# Smart Delay
### Introduction
Smart Delay in Retainful enables you to strategically time your communications by setting delays for specific times or days. This feature helps ensure your messages are delivered at optimal moments, improving customer engagement and driving conversions.
***
### Delay Until a Specific Time of the Day
* Set a delay to send messages at a specific time during the day, considering customer preferences and behavior.
* When setting a waiting period of X days:
* Each day is calculated as **24 hours**.
* If a specific time of day is specified within X days, each day is treated as a **calendar day**, avoiding extended wait periods based on workflow entry times.
> **Example**
>
> An online fashion retailer triggers a follow-up discount email at **9 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST)** using Retainful's Smart Delay. By targeting early browsing hours, this enhances customer engagement, increasing the likelihood of successful purchases.
***
### Reception Timezone Option
* Ensure messages are delivered at a convenient time in the customer's local time zone.
***
### Delay Until Chosen Days of the Week
Customize delays based on specific days of the week, aligning with your target audience's activity patterns.
> **Example**
>
> A store owner plans follow-up emails for abandoned carts, sending discount offers only on **Saturdays and Sundays** to encourage customers to complete their purchases.
***
### Setting Up Smart Delay
Follow these steps to configure Smart Delay in Retainful:
> 1. Log in to the Retainful Dashboard
> 2. Navigate to the workflow you want to modify.
> 3. Select the Smart Delay Option
Schedule Method
> 1. For **time-based delays**:
> * Enter the desired time and select the customer's time zone.
> * 
> 2. For **day-based delays**:
> * Choose the preferred days of the week.
> * 
> 3. Save Your Settings
> * The Smart Delay will now be applied to your workflow/Campaigns.
***
### Benefits of Using Smart Delay
By leveraging Smart Delay, you can:
* Enhance customer engagement by ensuring messages are sent at the right time.
* Align email campaigns with customer behavior and preferences.
* Increase conversions and streamline your communication strategy.
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