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(continued from Tabs Module)

Delivery / Quickservice Module

Businesses that offer delivery service as well as businesses that offer Quickservice or counter service should use the Delivery / Quickservice Module.  This module is distinguished by:

1. The Delivery / Quickservice Service Status Screen.
2. Certain POS functions designed for use only in delivery operations as well as other POS function designed for use in Quickservice operations
3. Recommended configuration settings that enhance the operation of module for both Delivery and Quickservice businesses.

Delivery / Quickservice Status Screen

The Delivery screen is divided into two main parts.  Orders are displayed on the left and drivers are displayed on the right.

By default, the system will allocate the majority of the screen for displaying orders and a relatively smaller portion for displaying drivers; however, these portions can be changed along with the number of buttons in each section.  The following parameters located in RM BackOffice > Setup > Station Configuration can be used to customize the main Delivery screen to suit your needs.

• Space for driver display (percentage) - This option defines the percentage of the screen width to use for displaying drivers.  A larger value allocates more screen real estate for drivers, but reduces the space available for displaying orders.
• Number of rows for order buttons, Number of columns for order buttons-These options define the number of rows and columns for displaying delivery orders.  More rows and columns allows displaying more orders on screen at once, but results in smaller buttons.  Using too many rows and/or columns results in very small buttons and could cause the text to overflow the buttons.
• Number of rows for driver buttons, Number of columns for driver buttons-These options are similar to the options above, but they apply to drivers.

Sample Macros

In Delivery operations it is common to create macros attached to the [Filter] and [Button Info] function buttons. You can configure macros to change the information displayed on the main status screen at a simple touch of a button. You default screen may show addresses but with a touch of a button you can change the information displayed to “elapsed time” and back again. You can also create a macro to display “All Orders” if the default screen shows “Un-settled orders”.

When using Cashier Banking, it is recommended that you create a macro button for initializing cash trays.   This cash tray macro would automatically execute all the steps involved in initializing a cash tray with pauses at appropriate moments for entering an employee name and the cash tray number, etc. You may also initiate cash tray without linking to employees if you use one drawer throughout the day.

Who should use?

Businesses delivering food to customers should use the Delivery Module.  The Delivery Module is distinguished by:

• The Delivery Status Screen
• Certain POS Operations designed for use only in the Delivery Module
• Recommended configuration settings that enhance the operation of the Delivery Module.

Operations Unique to Delivery/Quickservice

The delivery module has several functions unique to its operation. If you reimburse drivers for mileage, you will want to enable prompt to record mileage and set up monetary rates to calculate the re-imbursements. Information listed on the buttons can be changed on the fly using the [Filter] and [Button Info] function buttons. Delivery and phone-in orders can be expedited using Caller ID and the “Last Order Recall “functions.

Configuration Settings For Delivery Module

The following sections outline key features that should be enabled for the Delivery Module. You will also want to read the sections with Customer Managementt for additional instructions for controlling customer database prompts such as phone numbers, street addresses, etc. You will also want to visit the chapter on Gratuities & Service Charges if you planning on implementing delivery charges.

Revenue Center Defaults

In addition to enabling the “Prompt for Phone’ option in the Revenue Center setup form, you will want to enable the following:

• Require ASSIGN- This option requires an order be assigned to an employee (typically a driver) before an order can be printed. This adds security in the fact that orders cannot be printed at random without being assigned to a driver thus preventing a common theft practice.
• Delivery Orders- This option will link a delivery charge to the order. This setting also affects the order buttons on the Delivery Main Status Screen and the method how they are displayed and sorted.
• Prompt for Empl #-You may want to enable this function to track the order from who took the order to whom it was assigned to.
• Prompt for Phone-You will want to enable to effect the telephone number prompt. This step is necessary to access the customer information fields will customer data will be recorded.
• Disable/Enable Revenue Center Prompt- you may choose to limit the revenue centers displayed if you have prompt for revenue center" enabled in Station Configuration. See the section on Enable/Disable Revenue Centers for configuration settings.

Station Configuration Settings

• Enable- This setting controls a Module Button that may be displayed on the Status Screen(s) of other POS Modules to provide access to the Delivery/Quickservice module:

When you disable this button you will not be able to access the Delivery/Quickservice Module from the station highlighted on the Station List of the Station Configuration Setup Form.

