Kiosk Mode: Self-Service Ordering in ClearRing POS

Kiosk mode transforms any touchscreen display — a wall-mounted tablet, a countertop screen, or a freestanding terminal — into a fully branded self-ordering experience. Customers browse, customize, and pay without queue congestion, and orders flow directly into the kitchen display or printer.

Before You Start

Requirements:

• A touchscreen device (minimum 10-inch screen recommended for comfortable use)
• ClearRing POS installed or accessible in browser mode
• Products with prices and at least one active category

Step 1: Enable Kiosk Mode

Go to Settings → Terminals and open (or create) the terminal that will run as a kiosk. Toggle Kiosk Mode on.

Configure the kiosk options:

| Setting | Recommended Value | |---------|------------------| | Auto-lock after idle (seconds) | 120 | | Show category strip | Yes | | Allow guest checkout | Yes | | Require customer phone | Optional |

Save and then click Launch Kiosk from that terminal settings page — or navigate directly to /kiosk on that device.

Step 2: Arrange Your Menu

In Products → Categories, drag categories into the order you want them to appear in the kiosk category strip. Rename categories to short, customer-friendly labels (e.g. "Burgers" not "Hot Sandwiches - Premium").

For each product, make sure you have:

• A clear product name (max ~20 characters before truncation on card)
• Price set
• A description (shown on the product card detail)
• An emoji or product image assigned (emojis display beautifully on dark kiosk cards)

Step 3: Customer Browses and Adds Items

The customer arrives at the kiosk. They see:

1. Category strip at the top — tap to filter the menu
2. Product cards in a grid — each shows name, price, and a short description
3. Cart summary panel on the right — updates live as items are added

To add an item: Tap the product card. If the item has no variants/modifiers, it's added directly to cart. If it has variants (e.g. size: small/large), a modal opens for selection.

To adjust quantity: Use the – and + buttons that appear on the card once the item is in cart. The cart panel shows the running total.

Step 4: Customer Reviews Cart and Proceeds

The customer taps Place Order → (the green button in the cart panel). A review screen appears showing a final order summary with line items, subtotal, tax, and total.

They can:

• Tap Back to continue browsing
• Tap Confirm Order to proceed to payment

Step 5: Payment at the Kiosk

The payment screen shows enabled methods. Common kiosk setups:

| Method | Notes | |--------|-------| | Cash | Customer pays at counter; order is queued as "Pending Cash" | | Card (integrated terminal) | Tap/chip on card reader attached to kiosk | | QR / Mobile Wallet | Customer scans QR shown on screen | | Loyalty Points | If customer enters their phone number |

After payment confirmation, the kiosk shows a success screen with the order number and estimated wait time. The receipt prints automatically or is sent by SMS if phone was entered.

Step 6: Order Flows to Kitchen

The order appears instantly on the Kitchen Display System (KDS) or prints on the kitchen printer (configured under Settings → Printers). The kitchen ticket shows:

• Order number (large, visible across the kitchen)
• Ordered items with any customizations/notes
• Time the order was placed

When the kitchen marks the order Ready, the kiosk area display (if connected) can show the order number as ready for collection.

Branding the Kiosk

Under Settings → Kiosk Appearance:

• Upload your logo (displayed top-left)
• Set primary color (used for buttons and highlights)
• Set background theme: dark or light
• Configure idle screen: slideshow of product images or a promotional banner with a "Tap to Order" prompt

Best Practices

1. Keep your menu tight — 6–12 items per category is ideal on a kiosk; too many choices overwhelm customers
2. Use high-quality product images or clear emojis — visual browsing converts better than text-only menus
3. Enable the "Popular" tag on your top 5 sellers (Settings → Products → mark as Featured) — they appear first in the All Items view
4. Set a session timeout — after 2 minutes of inactivity, the kiosk resets to the idle screen

Common Questions

Can the kiosk run without an internet connection? In offline mode, the kiosk accepts cash orders and queues them locally. Card payments require connectivity to the payment gateway.

Can customers use loyalty points at the kiosk? Yes. The kiosk includes a phone number entry field at checkout. If the number matches a loyalty account, available points are shown and can be redeemed.

Can I run kiosk mode on the same device as the main POS? Yes, but it's not recommended for busy environments. A dedicated device gives the best experience and prevents staff from accidentally exiting kiosk mode.

Summary

ClearRing's kiosk mode is a low-friction way to increase order throughput during peak hours without adding staff. Once configured, it runs autonomously — customers order, pay, and receive their receipt entirely on their own, while orders stream directly to your kitchen just like any other POS sale.