Printing orders and sound alerts: so that nothing gets missed
Every new order announces itself in the Bestellzentrale (order centre) with a sound alert, and if a receipt printer is set up and „Automatisch drucken“ is activated, the receipt comes out of the printer automatically. Both are configured in the Bestellungen area: under Signaltöne the sound for new and for cancelled orders including the ring mode, under Drucker the receipt printer with „Automatisch drucken“. One thing you need to know: the sound settings apply per device and are not transferred – you set them up on every tablet and every computer individually.
Sound alerts for new and for cancelled orders
Under Signaltöne you switch on two sounds separately: one for new and one for
cancelled orders. You then choose the ring mode – once, 20 seconds or
continuous – and the tone. That way a cancellation is audible as well, and not only at the next glance at
the screen. For the lunchtime peak you can switch to the continuous mode and change it back afterwards.
Why it stays silent when you first open the page
Browsers only release sounds after the page has been touched or clicked once. So when you open the Bestellzentrale in the morning, tap the screen briefly – after that it rings. If it still stays silent, check the device rule above: the sound may be switched on at the till computer but not on the kitchen tablet. The way to do it is described in Setting up sound alerts, printer & keeping the display awake.
If nobody reacts, the alert becomes clearer
If an order confirmed by the guest is left unaccepted, the alert becomes louder and clearer by itself, so that nothing gets missed. You do not need to configure or install anything for that. With payment on site (cash or card) there is also a time limit: after the guest has confirmed, the alert becomes clearer after 5 minutes, and you have up to 45 minutes to accept the order – otherwise it is cancelled automatically. Prepaid online orders are never cancelled automatically; the time limits are explained in Confirm cash payment & understand time limits. The reminder ends as soon as you tap „Annehmen & Zeit bestätigen“ in the detail window – at that moment the time the guest sees, which was only an expected time until then, becomes binding. The individual steps are described in Accept, edit & complete an order.
Printing the receipt automatically
Under Drucker you activate your receipt printer and enter the necessary details: address, width and header line. With „Automatisch drucken“ a new or an accepted order is printed as a receipt. If the automatic mode is active, the receipt comes out of the printer at the moment you accept the order – the kitchen gets the paper without anyone having to touch the screen. Without a receipt printer set up, everything stays on the screen with the live tickets.
Test print – and what happens if printing fails
Check the setup with a test print before the first guest orders. And one point that matters in daily business: printing errors do not stop the process. The order stays visible in the Bestellzentrale and can be accepted, edited and completed even if no paper arrives. If a receipt is missing, check the printer – the order itself is not affected.
Keeping the display awake on the kitchen tablet
The „Display wach halten“ function keeps the screen of the kitchen tablet on, so that a new order does not sit behind a black display. This requires HTTPS and a short touch of the screen; on some devices, for example some iPhones and iPads, it is not available. In that case, set a longer screen lock on the device itself.
What runs on the screen alongside it
The open orders refresh roughly every four seconds (less often in the background) and are split into two lanes: Lieferungen (delivery) and Abholung (pickup). At the top, counters run for open orders, those completed today and those loaded. If there is nothing to do, it says „Keine offenen Bestellungen“. The full structure is explained in The Order Centre at a Glance, and the feature overview is given by Order Centre – all orders at a glance. The only requirement is that you are logged in and your subscription is active.
When you are not standing at the tablet
Sound and receipt help where the cooking happens. If you are moving around the venue, in the storeroom or in the office, you can additionally receive a push notification on your smartphone – see Restaurant App. How much time the kitchen allows for pickup and delivery is controlled separately via the preparation times.
Who is this worth it for?
- Loud kitchens where nobody watches a screen constantly: the ring mode
20 secondsorcontinuousbrings someone to the tablet. - Businesses with separate stations – counter, kitchen, office: the sound is set once on every device, after which every station hears it.
- Kitchens that work on paper: the receipt with your header line goes to the stove and the screen stays clean.
- Small teams with nobody permanently at the tablet: the alert that grows louder is a reminder of a confirmed order that has been left waiting.
Anyone with only a few orders a day who has the tablet in front of them anyway can manage without a printer: sound alert and live tickets are then enough.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I not hear a sound alert for new orders?
The browser only releases the sound alert after you have touched or clicked the page of the Bestellzentrale once. Also check whether the sound is switched on for this particular device – the sound alerts apply per device.
Do the sound alerts apply on all tablets in the venue?
No. The settings for sound alerts apply per device and are not transferred. Set up the sound alert on every tablet and every computer on which orders should be heard.
Can I have orders printed automatically as a receipt?
Yes. As soon as the receipt printer is set up under Drucker and „Automatisch drucken“ is activated, a new or an accepted order is printed as a receipt.
What do I enter for the receipt printer?
In the Drucker area you activate the receipt printer and enter the address, width and header line. Then check the setup with a test print.
What happens if the receipt is not printed?
Printing errors do not stop the process: the order stays in the Bestellzentrale and can be accepted and completed. If in doubt, check the printer.
What happens if a confirmed order is left waiting?
The alert becomes louder and clearer by itself. With payment on site it becomes clearer after 5 minutes, and after the guest has confirmed you have up to 45 minutes to accept the order. It ends as soon as you accept the order and confirm the time.
How do I stop the kitchen tablet from going to sleep?
Switch on „Display wach halten“ in the Bestellzentrale. This requires HTTPS and a short touch of the screen; on some devices the function is not available.
More on this: Order Centre · Restaurant App · Online Ordering System