NOTE: If your system does not include the Delivery/Quickservice Module this setting will be grayed out on the Station Configuration Setup Form and you will not be able to enable a Delivery / Quickservice Module Button at any of the stations on your system.

• Default Revenue Center- Use this setting to select the Revenue Center that will be applied by default to all orders opened at the station highlighted on the Station List. The operational settings of the selected Revenue Center will affect the way transactions are processed at this station.

NOTE: This setting is overridden by another setting on the Station Configuration Setup Form that configures a station to prompt for a Revenue Center at the start or end of an order.

• Number of rows for order buttons- This option defines the number of rows of buttons for displaying delivery orders. A larger number displays more rows and results in smaller buttons. Note: this option also affects the "Advance Orders" screen.
• Number of columns for order buttons- This option defines the number of columns of buttons for displaying delivery orders. A larger number displays more columns and results in smaller buttons. Note: this option also affects the "Advance Orders" screen
• Space for driver display (percentage)- The driver buttons are displayed on the right portion of the delivery POS screen. This option defines the percentage of the screen width to allocate to driver buttons. A larger value makes more room for driver buttons, but reduces the area for displaying order buttons. Choose a value that gives the best compromise for your needs.
• Number of rows for driver buttons- This option defines the number of rows of buttons for displaying drivers. A larger number displays more rows and results in smaller buttons.
• Number of columns for driver buttons- This option defines the number of columns of buttons for displaying drivers. A larger number displays more columns and results in smaller buttons.
• Information to display on touch button- This option allows you to select the type of information to display on the touch buttons. Double click on this option to choose which setting works best for your operation. After starting the POS station, you can change this setting as necessary. The options are:
  • Last Operation
  • Name/Phone#
  • Address
  • Address w/Map Code
  • Elapse Time
• Default filter setting- Double click on this option to choose which transactions are displayed on the main delivery screen. This option sets the filter state when the POS program first starts; however, it can be changed during operation as needed. If you are using Quick Service POS only, all transactions are displayed and this option has no effect. The setting options are:
  • All Orders
  • Specific Employee
  • Un-assigned Orders
  • Assigned Orders
  • Un-settled Orders
  • Settled Orders
  • Delayed Send
  • Non-deliveries
• Alarm condition, in minutes- This parameter determines when a transaction is classified as an alarm. The alarm condition is triggered by the number of minutes elapsed on an order that is both unassigned and unsettled. For example, if you set the alarm condition to 15, then any order which is neither assigned nor settled within 15 minutes from when it was started is displayed in the alarm color. If you do not wish to use the alarm feature, enter 0 to disable the alarm condition. Transactions marked for "delayed send" are not alarmed.
• Assign employee number at start of order- This option controls whether orders are automatically assigned to an employee when first started. If using enhanced password control, orders are automatically assigned to the employee who swiped into the system (i.e., the employee's password used to [Begin] POS operations). If enhanced password control is NOT enabled, then orders are assigned to the employee who initialized the cash tray. If the cash tray is not initialized, then the employee is set to 0.

Note: even when this option is enabled, delivery orders can be re-assigned to a different employee (i.e., the driver) using the [ASSIGN] function in POS.

• Prioritize Drivers- This option controls the ordering of drivers on the "ASSIGN" function. If enabled, then drivers are displayed in FIRST-IN / FIRST-OUT fashion so the first driver to return from a delivery will be the first to be assigned another delivery. If this option is NOT enabled, then drivers are displayed in numerical order by employee numbers.

Note: the dispatcher can always override the system by assigning an order to a different driver; however, this option merely puts the higher priority drivers near the top of the list.

• Assign multiple orders to drivers- This option controls the behavior of the "ASSIGN" function. If this option is enabled, then you can tag multiple orders on the ASSIGN window, then touch the "ASSIGN" button to assign all of them to a single driver. If this option is NOT enabled, then each time you touch an order on the "ASSIGN" window, you must choose a driver to assign it to.

If your drivers typically take more than 1 delivery order at a time, and then you should enable this option, but if they frequently just take one order at a time, then you should disable this option.

