Release Notes - 7.1.404 - 1751_0000

Summary

Volanté Build 1751 primarily introduces many UI updates and functional features for the Next Generation Kiosk, adjustments to transaction calculation for accuracy, and the ability to view and configure National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) Certification on the Standard POS.

Important Highlights from This Release

1. Visual enhancements on the Next Gen Kiosk user interface.
   Numerous improvements have been made to the UI, on top of new ways to customize the kiosk.
   
   
2. New Kiosk options in Kiosk Config.
   This allows for a wider range of customization for employee and customer-facing features.
   
   
3. Kiosks now allow for Customer Type discounts.
   Discounts are tied to Customer Types, and require "Clocked-In" users for Customer Type usage.  Automatic or forced "Clock-in" functionality accommodates these discounts.
   
   
4. NTEP Certification on POS and User Screens.  Associated weight scale standard features are also available.
   Many relevant POS screens display relevant NTEP certification details.  Additional weight scale unit settings can be adjusted from the BackOffice, via the System Configuration module.
   
   
5. Items and Options calculations overhauled.
   The system now ensures each individual portion of a calculation is maintained in the back end. This is important for maintaining accuracy when price modifiers are removed, or if rounding has been applied to parts of a transaction.

New Features

• Next Gen Kiosk – Landing and Background Screen Revamp
  • Kiosk splash screen customization is now divided into two graphics: the "Landing image" and the "Background Screen".
  • A distinct image can be provided for a "foreground layer", allowing for hovering logos or other visuals, in front of a static background.
  • This affects the visual appearance of hovering objects and animations on the kiosk – the background layer remains static while logos are shifted out of the way.
  • Documentation: Next Gen Kiosk Documentation - User Guide
    
    
• Mayo Close Day Reporting at POSes (AKA Director's Reports)

  • A Director's Report is a specific format of Close Day Report that can be printed at the kiosk as a receipt. This is useful for as quick reference for Managers at a POS solution.  

  • This report is similar to a Close Day Report printed in “Receipt” mode on the BackOffice. The information provided is condensed to fit a receipt.

  • Prerequisites: Manager permissions and credentials are required, and the day of the transaction to be viewed must already be closed. Reports cannot be pulled if a day is still open.

    • Closing the day can be accomplished in the POS, via Admin Options > Close Day.

  • Documentation: Mayo Reports – Director’s Reports
    
    
• NTEP Certification – Add Volanté Version Info and NTEP Certification Numbers on POS Screens

  • The Volanté Point-of-Sale System Software is currently certified by the NTEP, with a NTEP Certificate number of 18-019.

  • The Volanté POS UI is required to display proof of NTEP Device Certification on cashier screens, user screens, and admin option screens at all times.

  • NTEP certification fields can be set up in System Configuration > Page 7 (Tab) > Weigh Scale > NTEP Certification Number.
  • Documentation: 
    • NTEP (Weight Scale) Device Certification on Volanté POSes (Client-facing)
      
      
• Next Gen Kiosk – Apply Customer Type Discounts

• Customers will now be required to scan their badge before or during payment to get discounts based on their Customer Type.

  • By making use of Customer Types, it is possible to provide discounts for customers on Kiosks, based on Price Modifiers and Price Levels. 

  • This functionality can be enabled from General Settings > Kiosk Config > Customer Setting.

• For documentation, please see: Kiosk - Customer Type Discounts (Customer Settings)
  

• This module ties in with Auto Clock-in functionality.  

• Documentation: Next Gen Kiosk Documentation - User Guide

• Menu Setup – Promote and Export functions
  • Added the ability to promote and export menu items to and from stores.
    • Promote: Push locally-created items from local store level up to HeadOffice (Enterprise) level.
      • Only accessible in non-template (local BackOffice) stores.
      • Only usable on local items.  
      • Unable to promote multiple items at the same time.
    • Export: Push items from HeadOffice (Template/Enterprise) level down to local store level.  
      • Items can be pushed to multiple stores at the same time.  
      • Multi-selection is available. A button labelled "Export Selected/Export All Checked Menu Items" allows this.
      • Use the Store Picker to choose which stores should be pushed down.

New Features (Paragon-Specific)

• QSR Table Service Changes (Paragon-specific)
  • New options are available in System Config → General → Page 2; enabling “Send Print Priority as Category” forces the Volanté print priority based on the QSR category.
  • Cook Times are now sent when the POS terminal is in Table Service mode.
  • Users may enable the ability to skip QSR Ping checks by defining the InterfaceLink “QSR_SKIP_PING” under Hardware Terminal options.
    
