Walk into a Chipotle at noon. It’s chaos. A wall of delivery drivers shoving phones in faces, blocking the register, and ignoring paying customers. This "Handoff Hell" hurts your dine-in experience and slows down your delivery times.

Create a Dedicated "Pickup Zone"

Do not mix delivery pickups with your dine-in register. Set up a shelf or a table near the door. Sign it clearly: "Mobile Pickup / Delivery Drivers."

• Level 1: An open shelf (honor system). Fast, but risky for theft.

• Level 2: A manned station where a staff member hands over the bag. Slower, but secure.

The "Name on Bag" Protocol

Write the customer's name (or last 3 digits of the Order ID) on the bag in giant marker. Drivers don't want to read 12-point font on a receipt. They want to grab "JONES" and go. Make the name visible from 5 feet away.

Treating Drivers Like Partners

Most restaurants treat delivery drivers like nuisances. Flip the script. Offer them a free cup of water or a "Driver Loyalty Card" (pick up 10 orders, get a free soda). Why?

• Drivers will prioritize your pings because they like your restaurant.

• They will handle your food with more care.

• They will be patient if the food is running 2 minutes late.

Technology Integration

Use a "Customer Facing Display" or a TV screen that lists:

• "Order #123 - Ready"

• "Order #124 - Cooking" Drivers can look at the screen and know to wait outside, rather than crowding the counter asking "Is it ready?" every 30 seconds.