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NorthStar 4.8.3: Features and Improvements (Server/App)

NorthStar 4.8.3: Features and Improvements (Server/App)

Jul 22, 2021
Configuration
Operation 
Configuration
Operation 

NorthStar Mobile Manager

NS Mobile Manager is NorthStar's real-time mobile reporting tool. With NS Mobile Manager, a user can receive and review information on their Android or iOS mobile device wherever they are. 

Documentation: NS Mobile Manager

 

Refer to NS Mobile Manager. 

Guest Identifier Speed Screen 

User can select guest identifiers from a pre-defined list 

To improve ordering speed and ease of use, the order taker can select from an account-defined list of guest identifiers to make quick guest identifier selections during the order-taking workflow. The availability of guest identifiers is controlled by area. 

Documentation: Guest Identifier Speed Screen

ECM Setup: Guest Identifier Categories, Guest Identifiers (ECM)

Configuration
Operation 

Pre-conditions

Account feature toggle required*

Allow Guest Identifier Categories

Configuration

  • Create guest identifier categories (example: Vehicle Type)

  • Add guest identifiers to each guest identifier category (example: sedan, convertible, SUV) 

Optional: 

If the Area setting Guest identifier is required is selected, the guest identifier screen will automatically display in a pop-up when items are sent to the kitchen or when Payment is tapped.

If this Area setting is not selected, the staff member will tap the guest identifier icon on the NorthStar Order Entry app to open the guest identifier screen. 

GUEST IDENTIFIER CATEGORIES

Path: Categories > Guest Identifier Categories

Guest identifier categories can be added, edited, searched and moved to change the display order. 

ADD GUEST IDENTIFIER CATEGORY

  • Click Add Guest Identifier Category 

    • Enter Name and Description and select Active to make this an active Guest Identifier Category.

    • Click Save and Edit to edit the category and add guest identifiers to the category.

  • Click the edit (pencil) icon to edit an existing guest identifier category 

EDIT GUEST IDENTIFIER CATEGORY/ADD GUEST IDENTIFIERS

  • General tab: Edit name, description and Active setting 

  • Guest Identifiers tab: 

    • Use up/down arrows to move selections up or down in list

    • Click Sort alphabetically (A-Z) to sort the list in alphabetical order 

    • To add, click Add Guest Identifier 

      • Form field opens to add guest identifier; add text, select Active

      • Click Save Changes at top and continue adding guest identifiers

    • Click Save at bottom to return to Guest Identifier Categories

GUEST IDENTIFIERS

Path: Categories > Guest Identifiers

Guest identifiers can be added, edited, searched and moved to change the display order. 

  • Click Add Guest Identifier

  • Form field opens to add guest identifier; add text, select Active

  • Click Save Changes at top and continue adding guest identifiers

Edit Guest Identifier

  • Click the edit (pencil) icon to edit name, description and Active setting 

Select Areas allowed to use guest identifier speed screens 

Path: Sites and Groups > edit a site > Areas 

  • Add or edit an area and select Use guest identifier speed screens 

Prompt guest identifier screen to open 

  • The guest identifier screen is prompted to pop up when the guest identifier icon is tapped 

    .

  • Optional: If the area setting Guest identifier is required is selected, the guest identifier screen will automatically pop up under the following conditions: 

    • Tap Send Now (either at bottom of check panel or on the flyout menu that appears when the icon is tapped next to the order item.

    • Tap Payment.

Select guest identifiers

  • The Guest Identifier page shows: 

    • Text field to enter information by typing

    • Columns of pre-defined guest identifiers; tap to select. Selections will be shown in the guest identifier field above

      • One item can be selected from each guest identifier category column

    • Pagination arrows to page left or right when there are more than four guest identifier categories  

    • Cancel - cancel entries and close page

    • Save - save entries and close page 

    • Clear - clear entries and remain on page

  • Optional: If the Area setting Enable text messaging is selected in ECM, a mobile number can be entered on the guest identifier screen (existing functionality).

 

  • Tap a guest identifier from each relevant category; selections will appear in the guest identifier text field above and will be highlighted as they are selected. 

    • Tap selected guest identifier to unselect.

    • Tap another guest identifier in the guest identifier category to change the guest identifier before saving. 

  • Delete guest identifier - Use the keyboard to delete a guest identifier from the list. The selection in the category will no longer be selected. 

  • A guest identifier can be typed into the field using the keyboard. The guest identifier will be highlighted if a matching item is found. 

  • The guest identifier(s) will be shown below the check panel. 

Counter Service: Guest Payment Improvements

Improve access to guest payment view; allow CC/GC payment on specified devices 

  • Two ways to access guest payment view from the staff payment screen and then return to staff payment: 

    • Flip the iPad over; screen switches to guest payment. Flip back over to return to staff payment.  