• Confirm before assigning orders to a driver- Enable this option if you want the system to ask for your confirmation before assigning orders to drivers.
• Print check on assign- Check this option if you want to automatically print a check when assigning orders to drivers.
• Delivery Status Button Colors
  • Unassigned-Choose a button color for an unassigned delivery order
  • Assigned-Choose a button color for an assigned delivery order
  • Settled-Choose a button color for a settled delivery order
  • Delayed Send-Choose a button color for delayed send orders
  • Alarm-Choose a button color for alarmed delivery orders
• Automatically begin a new order- If you enable this option, a new order is started automatically after you send or settle a transaction (useful in counter service / quick automatically begin a new order

This option does not prohibit you from entering the same number more than once, it only displays warning box for your information.

• Auto cash settle- Enable this option if you wish to allow automatic cash settlements. Leave this option disabled if you wish to force every transaction to be settled individually.
• Ask for employee number when printing- If this option is enabled, Restaurant Manager will ask for an employee number when printing a check. This effectively transfers the check to that employee. This option is useful if you print the check and assign it at the same time.
• Warn if the phone number is duplicate- Use this option if you want Restaurant Manager to give you a warning message if you attempt to enter the same phone number on two different delivery orders. Attempting to do so will cause the following warning box to be displayed on the POS screen.

Driver Configuration Considerations

Station Configuration

• Track Driver Mileage- Enable this option if you pay your drivers based on mileage.
• Distance units- This option defines the mileage units whether miles or kilometers
• Prompt for mileage when clocking out- Enable this option if you want the system to prompt drivers to enter their mileage when clocking out.
• Enter distance using- You can enter mileage using starting and ending odometer readings, or by distance. When using odometer readings, only enter the last 3 digits of the odometer reading; the system will automatically calculate the distance. If entering distance, enter the cumulative distance of all deliveries.
• Mileage compensation rate- This is the rate per mile/kilometer paid to drivers. Example: if a driver is paid $.25 per mile, you would enter in .25.

Designate Drivers

Driver designation is done through the Job Classification Setup form in the RM Back Office. You can set up a job class specifically for a driver or you can use another jobclass (i.e. server). All you have to do is enable the option for Driver.

Anyone with a Driver designation will appear in the driver column.

Delivery Printers

Guest Check Printers

Busy delivery operations often use a special POS Printer in the kitchen for printing delivery guest checks.  This allows kitchen workers to easily affix the guest check to the delivery package. Guest checks and sales receipts from Carry Out orders, etc are printed on the main Receipt/Check Printer at the POS Workstation where the customer’s order was entered. 

To configure a special Delivery POS Printer you must activate the “Delivery Order” setting on the Revenue Center Setup Form and then configure a Delivery Printer on the Station Configuration Setup Form.

• Print Cust/Freq Diner Info (on guest check)- This feature prints customer info on the check so the delivery drivers can see the customer’s name, address and phone number, etc. This is set up in the Configurable Guest Check Editor.

• Send Cust/Freq. Diner info (to food preparation areas)- This feature sends customer info to the kitchen so each order can be identified when it leaves the kitchen. This is configured in the Remote Printer Templates Editor

Prep Printers

Prep printers are assigned for pizza within the Pizza matrix Setup Form (if you are using the Pizza Matrix for pizzas):

• Primary Prep Area for Pizzas- Click on the down arrow beside this field to indicate the Prep Area Printer to which Pizza orders should be routed.  If you wish to send a pizza to multiple prep area printers you must configure the additional printers from the main Menu Items Setup Form or you can use the setting below.
• Secondary Prep Area for Pizzas- Click on the down arrow beside this field to indicate a second Prep Area Printer to which Pizza orders should be routed. Use this function if you want a pizza to go to two separate printers.

You may also want to consider using Label Printers. Restaurant Manager is capable of sending items to multiple printers. You can send menu items to easier to read standard prep area printers, print easy to read guest check for the drivers, and print a label to affix to each delivery item to insure delivery accuracy.

