Synergy

USAGE RESTRICTIONS: This document is for the use of licensed users of Synergy POSLink / PumpLink applications only.

Introduction

POSLink Version 10 brings the most significant user interface improvement POS has seen in the last 15 years.

Many buttons usually found on a programmable keyboard are now available on-screen, with customisable product menus (like you would see at a supermarket), larger text (for use on modern high resolution monitors) and improved product searching and line editing tools make POSLink Version 10 ideal for operation on a touchscreen monitor.

This upgrade changes the way several key functions are performed in POS, so it is strongly advisable that you read this document in its entirety before proceeding with the upgrade of your POSLink / PumpLink application.

Minimum System Requirements

Screen Resolution:

POSLink Version 10 will require a minimum display resolution setting of 1024 x 768, however we strongly recommend running a minimum 1280x1024.

The following resolutions are also not supported on widescreen monitors:

1350 x 768, 1280 x 768, 1280 x 720

Windows Operating System

We strongly recommend running at least Windows 7 or newer when upgrading to POS version 10. The touchscreen Pump Icons cannot be clicked directly on Windows XP (you will require a programmable keyboard or similar) and some of the graphics used on certain icons and buttons in the system do not display on Windows XP.

It is worth noting, Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft and can pose significant security risks to your business, upgrading to an operating system supported by Microsoft will ensure you’re entitled to receive the regular security patches released by Microsoft.

Enabler Minimum Version

For PumpLink sites, you must be running Enabler v3.4x or greater for POS v10 to operate. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend you backup your entire POS, Synergy and SynergyData folders immediately before installing the upgrade, in case there are any incompatibility issues – so you can restore your backup to the ‘pre-upgraded’ state.

The most straightforward way of confirming if you are on a supported version of Enabler is to confirm that the files EnbPumpX2.ocx and EnbSessionX2.ocx exist in the C:\Enabler directory on the main (Pump server) computer.

Overview - New Features & Changes

DPS & Vault Eftpos integration

We are continually adding to the options for Eftpos Integration in Synergy POS. DPS and Vault Eftpos is now an option available to users of Synergy POS/PumpLink.

Please note DPS and Vault Eftpos Integration require an activation code and small additional monthly support fee.

Returns / Credits on client accounts

The POS ‘Returns and Credits’ function will now allow you to process returns and credits for customer accounts, previously limited to Cash Sales only.

Promos / Combo Deals

This feature allows you to set up combo’s such as 2 products for the price of 1, or combo deals of one product plus another product for a special price (e.g. 1x 350mL Coke + 1x 150g Bluebird Chips for $4). This feature is only be available to sites on a full PumpLink SMP (Support & Maintenance Plan).

To download the combo setup guide, click the link below:

www.synergy.net.nz/pdf/POS_ComboDeals.pdf

Customer Display Screen

There is a new optional add-on to run a second customer facing monitor showing relevant info such as products sold and total price, along with customisable rotating advert images, background and header/logo.
For more info, see the Customer Display User Guide

Product Quantities:

When scanning / adding a product that is already in the sale, the program will now just increase the quantity against the product instead of adding a new line to the invoice. Although and exception to this is fuel sales, each fuel delivery will continue to operate as per previous versions of PumpLink, being added as a separate line in the sale. This feature can be enabled/disabled in the POS Setup menu, under the setting “Enable Auto Quantity”.

Product Menus:

There are 4 customisable ‘Product’ sub-menus that can be configured from the POS Setup menu. Underneath each sub-menu, you can add buttons for 19 products, also set up in the POS Setup menu.

For detailed instructions on this new feature, please see the ‘New Interfaces > Security’ section of this document.

Function Buttons and Help Key

Buttons such as ‘repeat’, ‘edit line’, ‘delete line’ etc are now available directly on-screen, and can be either clicked with a mouse or tapped with your finger when using a touchscreen monitor.

If you cannot find the function you’re looking for on the main-screen, click the ‘Help’ button in the bottom left and you will find several further function buttons.

Payments / Tenders Screen

Redesigned with a larger display suitable for touchscreens etc. the new payments screen gives a more clear view of each payment type and allows you to assign icons to each payment type (very similar in layout to the Synergy Auto Shop payments screen in design).

