Capabilities of POS when the internet is unavailable / offline

Modified on Wed, 20 Nov at 9:26 AM

Overview

Cloud Retailer (CR) seamlessly moves from running sales transactions when the internet is live to when the internet fails. The cashier often doesn't even notice. We built CR to be "zombie-proof." If zombies attack, we still want you to be able to sell a bottle of Jack Daniels!

Here's how it works:

A lightweight application is installed locally on your tablet or PC. This app synchronizes with the Cloud every couple of minutes. Your product data, recent sales transactions, the customer list, etc., are all stored on the tablet so that key processes run regardless of your internet connection.

This also ensures that Cloud Retailer POS is FAST. If your customers wait in line they will shop elsewhere. We get that. There's no need for the app to go to the web to find a product, or perform a sales transaction. It all happens locally and is therefore FAST. We've had customers run their store through days-long weather disasters on power generators and cell phones. No fun - but no problem.

Below are the details of how this functionality works.

Procedure

If there is no internet or network connectivity at a point-of-sale station, you can continue to use the register as normal with some limitations. When a connection to the Cloud Retailer servers is not available, you cannot:

Redeem, purchase, or check the balance of a gift card
Redeem a Cloud Retailer coupon
Use the "On account" payment method IF you need the system to enforce a credit limit. If you do not need the system to check a credit limit then you can use a simple "On account" type with no credit limits enforced.
Check quantities at other store locations
Recall global orders (work orders, layaways, quotes, etc.)
Punch in and out of the employee time clock
If you're using the ticketing module, you will have to sell tickets using the offline ticketing functionality.
Potentially be able to use any networked printers depending on the source of the issue.
Redeem loyalty rewards
Scan past sales receipt barcodes to fetch a transaction for returns or voids. You can look up recent transactions for the specific POS station you're working on (not using a receipt barcode).
Process credit card transactions with a standard terminal.

You can:

Process normal sales transactions
Create new orders
Modify some types of orders that were created at that specific POS station while offline
Create and modify customer records
Do everything else that you're able to do from the POS
Accumulating additional loyalty points through the POS will not be aware of the point balance. While offline you will experience some messaging about the fact that the POS cannot connect to the server AND may experience some delays when the POS attempts to connect.

Additionally,

When the network connection fails, there is no interruption in the cashier's ability to use the POS. The "Last sync" time in the upper left-hand corner will not update until a connection is established and if no connection has been made in 5 minutes the time stamp will turn red as a subtle notice to the user. When the internet connection comes back online, the POS will automatically start syncing again and the time stamp will update, again, typically no intervention required by the user.
Any changes made in the back office or at the POS will not sync until the connection comes back online. For example, if you change the price of a product, the change will not sync with the POS while it's offline and sales transactions will not upload to the back office.
As the back office application is web-based, if you lose connectivity you will not be able to run reports, create products, etc.
Standalone terminals that use mobile networking will allow you process credit card transactions while your network is down, but requires special configuration. Reach out to support@cloudretailer.com if you are interested in this and do not have standalone terminals.

Here is a video showing Cloud Retailer POS running without any internet access: