Managing and understanding POS configurations

After creating a POS configuration, adjust its settings to suit your business needs and workflows. For example, if your restaurant has a POS device that's used exclusively for direct sales, you can edit the device's configuration to Disable table support to prevent potential staff errors. You can customize various settings related to Table management, Payments, Printing, Receipts, Production dockets, Users, and more. 

Some settings are enabled by default depending on the country and business template that were selected when your Lightspeed account was created.

We currently support two versions of the POS Configurations page for Lightspeed Restaurant K Series: Configurations 2.0 and Legacy Configurations.

Lightspeed Restaurant accounts created after October 4, 2022, will have Configurations2.0 enabled by default. Existing accounts will continue to use Legacy Configurations but will be migrated to the newer version at a later date.

To figure out which version of the POS Configurations page you're using, refer to the screenshots contained within this article and see if they match what's in your Back Office.

Editing POS Configurations

Edit a configuration to determine the settings that will apply to devices using that configuration. 

1. Log in to the Back Office with your Lightspeed credentials.
2. From the navigation menu, go to Configuration>Configurations.
3. Locate the configuration you want to edit.
4. Click the Configuration's name.
   

   

5. (Optional) By default, Back Office will display General settings when editing configurations. Use the tabs at the top of the page to find settings related to a specific POS function, such as Payments or Printing, or view All Settings on a single screen. 
6. Apply the desired settings. 
7. Click Save to save your changes, or click Discard to cancel them.

Managing POS configurations

When editing POS configurations, you can perform  a few quick actions to save time:

• Click View linked devices to see POS devices using the selected configuration.
• Click Rename to change the name of a configuration.
• Click More actions > Duplicate to create another configuration with the same settings. This is helpful if you are creating a POS configuration for a new device that requires similar settings but with a few adjustments.
• Click More actions>Delete to remove outdated or unused POS configurations.
  
  

Understanding POS configuration settings

Adjust the settings and parameters for each POS configuration. Each applied setting acts as a rule or behavior for all POS devices using that configuration. See the following table to find descriptions and definitions of what each setting controls.

General settings

Order profiles 

Setting	Definition
Select order profiles	Select which order profiles are accessible on devices with the configuration. Profiles in gray will not be a selectable order profile on the POS.
Select order profile for direct sales	Use the drop-down menu to select a default order profile for direct sales.
Select order profile for table ordering	Use the drop-down menu to select a default order profile for table sales.
Require users to select an order profile for direct sales	When enabled, the POS user is prompted to choose an order profile when performing a direct sale and proceeding to payment.
Skip confirmation when selecting order profile for direct sales	Removes the OK button when selecting an order profile. When a POS user taps an order profile, it will immediately be applied to the order. Note Before you can enable this setting, "Require users to select an order profile for direct sales"needs to be turned on.
Remain on current order after tapping Send	The POS stays on the current register screen after sending an order to the kitchen instead of returning to the Home screen.

Menu settings

Setting	Definition
Select menu to link to this POS configuration	Choose a menu to link to this POS configuration.
Show button names for main menu screens in all caps	Displays the names of main menu screens in uppercase letters.
Show button names for items in all caps	Displays the names of menu buttons in uppercase letters.
Show item search button on register screen	To quickly find items on the POS, display the item search button at the top of the Register screen.

Discounts and loyalty cards

Setting	Definition
Select discounts	Select discounts used in the POS configuration. Those in gray will not be selectable when adding discounts to an order.
Process third-party QR codes	When enabled, the POS can scan QR codes from third-party Lightspeed integrations.
Users must link a loyalty card to a customer	To use a loyalty card, a customer must be attached to the order.

Screensavers

If both of the following settings are disabled, the POS will not go idle or use screensavers. The POS is considered idle when no action is performed within 10 minutes.

Setting	Definition
Show a Lightspeed screensaver when the POS is inactive	The Lightspeed logo will display when the POS is idle.
Show photos from the POS device as a screensaver	If Lightspeed Restaurant has access to photos stored on this device, enabling this option will have them play as a slideshow when the device is idle.

Floor plans

Setting	Definition
Select floor plans	Select which floor plans will be available on the POS. Floor plans in gray will be disabled and not visible on the POS device. We recommend using this setting if certain devices and configurations are reserved for specific floors in your restaurant.