Additional Setting Considerations

Detailed Employee Revenue Report at Logout

This feature allows you to print a detailed Revenue Report for reconciling with each delivery driver when he ends his shift. You may configure your system to print this report only at one POS station (where the drivers clock out) and not at another (where the bus boys clock out)

It is also typical that some features be disabled in the Delivery Module, especially the following:

Sort/Total on Check

If this feature is turned on, pizza toppings and other menu item modifiers are listed separately from the pizzas and menu items themselves.

Enhanced Password Control

Because delivery orders are ultimately assigned to an employee (a driver) other than the one that took the phone order, Enhanced Password Control is not particularly useful at POS Stations where orders are being entered.  You may wish to activate this feature at POS stations where orders are settled.

Advanced Seat Management

This feature causes extra touch buttons to appear on the Order Entry Screen that cannot be used in the Delivery Module.

Order Entry Screen as Default Display

In busy bars and quick service establishments orders are often settled as soon as they are rung up.  There is no need to use the Status Screen to track pending orders.  So it is recommended that you configure your system to stay on the Order Entry Screen rather than reverting to the status screen each time an order is settled.

Use the Station List on the Station Configuration Form to highlight the Master Configuration (or other station) where you wish to configure the Order Entry Screen as the default display.  Then use the [Search Settings] button to locate and activate the following setting: Automatically Begin New Order

This Delivery / Quickservice setting are similar to the Auto-Repeat setting in the Table Service and Tabs Modules. The screen will revert to the phone number prompt if you have “Prompt for phone number “enabled in the revenue center,

Taking Advanced Orders

You may also configure your system to automatically transfer orders from the Advance Orders Module to either the Delivery or Tabs modules.

Ready Time

Ready Time is a POS function of Restaurant Manager that allows users to input a pre-determined time for when the customer would like to receive the order. The “Ready Time” is static and will print on the prep area printer. This function is not to be confused with Advanced Ordering, Delayed Send, or Timed Send functions. However, it may be used in conjunction some of these functions if wished. Additional setup is required to add the command line for Time send in the Printer Template Editor. To expedite the ordering process, users may want to move the Time Send function button to the order entry screen via the POS Function Button Layout form.

Most systems are configured to automatically print the send time. Typically, orders will be made upon receipt of the order. To place the “Ready Time” on the prep ticket, you must use the [Ready Time] function button, by default, found in the MISC functions of the Order Entry screen. The following is a screen shot representation of the “Ready Time” entry screen.

By default, the current time will always be displayed in the time display field when the “Ready Time” screen first appears. Use the keypad to manually enter the desired time you want the order to be ready. You can distinguish time of day by using the AM or PM buttons and use the BS (backspace) or CLEAR buttons to correct mistakes. You can also use the quick time buttons on the left side of the “Ready Time” screen to enter a time. The time listed on the buttons will add to the current time. For example, if the current time of the POS is 11:25 AM and you press the [20 Mins] button, the ready time displayed will be 11:45 AM. Press the [OK] button once you have entered the ready time. It is recommended that you use the “Ready Time” function after all menu items have been ordered. Note: you will still have to send the order to kitchen manually or by one of the automated send functions.

Note: The Ready Time will only print if different from the order time

Suggested Settings for Delivery

This section details the BackOffice settings that are usually activated in systems configured for Delivery.

Caller ID

Caller ID, an optional interface, is a useful tool used to expedite the order taking process. In addition, Caller ID insures accuracy of telephone numbers be taken reducing errors and costly mistakes. More on configuring Caller ID setup can be found under the topic: Caller.

Map Interface

The Restaurant Manager Map Interface uses Microsoft Mappoint. This interface is ideal for establishments with delivery. The map interface can help route orders and cut drive time down thus reducing costs while improving delivery times. More on the map interface can be found in the topic: Map Interface.

Quickservice

The Delivery/Quickservice Module is recommended for Quickservice and counter service operations.  When configuring your software to work in these environments it is usually appropriate to include the following in your system configuration:

• Cashier Banking
• Auto Send after settle

Configuration Settings for Quickservice

This section details the BackOffice settings that are usually activated in systems configured for Delivery.

Auto Repeat

Enable this option if you want repeated fast transactions. After settling a fast transaction, Restaurant Manager will automatically begin another one.  This option is useful in quick service / counter service operations. 

(continued in Advance Order Module)