delete historical order data associated with it. Orders that were delivered to the zone retain their zone reference in reports. However, the zone will no longer be available for new orders.

Best Practices​

  • Start simple -- Begin with 2-3 zones and expand as delivery volume grows.
  • Name zones clearly -- "Downtown" is better than "Zone 1". Drivers and dispatchers need to understand zones at a glance.
  • Set realistic thresholds -- Free delivery thresholds should cover your delivery costs. Do not set them so high that customers are discouraged.
  • Review fees quarterly -- Delivery costs change with fuel prices and driver wages. Adjust fees to maintain profitability.
  • Communicate to customers -- Display delivery fees and free delivery thresholds clearly on your website and at checkout.

What's Next?​

  • Routes -- Organize deliveries into optimized routes.
  • Drivers -- Manage driver accounts and mobile access.
  • Shipping Zones -- Configure shipping for mail-order deliveries.
  • Packing Slips -- Generate packing slips for delivery orders.