Register screen

Setting	Definition
Keep duplicate items separate on register screen	Even if there are multiple orders of the same item, each item will appear as a separate line on the register screen and the quantity will display next to the item name.
Merge duplicates with different production instructions onto one item line on register screen	This option merges multi-ordered items with different production instructions onto a single line. For instance, if a customer orders two lattes prepared two different ways, "Latte" will appear as one line with two separate production instructions beneath it.
Create automatic transaction for each item	The POS will print separate production tickets for each item that is sent to a production center, such as the kitchen or bar.
Show tax rate next to items on register screen	If enabled, the POS will display an item's tax rate next to the item's name when it is added to an order. We recommend using this setting for a better understanding of how each item is being taxed.
Users can only delete the last item entered on the POS	With this setting enabled, only the last item entered on the POS can be removed from a sale. Note This setting does not affect managers.
Lock register screen when cash drawer opens	After taking payment for an order, the POS user cannot use the Register screen or proceed to the next sale without first closing the cash drawer.

Reporting

Setting	Definition
Create new or select existing configuration tags	Create tags associated with specific configurations for reporting purposes. You can then filter sales reports by tag to assess which sales were made with a particular POS configuration.
Include item details under product heading in shift reports	When enabled, product sales will be displayed when viewing the shift reports via a POS device. To see these, open the Restaurant App and navigate to Settings>Reports>Shift reports> select a report and tap View full report.

Stock transfers

Setting

Definition

Add stock transfer

For businesses using stock management, add stock transfers to have devices pull stock from specific locations.  For example, imagine there is a primary stock location where all items are received (Stock A), as well as two additional stock locations in your restaurant (Stock B and Stock C). If your business has a bar on the main floor and a cocktail bar on the second floor, you may want each bar to pull from its own stock location. To do this, follow these steps: Set up a unique POS Configuration for the main floor. While editing the configuration, go to the Stock transfers section. Click Add stock transfer. From the Current stock location drop-down, pick your primary stock location: Stock A. From the New stock location drop-down, pick the main floor's stock: Stock B. To set up the stock locations for the other locations, repeat the above steps for each unique location and stock.

Table management

Table management

Setting	Definition
Disable support for tables	Disables the ability to process table orders from the POS. Only direct sales mode will be available.
Enable basic table support	Enables devices using the POS configuration to process table orders with basic settings enabled.
Enable full table support	Enables devices using the POS configuration to process table orders and reveals the customizable Table Options that are outlined in the table below.

Table options

Setting	Definition
Default number of covers for new orders	Enter the default number of seats that will be applied to each table order. Note If "Prompt cover count" is enabled in the floor plan settings, users will always see a prompt to count covers when opening a new table which will override the default number set here.
Select default screen to display after login	Select which screen will display after users log in. Options include Register, Table, and Orders.
Create direct orders by default	When enabled, this setting ensures that users can't process orders in Direct sales mode. Instead, all new orders are attached to an account called "Client #" and the POS allows users to send orders to production centers—such as the kitchen or bar—before they take payment. We recommend enabling this setting if your business wants to run tabs for customers or needs to edit orders after they've already been sent to a production center. Note If this setting is disabled, orders started from the Register screen will automatically open in Direct Sales mode, which requires customers to pay before the order can be sent to a production center.
Allow direct sales	Allow counter service and pay-to-order workflows on the POS. When this setting is enabled, you don't need to assign orders to a table or an account to process them.
Show "Fire course" button on register screen	Displays the button for firing the next course on the POS Register screen.
Only managers can change the number of covers	Manager permissions will be required when changing the number of guests at a table.
Only managers can transfer a table to another user	When enabled, manager permissions are required to transfer tables from one user to another.
Number of direct orders to create	NoteThis option only appears if "Create direct order by default" is enabled.  Set how many unique direct orders will be available. For example, if this number is set to 10, the first direct order will be assigned to an account called Client 1, the second to Client 2, and so on. Once Client 10 is reached, the number resets, and the 11th direct order will be assigned to a new, separate account called Client 1. If you set this number to 0, the POS won't track unique client numbers and will, instead, assign all new orders to an account called "Direct."

