I always look at the order screen and try to sort out the drinks to organize them by order. Also focus on taking the order first, then continue organizing the drinks that pile up. If food is in the order, place it beside the drinks as well. Form little groups to keep it organized. Don’t let it fall just on DTO, the window person is also responsible for organizing the drinks and making sure the right drinks go out with each order. At my store right now the DTO person isn’t even near window; we rerouted the register to the front so we could practice “social distancing”. So at my store the responsibility of organizing and handing out drinks falls just on window person.

I hope that helps!

I put them in carriers and stuff as I go. But I make sure they’re correct by looking at the stickers total.

“1 of 3” on the top tells you there’s 3 drinks in thus order. “In order: 5” tells you there’s 2 other items on this order- most likely food.

I do a lot of staging between the cars. So that one person who ordered and hasn’t fully pulled away from the order box, that’s when I stage. It gives me a few seconds to grab the next couple drinks, and pull them together before my next order hits the box.

I look at my bump screen telling me what’s at the window and what’s next. Get the order at the window ready for them and place it in front of them. The next car I place in front of me, and the third order I’ll place just outside of my screen area. Basically making a line of 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

I would say the biggest thing is checking what’s needed at the window, staging their items as needed, working in between cars is very helpful, using your stickers and your order screen to confirm items, and communicating with your team.

If you’re looking for a white mocha for the window I would ask my window person first “did you already pass out the white mocha?” “no, it’s all I need.” “Hey bar, do you have that white mocha for drive? I need it at the window please!” Or hopefully they say “oh ya I passed it out first, they’re good!”

I think my biggest successor is moving inbetween cars is helpful and helps you keep focused during order taking as well. Then I ask my window, “hey what are we waiting on?”

I’ll get the item and get that line moving.



Edit:

I come from a variety of high volume drive stores, and worked as a SSV during peak on DTO almost everyday. It’s all about making every second count and work FOR YOU. If you only have enough time to stage one drink between cars- that’s one MORE drink staged for the line ya know?

The slower you speak, the slower the customer will order. Don't slow down so much that it's weird, but speak deliberately and clearly so you don't have to repeat yourself. It's not a race. Don't feel bad. Do what you need to do to get it right the first time and move on.

Honestly, don’t be afraid to ask them to hold at the box while you get a larger order situated. Having someone wait for 30 seconds while you organize drinks for DTR is not a big deal, won’t slow your window time down, and keeps the line moving faster in the long run. Another trick to stall them at the box is to say you’re checking to see if you have some food item they ordered even if you know you do so you can use this time to organize orders the items that are starting to stack up.

Something we implemented at our store that I found really helpful is we actually used painters tape to make little squares on the counter and labeled them car1, car2, car3 etc... so when I’m on DTO I can put the drinks in the little squares based on how far back in line they are and keep everything organized. It’s especially helpful on bigger orders.