    

• Added Support for ELO Paypoint Cash Drawers (Paragon-specific)
  • ELO Paypoint All-In-One units can now be configured in Terminal Setup, using the “ELO” CashDrawer type.
    
    

• Paragon Hotsoft Interface Updates (Paragon-specific)
  • Adds support for card swipe/scanparser to Hotsoft iGiftCard Interface.

Improvement

• Kiosk Upsell - Combo Upsell Options appear prior to addition of items 

  • On the Kiosk, Combo Upsell options now appear prior to an item being added.

    • If the user selects "Yes", the combo is created and added.

    • If the user selects "No", only the original item is added. 

    • If ignored, the original item is not added.

  • Combos are now fully editable. Each individual part of the combo can be edited.

  • Combos now allow for options on options. Options can be selected upon selecting options, and can be configured as such from the BackOffice.

  • When editing an item, the kiosk returns users either to the checkout pane or the most recent item page, depending on where the edit was initiated.

  • You cannot edit an original item in the middle of an upsell process, but the original item can be edited once added to a cart.

  • There is no "manual combo" option on Kiosk anymore. Combos are either set up to to "auto-combo", or won't have the option at all.

  • Users can now easily set up an auto-combo to include a barcode item.
    
    

• New Menu: NTEP Certification - Receipt changes required for Ntep Certification

  • Receipts now display information about weight scale items that adhere to NTEP standards. 

  • The weight of the item is also displayed in the appropriate units, and should be set in the system according to this unit. 

  • The unit being displayed depends on the unit selected in System Configuration > Page 7.  

  • Documentation: /wiki/spaces/IS/pages/63353881

• Rounding Calculations for Tare Weights
  • NTEP Certification has lead to adjustments to tare weight rounding/calculation, ensuring greater accuracy.

  • Calculation changes have been made to all transactions, ensuring that tare weight is now correctly subtracted from only the weight scale item (independently) before any multiplication or rounding occurs.

• Migrate Email Reporting Script now available in Email Notification Module
  • Email Reporting scripts are now available in the Email Notification module.

  • This module can accessed from the BackOffice > General Setup.

  • Scripts have been implemented via Notification Setup > Notification > Primary Info.

  • Documentation: Email Notification Module
    
    
• Next Gen Kiosk – Text-only Mode - Item and Option display text-only if no images are present
  • Items without Menu Item images will now display placeholder boxes containing the Menu Item name, instead of blank boxes with no graphics. These empty boxes are referred to as "Text-only".
  • The boxes themselves allow for color customization. The colors used can be set in Kiosk Config.
    
    
• Next Gen Kiosk – Combo Edit button
  • Combo Editing functionality is now available on the kiosk.  
  • Allows users to revisit a combo item's options in the option summary screen, and alter any choices made.
    
    
• Next Gen Kiosk – Arrangement of Kiosk Categories
  • Kiosk Categories UI has been completely revamped.
  • Moving forward, sites using Kiosks previously on 1750 (i.e. Marietta-Changed Plate, Studio on 3rd and Canteen-Ren Centre) will require all graphics to be updated based on new graphics requirements.
  • Documentation on specific differences in Kiosk UI between 1750 and 1751, please see: Next Gen Kiosk Documentation - User Guide
    
    
• Menu Setup – Transaction Calculation Changes account for price throughout various steps in the calculation
  • Methods for calculating transactions have been overhauled, ensuring accuracy within specific portions of transactions. 

  • This was accomplished by logging price changes in a column in the transaction_items table, and recording the difference of the current price before combo to the new price.

    • All transaction calculations will be stored and take into account all types of price modifiers in the back end. 

    • Refactoring has been done to ensure all aspects of a transaction are logged, meaning it is now possible to revert particular aspects of a transaction and maintain accuracy.

    • Calculations are always performed in the following order: Price Level, Open Price, Weight Scale Price, Custom Price, Option Modifiers, Quantity Points, Combo Price Changes, Timer Intervals, and Integrated Taxes.
  
  Next Gen Kiosk – Kiosk printers running out of paper disables additional orders

  • Printers at kiosks can be disabled if an printer is an error state.  Error states can be caused by either no paper or paper jams.

  • This is accomplished via BackOffice > Kiosk Config.
  • Documentation: /wiki/spaces/IS/pages/63364357