Payments

Payment methods

Setting	Definition
Select payment methods	Select which payment methods are allowed in the POS configuration. Payment methods in gray will be disabled.
Set quick payment button on register screen	Select a commonly-used payment method from the drop-down, and a button to pay with that method will appear beside the numeric keypad for quick access.
Add second quick payment button on register screen	Select a second commonly-used payment method from the drop-down, and a button to pay with that method will appear beside the numeric keypad for quick access.

Payment options

Setting	Definition
Select duration of amount paid notification	Set the length of time that the amount paid notification will remain on the screen after taking payment (between 1 and 10 seconds).
Allow refund processing on POS	Users can process refunds on POS devices with this configuration. We recommend this setting for processing returns or workflows that include deposit returns on glass bottles.
Deactivate automatic change calculation on cash transactions	When enabled, change is not automatically calculated when employees accept cash payments.
Skip amount prompt at Payment	When enabled, the Amount paid on the totals screen will auto-fill with the exact amount. This can save time when customers frequently pay with exact change.
Print final check after the receipt	Restricts printing of notes until after the POS prints the order invoice. In this mode, the invoice will print immediately.
Enabled advanced check splitting	When this option is selected, users can more easily divide and split checks on the POS app.
Capture signature on terminal when supported	When enabled, this option allows for on-screen signatures.  Note This feature must be supported by the payment terminal.
Allow only whole amounts on the payment keypad	Disables the ability to enter cents on the keyboard when taking payment.
Activate money back on meal vouchers	Generates a QR code that gives the holder credit for the difference between their total and the amount paid.

Tips

Setting	Definition
Enable tipping on terminal when supported	Enabling this allows customers to add a tip via the payment terminal when paying for their order.
Allow tipping at payment	When enabled, waiters can add tips on the POS's payment screen so that tips are included when the amount is sent to the payment terminal.

Printing

Production centers

Setting	Definition
Select production centers for printing	Set which production centers can receive tickets from devices using the configuration. Those in light blue are enabled, while those in gray are disabled. Edit or add more production centers via Configurations>Printing>Production centers.

AirPrint

Setting	Definition
Enable AirPrint	This feature requires the use of an AirPrint-compatible printer.
Use AirPrint for draft receipts	This feature requires the use of an AirPrint-compatible printer and activating the previous option. This setting is useful if, for example, you print custom invoices.

Receipts

Printing receipts

Setting	Definition
Default printing profile for receipts	Set the default printing profile that will be used for receipts.
Default printing profile used for draft receipts	Set the default printing profile that will be used for draft receipts.
Print receipt on paid orders automatically	The POS will automatically print a receipt when an order is processed.
Print receipt on paid table orders automatically	Automatically prints a receipt for table orders following payment.
Automatically print receipt when card payment receipts are printed	The POS will automatically print a regular receipt when a credit card receipt is printed.
Print card payment receipts automatically	Automatically prints a credit card receipt when a customer pays by card.
Automatically print receipt when delivery slips are printed	The POS will automatically print a corresponding receipt in addition to the delivery slip.
Print draft receipts only once	When enabled, a draft receipt can only be printed once. This option is used to prevent paper waste.
Print receipt for each partial payment	When enabled, the POS prints a receipt for each partial payment on a split check rather than printing a total receipt after the last payment. For example, if a table of four splits their entire order four ways, each guest will have their own receipt.

