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Delivery & Automation Settings

Automate your delivery workflows for precision, efficiency, and customer satisfaction

Updated over a week ago

The Delivery and Automation Settings in Appliance.io let you combine and automate your delivery, scheduling, installation, pricing, and fulfillment processes. With the right setup, your logistics team can operate seamlessly — minimizing errors, improving driver accountability, and ensuring every customer experience meets your standards.


📍 Accessing Delivery & Install Automation

To begin:

  1. Go to Advanced Settings.

  2. Select Delivery & Install Automation.

At the top of the page, you’ll find three main tabs:

  • General Settings

  • Delivery Configuration

  • Delivery Methods

  • Install Rules

Let’s walk through each section and get your automation configured correctly.


⚙️ General Settings

📅 Auto Schedule

The Auto-Scheduling feature automates customer notifications when their ordered items are ready for delivery.

When enabled, the system sends a customized SMS and/or email to the customer as soon as items are in stock — allowing them to self-schedule their own delivery directly from the message.

Configuration Options

  • Auto-Scheduler Default: Toggle ON to automatically enable the auto-scheduler for all new orders.

  • Lock Auto-Scheduler Default: Prevents staff from turning off the auto-scheduler for individual orders.

  • Notification Timing: Choose when customers should receive the message:

    • When any items arrive in stock, or

    • When all items in the order are in stock.

This helps your team stay proactive while giving customers a smooth, self-service scheduling experience — reducing phone calls and manual coordination.

🧾 Damage Waiver

The Damage Waiver gives drivers a quick, digital way to protect your company and the customer when a delivery involves risk (like stairs, tight spaces, or new flooring).
It’s toggled on by default and should remain enabled for full protection.

Why It Matters

If a customer requests a potentially risky delivery scenario, the driver can:

  1. Open the Driver App while at the stop.

  2. Tap the three dots next to their route status.

  3. Select Damage Waiver from the dropdown.

  4. Hand the phone to the customer for signature.

  5. Submit the form — the system records it instantly.

This ensures both parties acknowledge the risk before proceeding.

Platform Setup

In your platform view:

  • Give your waiver a clear, descriptive title (e.g., “Damage Liability Acknowledgement”).

  • Write the full waiver text — include all disclaimers to protect your company and inform the customer.

♻️ Haul Away & Move

This feature manages your Haul Away and Move services — optional add-ons for customers who want existing appliances relocated or removed.

  • Haul Away: Removing an item from the customer’s property.

  • Move: Relocating an item on the property (for example, moving an appliance to a basement or garage).

Toggle each service on or off depending on what your company offers.

Customization

  • Service Names: Customize each label to match your business language.

  • Descriptions: Be clear about what you do or don’t include — for example, stairs, tight driveways, or long walkways.

  • Charges:

    • Set an automatic Haul-Away charge per item.

    • Define a reduced or free rate if a haul-away is paired with an installation.

These details help ensure transparency for customers and streamline invoicing for your team.


🚚 Delivery Configuration

The Delivery Configuration tab centralizes all the key automation and pricing settings for your delivery process.
It includes four key sections: Delivery Rules, Delivery Options, Pricing Zones, and Freight & Surcharge Rules.

⚙️ Delivery Rules

These rules define how your routes, trucks, and deliveries are automatically managed.
All toggles can be enabled or disabled depending on your workflow preferences:

  1. Require Model Scans Before Route Start
    Ensures all models are scanned out before a route can begin — preventing drivers from leaving without the correct items.

  2. Auto-Complete Trucks at a Set Local Time
    Automatically completes all active trucks at the time you specify. This ensures drivers don’t leave routes open overnight, preventing delays or route conflicts the next morning.

  3. Lock Delivery Status to Delivered
    Once a delivery is marked as Delivered in the Driver App, the status cannot be reopened manually. This helps avoid confusion and keeps your records consistent.

  4. Alert Drivers About Open Routes
    Warns drivers attempting to accept a new route when they already have one open. This setting is optional but highly recommended for maintaining route integrity.

🚛 Delivery Options

The Delivery Options section manages the available delivery types for your orders.
Here, you can:

  • Add New Delivery Options – Create new configurations for specific delivery services.

  • Edit Existing Options – Update names, descriptions, or availability.

  • Archive Options – Hide outdated or unused delivery types without deleting their history.

This flexibility allows you to tailor delivery experiences for different order types, customers, or regions.

💰 Pricing Zones

In Pricing Zones, you can set additional charges based on service area or zip codes.
This helps automate fees for long-distance deliveries or specific regions.

You can:

  • Add New Pricing Zones

  • Edit or Archive Existing Zones

  • Assign Specific Zip Codes and Charges for each zone

Example:

  • Zone 1 – Zip Codes 90210, 90045 — +$50 surcharge

  • Zone 2 – Zip Codes 91362, 91436 — +$75 surcharge

This ensures delivery pricing accurately reflects travel time and fuel costs, while staying transparent to the customer.


🚛 Delivery Methods

Under Delivery Methods, you’ll see a list of all your configured methods.

Creating or Editing Delivery Methods

  • Click Create New Delivery Method to add a new one.

  • Use the drop-down menu in the top-left to select your default method (changes apply instantly).

  • Edit any existing method using the pencil icon.

💡 Note: Pick-Up Locations are activated from Company → Location Settings.
Click the link in the warning banner to go there quickly. From there, toggle pickup availability for specific locations.


🔧 Install Rules

The Install Rules tab lets you define installation categories, subcategories, and detailed rules.

Each install rule includes:

  • Category

  • Subcategory

  • Detail Category

  • Filter Names

  • Full Install Description

Click "Go to Install Page" to manage installations directly.

🚫 Blocked Methods

You can restrict certain delivery methods from performing specific installations.

  1. Click Block a Method (top-right).

  2. Choose whether to block:

    • An entire delivery company, or

    • A specific driver.

  3. View blocked methods directly under each install type.

Use the search bar and filters to find specific installations quickly.


🎉 You’re All Set!

That’s it — your Delivery & Automation Settings are ready!
With everything configured, your system now automates:

  • Delivery completion and route management

  • Pricing and service zones

  • Driver accountability and waiver protection

  • Installation permissions and controls

You’ve just streamlined your operations — fewer manual steps, faster deliveries, and safer installs. 🚀

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