    • Tap Guest Payment; screen switches to guest payment. 
      Use 5-finger tap on screen to return to staff payment.  

  • Allows guests to pay using gift card or credit card using: eDynamo, iDynamo, iDynamo 6, or PAX S300. (PAX allows credit card only; no gift card.)  

Documentation: Guest Payment - Counter Service

The following payment devices can be configured and allowed for use in guest payment:  

  • eDynamo

  • iDynamo

  • iDynamo 6

  • PAX S300

(Add payment devices by going to Peripherals tab on Sites configuration.) 

Switch between staff payment view and guest payment view

Staff payment view

Flip iPad

Flip iPad to over to face guest; iPad switches to guest payment view to allow guest to pay. (Images intentionally upside down.) 

Message will notify guest after payment and allow guest to select receipt option.

To return to staff payment, flip iPad back over. 

 

Tap Guest Payment

Staff payment view: tap green Guest Payment button.

Screen switches to guest payment view; guest can enter tip.

Message will notify guest after payment and allow guest to select receipt option.

Use a 5-finger tap (tap on screen with tips of fingers) to return to staff payment. 

NorthStar Pay Online Payment

The NorthStar Pay payment app provides secure, contactless check payment on a mobile device.

A NorthStar Pay QR code and URL are printed on the receipt. Guests scan the code or enter the URL manually on their mobile device to access NorthStar Pay and complete the payment on the app. Guests can also add tip and select receipt option. 

Documentation: NorthStar Pay (QR Pay?)
Setup: Receipts - Codes

Configuration
Operation 

Account feature toggle required*

4.8 Allow NorthStar Pay

Set NorthStar Pay as Alternate Payment 

  • Go to: Financial > Alternate Payments

  • Add or edit an alternate payment.

  • Select NorthStar Pay for the alternate payment to be used for NorthStar Pay.

Web Ordering API - Set NorthStar Pay as payment option 

  • Go to Sites > Integrations > Web Ordering API

  • Select: Enable web ordering

  • Select the alternate payment you configured above as an available payment method.

Bar/QR Codes

  • Go to Sites > Receipts > Bar/QR Codes

  • Bar Codes

    • Select the first or both print settings to print the bar code.

  • QR Codes

    • Select: Print QR code on bottom of receipt 

    • QR code data parameters

      • Click Use NS Pay URL to auto-fill the NS Pay URL textbox.

      • Note: The QR code data parameters can be used to direct a user to a page other than NS Pay. Add URL and data parameters to QR code data parameters - Include /landing/ in URL 

      • Other settings are optional 

Payment

  • Go to Sites > Payment

  • Click: Add Processor

    • Select “Braintree | NorthStar Pay”

    • Enter your Braintree credentials for the production environment (if you are not using test credentials.)

Display site logo on NorthStar Pay app

The logo configured for the site concept will display at the top of the NS Pay app on the mobile device.

Path: Sites > Concepts > Concept tab 

  • Logo Settings 

    • Name - Add/modify name

    • To add a logo: 

      • Image file must meet the image requirements specified. 

      • Click Select file to find and upload a file. 

      • When the file has been uploaded, the status bar will show Done with a checkmark. 

      • Click Save to save changes or Cancel to cancel changes.

  • The logo will display at the top of the NS Pay app. 

    • Note: If logo is changed, change will be reflected on NS Pay one hour later.

Print receipt with QR Code and URL

  • The QR code and URL will print on the receipt.

  • Guest can scan the code or enter the URL on their browser to access NS Pay and complete payment.

    • Note: QR Code expires after 30 minutes. 

  • When configured, a QR code linked to NS pay will appear on the receipt before payment.

  • Guest scans the code (or enters the URL manually) to access NS Pay and pays their check in full.

Lock location

  • On the OE app, the payment page is masked during the payment process to prevent another user from accessing the check while the guest is completing payment in NS Pay.

    • A manager can override the lock by tapping Override and scanning their manager card. 

  • After check is paid, the table location lock is released.

QR code not active after payment

  • If the QR code is scanned again (or URL revisited) within 30 minutes, the guest will see the Paid view of the check on NS Pay with a note "Check already paid in full. Thank you!" 

Check reprint

  • If the receipt is reprinted after the check is paid in full, the QR code does not print again on the receipt.

NorthStar Pay

  • NS Pay page on mobile device after scanning QR code or entering URL. 

  • Tap Tip to add a tip. On the tip screen, select or enter a tip amount. Tap Confirm. 

  • NS Pay screen will reflect added tip. Tap payment method (credit card, Google Pay, etc.).

  • For credit card payment, enter credit card information. Tap Pay with card.

  • The check is marked PAID. Tap a receipt option. 

  • Email receipt option: Enter email address and tap Send.