Fuel Discount Module

The generic fuel discount voucher module (not the customised Smart Fuel / Fuel Up modules) is able to be setup for any PumpLink enabled system. Set up documentation for this will be available on request.

Stock Qty on Hand

Qty on hand values will now be presented on the product selection list.

Refund Recent Transaction

The Returns and Credits screen now features a ‘Select Previous’ option which will allow you to select a recent invoice and load the content of that sale immediately into the screen to process a return/credit.

New Interfaces

Main Menu

The main menu contains all the same options as previous versions, with the exception of the ‘Audit Trail’ button. This simply provides a short-cut to the often used Audit Trail report.

When an item in the main menu is ‘greyed out’ (e.g. the ‘Update Back Office’ icon in the screenshot above) this means it is unavailable. In this example Update Back Office is unavailable as there is nothing to be updated to back office, all transactions etc. have already been posted to back office, or ‘compacted cash sales’ is turned off.

If the ‘Sales’ icon  displays as ‘Open Lane’ then this POS Lane has not yet been opened for trading for the new day or shift (since the latest day/shift close).

Setup

The POS setup screens have changed considerably. All the main setup options of previous versions of POSLink remain with some new options. Eftpos Integration options and Fuel Discount Voucher options (PumpLink only) have been added to the main ‘configure lane’ screen. If you wish to use DPS Eftpos integration, please contact Synergy sales as this requires a custom activation. Additional documentation can be provided on request for Eftpos integration.

Due to the growing capacity of computer hard drives, if you have recently upgraded your POS computers you may wish to consider increasing the ‘Number of Days Active History Kept’, on older PC’s this was often set as low as 14 days however most new PC’s could comfortably facilitate 90 days.

Products

One of the key enhancements of POS v10 is the ability to set up your own product menus, which can be easily operated from the main sales screen of Synergy, designed for ease of use on a touchscreen monitor.

You can setup up to 4 Product Menus, each containing up to 19 products.

To set these up, Go into POS Setup and click the ‘Products’ icon on the right-hand navigation menu:

In the ‘Setup Product Master Buttons’ click one of the rows to start setting up one of the Product Menu buttons. Immediately below the list are the options for the selected button, first you can give the button a custom label e.g. ‘Shop’ in the screenshot above, then to make the button appear in the main POS Sales screen, tick the box to make this button ‘Active’.

Once you have labelled your Product Master Buttons, on the right-hand side, under ‘Setup Product Buttons’ click the Master button you wish to add products to, then click on a row in the list below to add a product to the Master Button.  

When a row is selected you can set the button up in the menu immediately below the list. Tick the box to make the button active, click the binoculars icon to choose the product to associate with that button. The ‘description’ field will show the selected product’s ‘description’ from your database and the ‘caption’ is the label that will be put on the button in the POS sales screen. You may wish to edit the caption to make it shorter (so it actually fits on the button) or to make it easier to identify the correct product when using these product menus.

Carry on setting up more buttons under the selected Product Master Button then select another Product Master button, if you wish to start setting up its associated products.  When finished, click the ‘Tick’ icon to save your changes.

If you go into the POS Sales screen, you will see the Master Buttons that have been set up in the bottom of the screen:

Clicking one of these will present the list of products you have set up against that Master Button, e.g.:

Clicking one of these buttons will immediately add this product into your current sale.

Forms

Within the POS Setup menu, is the ‘Forms’ option. In previous versions of POS this was overly cumbersome, so we have simplified the form to give you 4 lines of text you can edit in the ‘header’ of most printed dockets/receipts along with a further 4 lines for the footer of these printed dockets/receipts.

As an example, in the header you may wish to put relevant contact details for your company, and in the footer a “thank you for your custom” message or detail of current promotions you are running.

The ‘Held Sale Docket Footer’ is useful for putting special terms to be printed on Held Sales; for example: “Held Sales will be kept for 24hrs, after which items will be returned to stock for sale to the general public.”

Security

The security settings are consistent with prior versions of Synergy POSLink, you assign POS Security levels to specific staff in your Synergy back office system, then in POS Setup > Security you specify a minimum security level to be able to perform the selected function. For example, in the screenshot below, only staff with a POS Security Level of 2 or over can process a Charge to Account transactions, and only staff with security level 3 or over can Cancel Sale or open the cashdrawer with the ‘No Sale’ feature.