How is the bartender notified of new orders when servers take orders with the Square Terminal?

[vivelerock]

I'm a long time user of Square but always as a retail tool, not a hospitality one. I am now opening a bar and have chosen to use Square for Restaurants, which seems very easy and self explanatory, but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to alert the bartender of new orders when cocktail servers enter the orders into their portable Square Terminals. Am I overlooking something obvious? Has anyone else solved this riddle? Thanks!

The title of this post has been edited from the original: "In S.F.R., how is a bartender notified of new orders when servers take orders with Square Terminal?"

[TheRealChipA]

Hi @vivelerock.  You didn’t mention.  Do you have a ticket printer at your bar?  Or a KDS?  If so, and you have your settings correct, the new checks will go to the bartender automatically.  But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves on settings.  First, I just need to know if you have a ticket printer or a KDS (kitchen display system) for electronic ticket printing.  If not, you need to go to the Square Store and order one.  Then we can talk about setting it up so that your terminals route new tickets to them.

[vivelerock]

Thanks for the speedy reply. I have a receipt printer along with a cash register. Can the receipt printer double as a ticket printer? Or are those two separate items?

I do not have KDS at this time. Do we need it?

[TheRealChipA]

@vivelerock You’re welcome.  So, yes the receipt printer can double as a ticket printer.  

To turn on ticket printing from your Restaurants POS, go to More > Settings.

1. go to your hardware settings.
2. Find your receipt printer and edit it.  In the Printer station settings, click edit.  
3. Turn on In Person Tickets and configure the tickets as you wish.

As for your Terminals, there are similar settings in the mobile terminal.  Follow the same steps (Settings > Hardware, etc.  Your receipt printer, which should be connected to your network already, show show up at the top in the My Hardware section.

As far as KDS, I have two in my ice cream shop and love them!  I’ve saved a ton over the last few years on the cost of thermal paper, alone.  If you are thinking about going the KDS route, I’ll caution you that Square KDS will quit supporting iPads next year.  So go with an Android tablet, or you will be sorry.

Let me know if you have any other questions or run into any problems.  I’ll get an email about your post and get back to you ASAP.

[vivelerock]

That sounds great. I'll do this this weekend and report back. Very much appreciate your time!

[TheRealChipA]

You are most welcome.  Good luck with the new business venture!