4.7a

1. New Features

• Combo by seat number - When qualifying items are ordered by seat number, they can be built into a combo using the seat number for speedy ordering. 
  
  
• Item quantity countdown - Shows the available quantity of an item that is low in stock and reduces the quantity as the item is sold. For staff and guest UI.
  
  
• Show only added/removed components on screen and check - Site can configure their POS to only show components that are added or removed; default items aren't shown.
  
  
• Set adjustments by menu item category - Site can choose to make an entire menu item category eligible for specific adjustments 
  
  

See the NorthStar What's New document for more detailed information on these new features.  

2. Improvements

Ordering  

• Adjustments - Add memo
  • Adjustment reasons can be configured to allow or require a memo to be added when an adjustment is applied 
    
    
• Advance Orders - Default to 30 days
  • Changes current default setting on Advance Orders Search from 1 day to 30 days
    
    
• Counter Service - Quick access to designated locations and order types 
  • Counter service operators have the option to designate locations and order types and use icons for quick access from Ordering Menu instead of Location Manager.
  • Can specify display order of icons. 
  • In check search, checks can be searched quickly using the location icons. 
    
    
• Text Message - Send SMS message to customer when their order is ready for pickup 
  • Sites can enter a mobile number in the guest ID window to be used to notify guests when their order is ready for pickup. (Only available for Bematech KitchenGo allee KDS with Twilio cloud communications platform.)

Employee management

• Breaks - Can take breaks as needed 
  • Users can start a break prior to established break time. 

• Cash out - Add Cashout button to Cashier Menu for easy cashout
  
  • Allow staff to be cashed out by accessing cashout process from Ordering Menu instead of only from Location Manager. 
    
    
• Time Clock - Staff can clock out without cashing out first 
  • Job permission can be set to allow a user to clock out without cashing out first. Any open checks will remain open when the user clocks out.
    
    
• Kitchen printing - User can designate the printer a POS device will use to print time chits
  • POS device can be configured to print time chits to a designated printer.

Payment 

• Payment - CC pre-auth on an external device to start a tab
  • Option to pre-authorize a credit card on an external device when a guest starts a tab 

Efficiency

• Tips - Add tips to multiple transactions 
  • To improve efficiency and speed of service, checks can be finalized and tips added later through a single Manage Tips screen.

UI Improvements

• Checks - Shorter guest check 
  • Reduced font sizes and eliminated spaces to reduce length of guest check; sites can opt to hide child items in a combo to reduce further. 

• Components - Remove unneeded "add" text
  • Components added to an item will show the added component without "add" or "extra" signifies
    
    
• Check Search 
  • Option to show/hide location numbers in Check Search after finalize and show/hide order types in check panel 

• Menu Item Button Name - Option to designate button name used on Ordering Menu 
  • Site can define the name of the button used on the Order Entry app. This can differ from the item name and the kitchen name. (Staff-facing UI only.) 

3. Fixes

• Adjustments
  
  • Can apply the same discount to multiple items on a check. 
• Cashout
  • Tip share percentage displays correct calculation on chit and iPad. 
• Services
  
  • Offline transactions function normally when internet connection is interrupted. (In Progress)
  • Single, not multiple checks created through WOAPI. 
• Printing
  
  • Gift card balance prints properly on receipt during card inquiry.
• Staff UI
  
  • Alternate Payment displays correct status when disabled or enabled.
  • Break notification button does not display when utilizing Clean Screen. 
  • Order type is correctly displayed on check in check search. (Code Review)
  • Error message does not display on log out. 
  • Check details are properly aligned when displayed on check search.
  • Reopen checks uses the correct check location; does not change to the default location in the iPad.
  • Component rules and requirements do not disappear from ordering screen after a deploy.
  • Response time improved when sending multiple menu items with or without components to the kitchen.   
  • User can split payments amounts correctly on check in payment menu.
  • Timeclock adjustment reasons populate correctly.
  • Components print on kitchen chits with prep descriptions configured for menu items.
  • Able to void credit card payments after moving check to another location. 
• Ordering
  • Online orders sent before their scheduled times do not print a second blank check.  
• Processor
  • Offline transactions properly process payments on checks once network or internet connection returns.
  • Voided transactions properly display the last four digits of the credit card instead of "NFC Captured."
  • Red text below a ordered menu item syncs properly and displays changes to two or more iPads connected to the same location.
• Reports
  
  • Minor spelling corrections on cashout error messages.
  • Labor Summary and Labor Category correctly prints out on DSR report.
  • During cashout the server is able to access any unfinished transactions and can also access the table/location it's connected to via the cashout screen.

4. Related 4.7a Documentation

All NorthStar Order Entry documentation and how-to guides are located in the links below:

• 4.7a #4801 - Technical release notes
• NorthStar 4.7a release - What's New
• User Guides 

4.7b

1. New Features

NOTE - Some new features and improvements require activation on accounts that wish to use them. Contact your account manager to discuss and activate, if applicable.

• App
  • Able to view what time menu items were sent to the kitchen and able to print chit with time sent on it.
• Staff UI 
  • Easy access to Time Clock, Break Notifications, and Cashout by tapping staff name on Staff UI

2. Improvements

NOTE - Some new features and improvements require activation on accounts that wish to use them. Contact your account manager to discuss and activate, if applicable.

• Cash Drawer Assignments

  • Dual cash drawers can now be configured for sites along with drawer assignments and a cashout drawer.
  • Able to see all users with drawer assignments. 

• Cashout

  • Managers have the ability to cashout the entire house.
  • Manager able to cashout the drawer separately from user cashout.

• Customer Accounts

  • Advanced Orders can have the option to not require a customer account attached to an order.

• Printing

  • Counter Service can now send items to the kitchen once check has been finalized.

• Reporting

  • iPad DSR will display the over/short 

• Staff UI

  • If privileges are flagged, staff or cash drawers will be required to enter a cash deposit prior to cashout.
  • Item search also includes PLU/Barcode numbers.
  • Discounted items are able to be moved from one check to another and retain discount. 
  • Payment price and check details match on receipt, payment screen, and search check details.  

3. Fixes

• Cashout

  • Cashing out with an unfinished transaction and/or adding a deposit no longer displays an error message.
  • Cashout reports for staff, drawer, and entire house correctly prints cash deposit and over/short. (In Progress)

• Printing

  • Corrected spacing on receipt via watermark when time sent is printed.
  • Ordered items send to the kitchen properly. (In Progress)
  • Labor summary no longer prints twice during cashout (Open)

• Processor

  • Credit card payments through Bluetooth payment device no longer displays error even though processor payment was successful. 

• Reporting

  • Labor section on iPad DSR, user, area, and drawer filters are disabled.
  • ECM DSR and iPad DSR Net sales match (Open)

• Staff UI

  • Counter service orders park properly once sent.
  • Discounts properly apply to checks now. 
  • Checks details match from receipt, to payment screen, to check detail in check search.
  • Adjusting a clock-out for breaks no longer deletes the user's clock-in for their work day. (QA)
  • Accessing users in time clock does no longer displays an Object Reference error anymore. (In Progress)

• Kiosk

  • Second ordered items send to kitchen properly even if "payment not allowed" is enabled. 

4. Related 4.7b Documentation

All NorthStar Order Entry documentation and how-to guides are located in the links below:

• 4.7b #4873 [Master] - Technical release notes
• NorthStar 4.7b release - What's New
• User Guides