Customize receipts

Setting	Definition
Show items that have no price as free on customer receipts	When enabled, items discounted to zero will have their price replaced with "FOR FREE" instead of 0.00 €/£/$.
Show customer address on receipts	When enabled, the customer's address from their profile will appear on receipts. This is useful for coordinating deliveries.
Show customer name on receipts	When enabled, the customer's name appears on the receipt. This feature helps coordinate takeaway and delivery orders.
Show the order profile on receipts	When enabled, the account profile that was used to place the order appears near the top of the receipt.
Show pre-tax total on receipts	When enabled, the receipt will show two totals: one calculated with tax and one calculated without tax.
Print transaction lines on receipts in large font	Increases the font size of the item rows printed on the client receipt.
Print total on receipts in large font	Enlarges the font size of the total on the client's receipt.
Include delivery information on printed receipts	When enabled, the receipt will contain the customer's delivery information from Order Anywhere or a third-party delivery app.
Include tax rate on draft receipts	When enabled, draft receipts will list item tax rates.
Include cover count on receipts	Displays the number of dining customers for an order on the order receipt.
Don't include price on receipts when applying a comp discount	When enabled, items that receive a 100% discount will have their price omitted from receipts.
Group sub-items on receipts	When enabled, sub-items can be grouped together on receipts.
Give each duplicate item its own line on receipts	If enabled, each item on a receipt will be listed on a unique line, even when ordered more than once. If disabled, items ordered more than once will be grouped into a single line on the receipt with a number to indicate item quantity (e.g.,2 Coffees).
Divide the draft receipt total by the number of covers and print this on receipts	Divide the final draft receipt total by the number of seats associated with the transaction and print this information on the receipt.
Group items on receipts by seat	When enabled, items on the receipt will be organized according to their assigned seat.

Production dockets

Docket contents

Setting	Definition
Show floor plan name on production dockets	When enabled, production dockets will display the name of the floor on which the order was placed.
Show the price of items on production dockets	Displays the price of each item on the production ticket.
Show current account profile name on production dockets	The name of the Account profile used to place the order will appear on production tickets.
Show full customer address on production dockets	The address from a customer's profile will appear on the production ticket.
Show seat details on dockets	When enabled, items on production tickets will show which seat they are assigned to.
Show the number of covers on the production dockets	When enabled, production dockets will show the number of dining customers associated with the order.
Show order summary on each continuation docket	When enabled, all courses will be printed according to your order history. For example, when firing the third course of a meal, the production docket will also show what was on the first and second courses. If disabled, previous courses will be omitted from production dockets.

Docket options

Setting	Definition
Separate items with a divider on production dockets	Displays a line between order items.
Print sub-items in red	Prints sub-items in red (messages, side dishes, and extras). Note: This setting requires a compatible printer with a red ink ribbon.
Only print items and sub-items assigned to a production center	Only print items that have been set to print at specific production centers.
Sort items alphabetically by accounting group on production dockets	Sort lines on order tickets alphabetically from A to Z based on their accounting group.
Print one item per production docket	When enabled, every item sent to a production center will print its own ticket. We recommend this setting if multiple prep stations use a single production center for different menu items.
Cut production dockets into separate courses	Production tickets will be separated by course. For example, the POS will print the first and second courses of a meal on separate tickets.
Merge duplicate items on production dockets	When enabled, this option merges multi-ordered items onto a single line on order tickets and displays the item quantity.
Print production docket when transferring table	When a table is transferred, a ticket will print in the production center to notify the kitchen or bar staff.
Shorten lines on production dockets	When enabled, lines on the order tickets sent to the kitchen or bar will be shortened to save space.

POS user settings

POS user rules

Setting	Definition
Users to allow within this configuration	Select which POS user groups will have access to this configuration. User groups in gray will be disabled.
Allow managers to cancel sent items	When enabled, POS users with manager permissions can cancel orders that have already been sent to production centers, such as the bar or kitchen.
Managers cannot send new or existing orders	Members of the POS Manager user group cannot create new tables for orders.
Send open orders on logout	When a user logs out, their open and unsent orders will automatically be sent to the production centers.
Show receipts created by other users on the receipt screen	If enabled, users will be able to see receipts created by other users on the POS when selecting  Receipts from the navigational menu.
Users must settle open orders before clocking out	If enabled, users will not be able to log out with orders still open. Instead, users will be prompted to transfer their orders to another clocked-in employee upon logging out.
Protect selection of menu buttons with manager pincode	If enabled, employees can select Manager-only access buttons from the menu but the POS will prompt for a manager PIN before they can proceed. If this setting is not enabled, employees will encounter an error when selecting these buttons.

Automatic logout

Setting	Definition
Set time for automatic user logout from the POS	Using the drop-down menu, specify the amount of time that the POS will idle before automatically logging the user out.
Log user out after order updates	When enabled, users are automatically logged out of the Order screen after processing a transaction.