  • On the email confirmation message, tap OK to email receipt to email address shown. 

  • If guest taps Print receipt, the receipt is printed and the guest is notified to request the receipt from staff. 

  • Error message: While the check is in progress on the guest's device, if the QR code is scanned from the receipt on a second device, an error message will be shown to prevent access on the second device.

Apple Pay

When paying with Apple Pay, the site name will be shown on the payment screen as "PAY site name." 

Order Entry app

  • On the OE app, the payment page is masked during the payment process.

    • A manager can override the lock by tapping Override and scanning their manager card. 

  • After the check is paid, the table location lock is released and the check session is closed. 

 

NorthStar Pay on Advanced Customer Display

If a staff-facing iPad and a guest-facing Advanced Customer Display (ACD) are both used, the QR code and URL can be displayed on the ACD for the guest to scan and pay from their phone. 

Documentation: NorthStar Pay on Advanced Customer Display

Configuration
Operation 

ECM settings 

  • Set the Alternate Payment, Integrations, Receipts and Payment settings as noted for NorthStar Pay.

  • Go to Sites > Receipts > Bar/QR Codes - Select Display QR Code on Guest Payment

Order Entry app

  • Staff orders items for guest, which guest views on the ACD.

  • Staff taps Payment.

  • The ACD displays the Payment page with a QR code. 

  • Guest scans the QR code or enters URL on their mobile device and goes to the NorthStar Pay interface.

  • Guest proceeds to pay via NS Pay on their mobile device.

  • Finalize payment 

    • If the guest selects a receipt option on their phone, the order is finalized and the ACD is cleared for the next order. 

    • If the guest does not select a receipt option on their phone, they can select a receipt option on the ACD and staff can finalize the check manually. 

Display check number on onscreen checks (all modes except guest facing) 

To improve user experience, when a check has been created the check number is shown on the onscreen check for all ordering modes (excluding guest facing). 

N/A

Check number shown on onscreen check: 

Counter service 

Kiosk

 Bar

Table service

Drive thru

 

Ordering screen: Limit access to quantity keypad when ordering 

A vertical keypad is available on the NorthStar Order Entry app. The vertical keypad can be toggled to either select seat numbers (indicated by a seat icon at bottom) or to select quantity (indicated by QTY at bottom). 

This feature allows sites to manage use of the vertical keypad, allowing it to be used only for seating (when enabled) or for seating and quantity by tapping the icon at bottom to toggle between the two modes (seating and quantity). 

Documentation: Limit Access to Quantity Keypad

Configuration
Operation 

Access is restricted by job type. 
Path: Users > Jobs > Workflow - Select Allow access to Quantity keypad

Optional: Keypad can be toggled between seat number and quantity when both are enabled. If seat number functionality is enabled for a site and area(s) within a site, users will have access to the seat number keypad, but not the quantity keypad. 

Path: Edit a site > General - Select Enable seat number 

Path: Edit a site > Areas - Select Enable seat number

  • ECM setting: Enable seat number (site and area) = selected
    The user can access the seat number keypad and order by seat number. 

  • ECM setting: Jobs: Allow access to Quantity keypad= selected
    User can access the quantity keypad and order items by tapping quantity.

  • ECM setting: Enable seat number (site and area) = not selected

  • ECM setting: Jobs: Allow access to Quantity keypad= not selected
    User cannot access either the quantity keypad or the seat number keypad. 

Text to Pay 

Enable text messaging with link to payment app

Staff can send a text (SMS message) to guest's mobile device with a link to NorthStar Pay.
(Text is sent using the Twilio communication platform for messaging.) 
Documentation: Text to Pay

Configuration
Operation 

Account feature toggle required*

Text to pay

Add text-to-pay payment message by site

Path: Edit a site > Receipts > Bar/QR Codes tab 

  • Text-to-pay message - Enter message text to be sent to guest's mobile device via SMS message (message sent by Twilio).

    • Message may be up to 1000 characters. 

      • Example: Tap link for safe, secure payment. 

Enable text-to-pay payment by area

Path: Edit a site > Areas 

  • In Payment Settings, select Enable text-to-pay payment (requires NS Pay) 

    • Default: not selected 

There are three areas from which the staff can tap a Send text to pay link to send a text to the guest's mobile device with a link to NorthStar Pay: 

  • Rewards/Customer pop-up

  • Guest identifier pop-up

  • Payment screen using the Guest Identifier pop-up 

Rewards/Customer pop-up

  • Order items on app and tap Send Now to send items to kitchen.

  • Tap customer icon (blue head) to open the Rewards pop-up.

  • Search for customer and attach customer to check.

  • Tap Send text to pay.

  • Text message is sent to guest's phone number with link to NorthStar Pay. Guest taps link to complete payment on NorthStar Pay. 

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