Delivery zones tell Cents which areas your own drivers cover. With geofencing, you draw the exact boundaries of each zone on a map instead of listing zip codes, so your service area can match reality street by street. Each zone then connects to the delivery windows customers can book, so people only see time slots that apply to their address.
Zip codes or geofencing: which to use
Cents gives you two ways to define a delivery zone:
Zip code: list the zip codes each zone covers. This is the default.
Geofence: draw a custom shape on the map. Best when your service area doesn't line up neatly with zip codes, for example when you only deliver to part of a zip code.
You choose the method per location in Delivery Settings, and you can pin specific addresses to a zone with either method (see below).
Before you start
You'll need admin access to the Cents Business Manager.
Own-driver delivery should be enabled for the location, since these zones apply to deliveries your own drivers make.
Know the areas you want each zone to cover.
How to set up a geofence zone
Log in to the Cents Business Manager.
Click Admin in the top navigation, then select Locations.
Choose your location and open Delivery Settings.
Make sure I Have My Own Drivers is selected, then scroll to the Service Area section.
For the zone type, choose Zone by Geofence.
Add a zone, then give it a name and pick a color. The color only helps you tell zones apart on the map, so it doesn't need to match your delivery window colors.
Draw the zone on the map: if you need to move the map first, click the hand icon at the top-middle of the map, then select the polygon icon when you're ready to draw. Click points around the area you want to cover, then close the shape by making your last click land on your first point.
Click Save. The zone now appears in your Service Area list.
Repeat for any other zones. Remember that zones cannot overlap and each zone name must be unique.
Pin a specific address to a zone (optional)
Sometimes you want a single building or address in a particular zone, no matter the boundaries you drew. With either zone type:
Open a zone, or click + Zone to create a new one.
Start typing the service address and choose it from the suggestions.
Assign a color and click Save.
The address appears as a colored dot on the map. An address can belong to only one zone. If it's already in another zone, Cents will let you know. When an address matches both a pinned address and a drawn zone, the pinned address wins.
Connect your zones to delivery windows
Zones decide which delivery windows a customer sees, so the final step is attaching each zone to the right windows. In your delivery windows, use the Zone dropdown to choose which zone each window serves. For the full walkthrough, see How to Set Up Delivery Windows.
Important things to know
Zones can't overlap. Each point on the map can belong to only one zone.
Zone names must be unique, including names you already used for zip-code zones.
Color is visual only. It helps you tell zones apart and doesn't need to match window colors.
Specific addresses take priority. If an address is pinned to one zone but sits inside another zone's shape, the pinned address wins.
Zip code is the default. Locations start on zip-code zones until you switch to geofencing.
Changing zones doesn't move existing orders. Orders already booked keep their windows. When a customer reschedules, Cents re-checks their address against your current zones.
Troubleshooting
"Zones can't overlap." Two shapes are crossing. Edit one so the boundaries don't touch. Every area should sit in only one zone.
Can't close the shape. Your last click needs to land on the same point where you started. Use the hand icon to pan and the polygon icon to draw.
"Zone name already exists." Choose a different name. Names must be unique across both zip-code and geofence zones.
A customer can't book delivery. Their address may fall outside every zone, or the zone isn't attached to a delivery window yet. Confirm the address sits inside a zone and that the zone is assigned to at least one window.
An address won't save to a zone. It's probably already assigned to another zone or another store. Remove it there first, or check the zone named in the message.
FAQ
Do I have to use geofencing?
No. Zip codes are the default and fully supported. Geofencing is there when you want more precise boundaries.
Can zones overlap?
No. Draw them so they don't touch.
Does the zone color mean anything?
It's only for telling zones apart on the map.
I switched to geofencing. Why didn't my current orders change?
Existing orders keep their windows. The new zones apply when a customer reschedules or places a new order.
Video walkthrough
Here's a step-by-step video walkthrough of setting up geofencing:
Need assistance?
Feel free to text our Cents Support team at 888-302-8809.