While network technology has advanced significantly, it isn't without its flaws. Networks can fail, and when they do, Clover Sport is here to help keep things running smoothly. A Clover Sport device can still complete certain orders during network issues. This means Clover Sport will process the order offline and then, once the network is restored, handle the payment. However, using this feature does come with some risks. This guide will explain what Offline Mode is and how to use it effectively.
- What is Offline Mode?
- How do I know when I'm working in Offline Mode?
- What risks are involved with using Offline Mode?
- Offline Credit Card Amount Limit (USD)
- What should I do after using Offline Mode?
- Can I log into the station if it is offline?
What is Offline Mode?
In a cloud-based point-of-sale system, maintaining a network connection is crucial. To address potential network issues, Clover Sport is designed to function with minimal or no network connectivity. With Offline Mode, you can continue to complete orders even during internet disruptions.
In Offline Mode, orders are processed immediately, while payments are queued in the background until the network is restored. This allows you to keep lines moving and maintain customer satisfaction. However, there is a risk: payments cannot be authorized until the network is back online. This means that if a credit card transaction fails, you won’t know until after the order is completed.
How do I know when I'm working in Offline Mode?
When the network is functioning properly and meets Clover Sport’s networking standards (approximately 1 Mbps per device), the system will operate as expected.
If the Register detects that there is no Ethernet cable connected and no configured WiFi network, it will automatically switch to Offline Mode.
The Online/Offline status icon will indicate when the device is offline. While taking orders in Offline Mode, the Un-synced Orders indicator will display the number of offline orders in red.
A cashier or manager (with the appropriate role permissions) can manually toggle Offline Mode using the switch at the top of the screen. Once the device is manually set to offline, it will remain in Offline Mode until the cashier or manager toggles it back online.
If there are Un-synced Offline orders, the device will prevent a user from logging off until those orders have been synced.
What risks are involved with using Offline Mode?
The main purpose of Offline Mode is to keep lines moving by allowing orders to be completed while delaying payment processing until the network is restored. However, this means that if a payment fails during an order, the cashier won’t be aware until after the network is back online.
Key issues when using Offline Mode:
- Orders paid with credit cards must be below the threshold amount set in the location settings.
- Stored Value/Gift Cards cannot be accepted.
- The Single Identity feature will not work while offline (features like loyalty programs will be unavailable).
- Orders and payments must be synced once network access is restored to process the payments.
Please note that Clover Sport is not responsible for any lost funds resulting from the use of Offline Mode.
Offline Credit Card Amount Limit (USD)
The offline credit card limit is the highest amount you will accept for transactions when your device is not connected to the internet. Since card information isn't sent to the bank for processing in offline mode, there's a risk of potential loss. Setting this limit helps minimize that risk by capping the transaction amount per card.
To set your offline credit card amount limit default setting,
1. Navigate to Configuration > General Settings.
2. Scroll down to Payments.
3. Input a value under Offline Credit Card Amount Limit (USD).
4. Click Save.
5. This is now your venue default, but you can adjust the value per Location. For example, if you want a higher offline credit card amount limit at your Suites than your concessions, you can assign a different value to your Suites locations.
Below is an example of the notification the order taker receives when an order is above the offline credit card amount limit of $100:
To continue, the guest will need to pay with cash, or lower their order to below $100.
What should I do after using Offline Mode?
When using Offline Mode it is critical that Orders and Payments are synced as soon as possible. After network availability returns you should:
- Sync any pending offline orders
- Sync any offline external payments
Click the above links for more information about these processes.
Can I log into the station if it is offline?
If the last user to log in while online was an admin and data had not been cleared, that user will be able to log in again.