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Online Ordering Setup on SkyTab POS

  • Updated

Description: Review the process of setting up online ordering to install and configure SkyTab Online, our integrated online ordering system. 

SkyTab Online Setup

To watch more how-to videos, visit our video section.

  1. Log in to Lighthouse Business Manager (LBM).
  2. Once logged in, select Marketplace on the left navigation bar.
  3. Locate the SkyTab Online app and select View details.
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  4. Select Install and follow the prompts.
  5. Once it’s finished installing, you should see SkyTab Online in your My Apps list to the left. Select it to configure your online settings.

Status Bars

A yellow status bar at the top of the page appears, explaining that your payments are currently being set up and that it may take up to 24 hours to complete.

If you see a red status bar, this means your payments cannot be set up and you must contact technical support.

SkyTab Online Integration Settings

Restaurant Settings

Once installed, SkyTab Online opens with the Restaurant Settings tab selected. In this tab, make sure to fill in the following information:

  • Restaurant Contact Information: How you want your info to be displayed to customers

    • Create a name for your online store
    • Optionally, you can add a phone number and email for your business
    • You are required to set your business timezone
    • Your address information is automatically pulled from your account. So, if you need to make any changes, you’ll need to do so separately.

  • Restaurant Image: Upload a 500 x 250-pixel image if desired for your restaurant. We recommend anything from a plate of food to a good photo of your interior. 

  • Select Save.

Payments

On the Payments tab, set up your Payment and Tips Settings:

  • Place a check in the checkbox next to "Allow payments by gift card" if gift cards can be used to pay for online orders.

  • Allow tips: Whether or not you will ask your customers to specify a tip at checkout and select a default tip.
    Note: There is no way to add a tip on a submitted order in the POS, so we recommend you select this option.

  • Decide if tips should be calculated to include or not include taxes when calculating tip suggestions.
  • Select Save.

Takeout/Delivery

To watch more how-to videos, visit our video section.

Now that we’ve finished setting things up, select the Takeout/Delivery tab and make sure Online Ordering is enabled by selecting the Enable Takeout/Delivery button. Also, select Enable QR Ordering if you are using this feature.

On the Takeout/Delivery tab, choose the settings that best fit your business needs.

Order Settings

To watch more how-to videos, visit our video section.

Placing a check in the checkbox for "Allow Special Requests" allows guests to add additional comments to an order, such as double-bake, cut a pizza into smaller slices, or ask for a different sauce.

Preparation Time (min): You can indicate the preparation estimate for an average order to give guests an idea of how long it will take for their food to be ready, but it’s not required.

This also controls when scheduled pickup orders are printed. For example, if I order food for pickup at 12:00 pm, and the prep time is 15 minutes, it will print to the kitchen at 11:45 am.

Order Type: Select if you’ll be accepting Takeout Orders, Delivery Orders, or both Order Types from the dropdown.

You have the option to throttle how many orders come in every 15 minutes for the "Restrict number of orders to fulfill every 15 minutes checkbox. This option is best if you already have a lot of orders from the restaurant and do not want to overload the kitchen.

Online Order Surcharge Name: If you want to add a surcharge to online orders, here is where you can set the name.

The Surcharge Type setting allows you to choose if the surcharge is a Flat amount ($) or percentage (%).

Online Order Surcharge Tax: Allow you to add a surcharge tax, if desired, for Online Ordering or Sales Tax.

Email and SMS Notification: These fields are for restaurant-facing notifications for incoming orders placed online. Leave these boxes blank if you do not wish to receive notifications.

Takeout Settings

Takeout Settings allow you to set a minimum and maximum order amount for all online orders, or you can leave them blank for no limits.

You can also set how far in advance your restaurant will accept orders:

  • ASAP Only means that no online orders can be placed before your restaurant is open.
    • For example, if someone wants to place an order at 9 am but you don’t open until 11, then they’ll have to wait until store hours to place an order.
  • Same Day allows you to order at any time during the day and have it available at the earliest store hour plus prep time.
  • 1-6 Days Out allows for advanced ordering up to the number of days you select. This could be used for catering orders.

Delivery Settings

Under Delivery Settings, if you use DoorDash Drive delivery services, you can link that service with SkyTab Online to create a seamless delivery for your customers.

Otherwise, you can indicate if you want to restrict orders based on Driving Distance or by a Zone.

  • The Driving Distance option will calculate how many miles away customers are based on the best route in Google Maps.
  • Whereas the Delivery Zone option allows you to designate a custom area around your business for delivery.
    • Start by clicking on the map to create a point. Continue to make points around the map to create your delivery zone. Everything within the blue polygon will be designated as your delivery zone.
    • Now, give your customers an estimated time it will take to complete the delivery. 

  • Similarly to the surcharge settings covered above in Take Out settings, you can also designate if the Delivery Type is a flat fee or percentage, add a Delivery Surcharge Tax, and the minimum and maximum order amount to include this charge.

