If you Solutions DGR is offline from the network you might receive this message.

 

In the top right of the logo you will see a small Offline tag

Offline Expectations

 

Automatic Offline Mode:

1. The system will detect when it cannot communicate to the API (likely due to internet connectivity issue) and will move the register or production workstation into Offline Mode for you. 
2. Then when the connection is restored, Solutions DGR 5.0 will automatically begin sending data to the API again and the “offline” message on the screen will go away.  

When to use Manual Offline Mode:

1. When there is excessive slowness at the register and/or production workstations
2. When there is continuous freezing across the store
3. When you are experiencing intermittent internet issues
4. When you are experiencing API connection issues
5. When you receive communication from Solutions ITW with recommendations to go to offline mode
6. When the application is launched, the “initializing” message appears to indicate that the system is connecting to the API to retrieve updated settings. If this process takes longer than normal, you may have an issue with connecting to the API. If this is the case, you may need to disconnect from the internet in order to open the application.

While in offline mode:

1. Payment Types
   1. Credit Cards
      1. If the credit card terminal has internet connectivity and the POS machine can communicate to the terminal, credit card transactions are not impacted to Offline Mode.
      2. If the credit card terminal does not have internet connectivity and/or the POS machine cannot communicate to the terminal, credit card transactions will not work in Offline Mode.
      3.  If the credit card terminal is configured for “Store and Forward” mode with the processor, if the credit card terminal does not have internet connectivity but the POS machine can communicate to the terminal, credit card transactions will work in Offline Mode. (Store and Forward not available for all processors)
   2. Gift Cards, Store Credits and other serialized payment types
      1. Serialized payment types will not be available in Offline Mode.
2. Transactions
   1. Customers/Loyalty
      1. Customer lookup and loyalty discounts will not work in Offline Mode. Only default customers will be available in Offline Mode.
   2. Returns
      1. When in offline mode, the workstation is unable to communicate to the central server to pull down the original transaction details so returns will need to be done by using the “No receipt” button.
3. Balance Drawer / End of Day
   1. Balance Drawer
      1. Balancing a drawer can be done in Offline Mode but it will need to be done at the corresponding workstation only.
   2. End of Day
      1. End of Day (EOD) should be performed in Online Mode only. Because each workstation stores data locally and the workstations do not communicate with one another, in order to get the total deposit amounts for the store, EOD will need to be done in Online Mode to retrieve the totals from the central server.
      2. If internet/connectivity issues remain for multiple days, it is still recommended to wait until all data syncs to the central server before completing EOD. In this instance, Goodwill should have SOPs in place to communicate the deposit amounts to accounting and other departments as needed.

Once Connection is Restored:

1. If the workstation is running in manual offline mode, the workstation should be set back to online mode immediately.
   1. If a workstation is running in offline mode for too long,
      1. you may experience significant slowdowns
      2. reporting will be incorrect and team members will not get credit for their work
2. Complete EOD if it was not yet completed.
3. Test connections to peripherals such as credit card terminals and printers. Re-establish connections as needed.
4. Reporting
   1. While the application is in offline mode, all the data is being stored on the workstation. Once the connection is restored, the data will begin synchronizing to the central server. Note that the longer the workstation is offline, the longer this sync process will take.
   2. Note that reports may need to be repopulated after the data sync process has completed. Please contact Solutions support for assistance:
      1. If a workstation was run in Offline Mode for longer than a day
      2. If the workstation was not able to send all data to the central server before the nightly report population job runs.

How to manually go into offline mode:

1. A manager or someone in IT will need to access the Settings Screen at each workstation
2. Look for Offline only toggle and switch to the on position as shown below

 

 

3.  The Production Workstation and Register will indicate offline as in the image below