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Create KML delivery zones

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A KML file defines the exact geographic shape of a delivery area, so you can control coverage precisely instead of relying on a simple radius. This guide walks through creating a KML file with Google Earth, a free, fast tool for drawing delivery boundaries, and uploading it to your store settings in the Dashboard.

Why use KML delivery zones​

  • Precise coverage control — define exact delivery boundaries instead of an approximate radius, so orders outside your real coverage area are rejected before they're placed.
  • Improved logistics — drivers and dispatchers work within clear, predefined areas.
  • Customizable zones — create multiple delivery regions based on store capacity or demand.
  • Easy integration — upload the KML file directly to your store settings in Ordering.co.
  • Scalable setup — works for a single-location store or a multi-zone delivery network.

Create a KML file in Google Earth​

  1. Open Google Earth, create a new project, and select New Project.

    Creating a new project in Google Earth
  2. Search for your city to center the map on your delivery area.

    Searching for a city in Google Earth
  3. Select Add path or polygon to start drawing the area you want to cover.

    Add path or polygon option in Google Earth
  4. Draw the delivery area. The polygon or path must always be a closed shape — leaving it open causes problems when the file is imported. When you're done, select Save to Project.

    Drawing a closed delivery-zone polygon in Google Earth
  5. Give the project a clear name so you can find and assign it to the right store later.

    Naming a delivery-zone project in Google Earth
  6. Select the three-dot menu next to the project in the left panel and choose Export as KML file.

    Export as KML file option in Google Earth

Your KML file is ready to use.

Apply the KML boundary to your store​

A store's delivery-zone editor in the Dashboard defines zones with the Polygon method among others — see Delivery and pickup for the full set of methods. Use your exported KML file as the reference for the exact boundary: open it in Google Earth (or any KML viewer) alongside the Dashboard's delivery-zone map and reproduce the same points with the Polygon tool to activate location-based delivery for that area.

Use cases​

  • Urban delivery zones — define neighborhoods or districts for efficient routing.
  • Multi-store networks — assign a different KML zone to each store location.
  • Dynamic coverage — adjust delivery areas as demand or operations change, by re-exporting and re-uploading an updated KML file.