  • The Future Orders option mirrors the previous one, allowing you to adjust how far in advance a delivery can be scheduled. If set to ASAP, it will be at the soonest availability based on the estimates provided.

Press Save to save your changes.

QR Ordering

To watch more how-to videos, visit our video section.

The QR Ordering tab is where you can utilize SkyTab online to take in-restaurant orders. These codes can be placed up near the checkout counter, at each of the tables, or even on the doors and windows of your establishment. Not only is this a contactless way a customer can order, but QR codes free up staff that are normally stuck at POS stations inputting orders.

As with the previous Order Types, you can enable or disable special requests, as well as name and set a surcharge for using this QR service.

URL: This link directs you to a web page with your POS menu.

QR Code: You are directed to a web page with your POS menu by scanning this QR code.

QR Ordering Table Tent: This downloads a PDF file that can be printed and then placed on the tables for you to scan (A4 Format).

  • Create Table Specific QR Codes: This allows you to link table numbers to a specific QR Code so that customers can skip entering table numbers.

Press Save to save your changes.

Closures

The Closures tab is where you can define alternate operating hours, such as being closed for Christmas or closing early for New Year's Eve.

  1. To schedule a new closure, select the Add Closure button.
  2. Enter the name for your online closure, such as a Holiday, and then select the start and end dates/times for your restrictions.
  3. The Message you set will show to any customers trying to create an online order during the dates provided. For example, “Sorry, we’re closed for the Holiday! See you tomorrow!”
  4. You can also tailor your closures to specific order types, such as Delivery Orders, Takeout Orders, and Dine In Orders.
  5. Select the Add button to schedule that closure for the future.

Next, set up your menu(s) via Menu Manager before testing the system.

Online Menu Configuration

Configure your online menu through Menu Manager. You can push your entire POS menu to your online ordering site or select specific items.

To watch more how-to videos, visit our video section.


Note: If you have not already done so, log in to Lighthouse Business Manager. Once you have
logged in to Lighthouse, and select Marketplace on the left navigation menu.

  1. Select Menu Manager, and begin by selecting the Import from POS button.

    Note: If the button is disabled, Menu Manager has already been set up and has the latest information from your POS.

  2. Use the checkboxes to add items or modifiers to your store. You can choose All Items, All Items by Department, or by individually selecting the items you want to add. It is recommended that you select only those items you wish to sell online, including customer favorites, items with a high profit margin, or items that can be prepared quickly by your kitchen.
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    Notes:

    • If you added an item with modifiers, select Next to repeat the process with the modifiers.

    • If items were previously added to the online menu and you need to add modifiers ONLY, the Items section can be bypassed by pressing the blue Next button. 

    • Select all modifier sets that are relevant to a customer, and all modifiers are required. Otherwise, their order will be rejected.
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  3. Press Save when you are finished.

Creating a Schedule

Once you have imported your menu, you need to create at least one schedule and add your items to it to show when your items are available online. Your store will not be ready to go until you set your schedule.

If you have a simple restaurant, you might only need one schedule from open to close. But if you have a lunch menu and a dinner menu, you can set those up to offer different items at different times as well.

  1. In your Menu Manager, begin by selecting the Schedules tab.

  2. Select the "+" for Create New Schedule.

  3. Enter a Name for your schedule.
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  4. Select the days your items will be available online. When a day is selected, you need to set the times your item will be available in the "From" and "To" fields.
  5. If desired, place a checkmark in the checkbox for "Automatically add new items to the schedule" to make sure any new items you add to your menu are automatically included in the schedule.
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  6. Select Manage items to add items to the schedule.

  7. Use the checkboxes next to your items (or the All Items checkbox at the top) to select items for your menu.
  8. Select Save to finish adding your items.
  9. When you are satisfied with your schedule, select the Add button to finish creating your schedule.
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  10. Select the Publish menu button.

Congratulations! Your store is now ready to start selling items. Menu Manager has many other features to help you customize your store to meet your needs. In the next section, review a few of those features to help you get the most out of your store.

Menu Manager Customization

Once your menu is set up, you are able to customize it by adding multiple schedules, designating special items for a weekend brunch, setting up limited availability for specific items, and more.

To watch more how-to videos, visit our video section.

Reorder Modifiers Sets

  1. Use the Menu tab to edit schedules and to edit items or modifiers.
  2. It is very important to organize how your modifiers are presented. Customers are more likely to order from an easy-to-follow menu rather than a confusing one. Select the Reorder Modifier Sets button.
  3. Reposition modifiers by selecting the arrows next to their name and dragging the modifier up or down the list.
  4. Select the Save button when you have finished arranging your modifiers.

Reorder Departments

  1. The same can be done for Departments. Make sure they’re in an easy-to-use, understandable order, such as placing appetizers or specials first. Select Reorder Departments.
  2. Reposition departments by selecting the arrows next to their name and dragging the modifier up or down the list.
  3. Select the Save button when you have finished arranging your departments.

