How Epos System Works In Offline Mode, What Should You Know and Prepare?

There are a few businesses that are sensitive to interruptions in the till system, for example busy bars, restaurants and coffee shops. In case if you can`t process orders or transactions when the customer is there, you`re losing sales.

There are some 100% cloud-based POS systems that don`t work at all during internet downtime. Other options do, however, but it is likely not all functions will keep running as when it is online.

If you can`t rely on the local Wi-Fi or internet connection, how might you guarantee your POS system is running smoothly? What offline functionality should you search for in a new till system?

100% Online POS Systems

If your POS system is totally cloud-based, it possibly works when it`s connected to the internet. That makes it important to have a backup internet connection if you need to maintain un-interruption at the till.
It also implies there won`t be a functioning offline mode, so as opposed to gauging what might work offline, you should focus on the hardware and infrastructure on your premises.
Some of the possible answers to ensure for smooth running of the POS is running easily:

• • A few businesses have two or more internet connections on their premises. In spite of the fact that it can seem to be a stretch with two broadband suppliers, it worth considering about what the lost sales would amount to if the system was down during a busy time of the day.
• • Get a Wi-Fi dongle, these can cost around £5-£90 each, and after that you pay for a data plan.
• • Your smart phone can be set to `Wi-Fi hotspot` to enable your POS tablet to use the telephone`s Wi-Fi. This might be costly in case you`re on a limited data plan on the telephone and your epos software uses lots of data, so in case you`re opting on this, go for a data plan that doesn`t wind up costing more than the misfortunes you would have without it.
• • If the issue isn`t always lack of connectivity, but also a weak Wi-Fi reception, you can strategically put Wi-Fi boosters or extenders around your premises so your primary tills consistently have a strong connection. Certain walls can block Wi-Fi, so if walls are in the middle of your router and till area, such devices could be essential to set up.

If you`re uncertain which POS software is entirely cloud-based, it`s wise to ask the provider directly about this before you commit to a possible agreement.

Hybrid POS systems

Hybrid POS systems store data on your hard drive and some in the cloud. If internet goes down, most hybrid systems can continue working smoothly, however not all functions will work and this is where it pays off to discover from the POS supplier what will and will not work in offline mode.

Features that normally don`t work offline require syncing up with other devices, submitting data to the cloud system for processing or using data not available on the POS tablet or PC. For example, you can`t order stock from a vendor through the EPOS software without submitting it online.

It shifts between POS systems the amount you can use the product without Wi-Fi, and what features precisely are affected.

Here are some important things about offline mode:

• • Can you be able to log in to the POS app in case you`re logged out when the internet goes? Some apps can`t log you in without checking customer details online, effectively deeming the software futile if you happen to be logged out.
• • Would you be able to get to your customer library in offline mode? If you have to attach transactions to customers in your database or look into their loyalty status, this could be important.
• • What payment methods can be accepted online?
• • In case you`re dealing a large inventory, it worth checking whether each of your products and associated details are available offline.
• • In general, discover what the software can`t do offline instead of what it can do. It`s to miss crucial shortcomings if you simply focus on the promoted can-dos in offline mode. You could record what functions should always be working in your shop, then check each one of these work offline.

Many hybrid EPOS systems enable you to set up an onsite server to keep multiple tills synced constantly. These systems use the server to keep all your tills adjusted, so if that one till process a food order, another on your local system can get data about this order to prepare the meal for the customer.

Card Payments in Offline Mode

Card payments for the most part require internet connection with the payment company and confirm the card. Although possible to read a debit or credit card offline, it`s not until you reconnect with the internet that the system uses the stored transaction data to do the actual card processing.

When that occurs, you should be able to check whether the payment done. Some may not be successful. That is a risk you`re taking by accepting cards offline, so be wary that taking lots of card payments without an internet connection could lead a few losses for your business.

A way around this is to get an extra, standalone card reader that works on a basic telephone reception or wired broadband connection, not simply Wi-Fi. Regardless of whether this isn`t integrated with the till, you can successfully acknowledge the payment through the card reader on the spot, then manually indicate in the POS system that it was a card transaction.