Edit Departments

  1. You can edit any department by selecting its name.
  2. You can rename your department and add an online-only name and description.
  3. Select the Save button.

Edit Items

  1. You can also change the way items in a department are presented on your online store. Select the arrow to the left of the department to display all the items, then select an item to edit.
  2. Just like Modifiers and Departments, you can display a unique online name and determine which of your online integrations the item appears on.

    Note: The options here will change depending on what integrations you have installed through the Marketplace. This is helpful for items like alcohol, which for example, can be restricted to in-house ordering only.
    because we don't want to offer it for delivery.
  3. If desired, you can change the price of items for certain integrations here. Leaving it blank will cause it to inherit the amount from what is set as the online price.
  4. You also have the option to assign this item to a schedule, add labels, and an online description in the next section.

    Some labels may be supported by some integrations, such as alcohol. DoorDash and Uber Eats accept this tag and will check if it is available for delivery and, if so, change the price as needed. These labels can also help your customers know about important things, such as “Gluten Free.”
  5. Scroll down to the bottom and select the Upload Photo button to add an image for your item.
  6. Once you have located the image you want to use, select Open.
  7. Crop and adjust the image as needed, then select Done.
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  8. Select Save when you are finished.

Important: After completing these steps, be sure to select the Publish menu button to make your changes live in your store, and your updates will be sent to all integrations.

Visit the Prevent Customers from Ordering Sold Out Items on SkyTab Online to learn how to display items as Almost Sold Out or Sold Out.

OLO Configuration on POS Terminal

Log into POS Terminal and do the following:

  1. Navigate to Manager > Settings > Accounting > Surcharge.
  2. Press the blue Add Surcharge button on the bottom left corner.
  3. Fill out the required fields:
    1. Set the name as Online Ordering.
    2. Set the amount as $ type, and enter 0.01.
  4. Press the blue Save button on the bottom right corner to add a new surcharge.

Once the Online Ordering surcharge is created, navigate to the Manager > Settings > Business > Marketplace.


Note: Ensure all the sections (Paired Tax, Paired Surcharge, etc.) are set as Active. Otherwise, the OLO integration will not work.

Testing

After setting up SkyTab Online and Menu Manager, we recommend taking a moment to run a few test orders to make sure everything is set up correctly.

  1. Go to the SkyTab Online > Takeout/Delivery tab.
  2. Select your SkyTab Online Menu link (the URL customers use to access your site).
  3. Order a few items.
  4. Select Checkout.
  5. Fill out the information requested.
    • Tip: In SkyTab Online Settings, at least for testing, enable CASH, so you don’t have to charge your credit card for orders. Under Payments, enable "Allow unpaid orders."
  6. Click through to submit your order.

On your POS, you will see a ticket for your order.

SkyTab POS

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Promoting Your System

How you want to promote your system is up to you; however, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

  • Add a link to SkyTab Online to your website
  • Post a link to SkyTab Online on social media
  • Add to your customer receipts

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Sorting With SkyTab Online

  • Online Ordering will honor the global sort order set up in your POS system for Items, Modifier Sets,
    and Modifiers.
  • You can reorder Departments/Categories via Menu Manager > Menu by selecting the Reorder Departments button.

POS Sync With SkyTab Online

Once you have imported/added items via Menu Manager, changes in your POS will automatically sync for those items.

What is automatically synced:

  • Active/Inactive

  • POS Item Name

  • POS Item Price

Bulk Actions

Menu Manager provides a quick way to make specific changes to one or many parts of your menu.

  1. Select the Menu Manager > Menu tab.
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  2. Within the filter bar, choose what you want to work on by selecting Show > choose Items or Modifiers from the dropdown menu.

  3. You will see checkboxes appear next to elements in the list below. You can check one or many list items that you want to perform an action against. Notice at the bottom of the screen that the Remove and Edit buttons are now visible.

  4. Once you made changes on the Menu Manager, make sure to select the Publish menu button on the top right corner. 

    Note: This is a good way to remove many items from your menus or batch-add tags and labels.

Once the online store is set up, you can begin customizing. You can add as many schedules as you like based on your location’s needs. You may want to order special items for weekend brunch or set up limited availability for certain items. More than one schedule may be active for your location. The following sections can help you customize Menu Manager to meet merchants' needs.

Important: After completing any of the steps, be sure to select the Publish menu button to make your changes live in your store.

Conclusion

Once the settings are configured, select Save and select Enable Online Ordering. This activates your Menu URL so that customers may place orders through your website.

To view the customer-facing online ordering page, select the Menu URL. This is only visible after you’ve fully configured SkyTab Online and published a menu. Copy the URL and paste it on social media or an existing website when you are ready to take orders.

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Orders that customers place online will appear in your POS system automatically.

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