Import menus from a .CSV file or use AI to add main screens and existing items at the same time. To save a copy of the menu data outside the Back Office, export existing menus into .CSV files. The file must contain the SKU of each item on the menu and the name of the screen each item is on.

Importing a menu via .CSV

Set up which existing items are added to which screens within a menu. If the main screen doesn't exist yet, it will be created. If the main screen already exists, it will be updated. You can use the export file of a menu as an import template, or create your own template in the spreadsheet software of your choice.

Formatting the menu import file

The import file is limited to 10,000 rows. If you have more than 9,999 items to import, you will need to create separate imports.

1. Create a CSV-formatted spreadsheet with the headers SKU and Screens.
2. In the first column, list all SKUs you want to add to the menu.
3. In the second column, add the top-level screen name of each SKU.
4. (Optional) To add the SKU to a sub-screen, enter two hashtags after the main screen name followed by the sub-screen in the format Main screen##Sub-screen.

Example:

• SKU 250 (sparkling water) is added to the top-level screen Drinks.
• SKU 131 (cappuccino) is added to the sub-screen Coffee within the top-level screen Drinks.

• The format in the Screens column is Drinks##Coffee.

  

Importing the file to the Back Office

Importing a menu allows you to create or replace a menu. You can also use the import option to test-run a menu without affecting the menus you already have.

1. Log in to the Back Office with your Lightspeed Restaurant credentials.
2. From the navigation menu, select Menu > Menu management.
3. Select the menu you wish to edit, or create a new menu.

4. Click the More actions dropdown and choose Import.

   

5. Click Browse... to choose your file to upload.

   

6. (Optional) If some columns are not necessary for the import, turn them off in Columns selection.

7. Make sure the titles of your file data are correct and click Map columns with identical names.

   

8. If the file should replace the existing menu in the Back Office, toggle on the slide control Replace the menu with the content of the file in the Additional parameters section.
   1. Toggle off the slide control to add more items and screens to the menu.
9. (Optional) Toggle on Dry-run to test but not import the items and screens.

10. Click Continue.

    

11. Click the Confirm submission button. The upload may take a few minutes.
    1. Successful import: The confirmation The import process completed successfully appears.

    2. Unsuccessful import: Check for errors and upload the file again.

       

Importing a menu via Advanced menu import

Upload an image or file of your menu to the Back Office to save time and allow our AI to generate a menu and the associated items in the Back Office. View and edit this menu before uploading in either View as table or View as POS screen to validate the AI's output.

1. Log in to the Back Office with your Lightspeed credentials.
2. From the navigation menu, select Menu > Item list.

3. Click Import.

   

4. Click Start import on the Menu import tile.
5. Upload your menu file. This can be a .PDF, .PNG, .JPG, .HTML, .CSV, or .TXT file. We recommend ensuring that the file you upload has clear item names and prices to avoid errors.
6. Enter a name for your menu in the Menu name section.
7. (Optional) Click Advanced settings to customize your menu.
   • Modifier strategy: Tell the AI how to handle modifiers or add-ons. You can let the AI decide, or choose between Shared and Separate.
     • Shared: Shared modifiers apply the modifier to all types of a specific item. For example, all coffees may have the modifier to add milk.
     • Separate: Separate modifiers apply the modifier to one specific item. For example, pizza toppings may be created separately for each pizza.
   • Structure maintenance: Allow the AI to optimize the menu structure, or keep it the same as in the uploaded file.
   • Basic choice strategy: Tell the AI how to handle basic choices like size or flavor. You can let the AI decide, or choose between As Sub-Screen or As Modifier.
   • Size format: Tell the AI how to handle the same item in different sizes. You can let the AI decide, or choose between Separate Items, Base Price + Modifiers, or Zero Base + Full Price Modifiers.
     • Separate items: All items of different sizes are uploaded as separate items.
     • Base Price + Modifiers: Items of different sizes have a single base price, but modifiers increase that price. For example, if you have Small, Medium, and Large coffees, the Small coffee will be the base item at £2. The Medium coffee will have a modifier of £1, making it £3 (base price of £2 plus the £1 modifier). The Large coffee will have a modifier of £2, making it £4 (base price of £2 plus the £2 modifier).

     • Zero Base + Full Price Modifiers: Items of different sizes have a base price of £0, but modifiers add to the price. For example, if you have Small, Medium, and Large coffees, 'coffee' is the base item at £0. You can then have modifiers of Small (£2), Medium (£3), and Large (£4).

       

8. Enter any Special requests. Special requests tell the AI to adjust the menu to your specifications. Enter any text you want in this field and the AI will interpret it to apply to your menu. For example, you can tell the AI to create only single items instead of combos, or tell it to add ketchup and mayonnaise as a modifier for all burgers.
9. Click Import menus. This process may take a few minutes.
10. Review the imported menu before it's fully uploaded to the Back Office. Toggle between View as table and View as POS screen. Add, edit, or delete items as needed.
11. Click Import items and save menu. To save a copy of the menu as a .CSV file before uploading it to the Back Office, click Download all items in a CSV.

View as table

View as table is the default view of an imported menu that hasn't yet been fully uploaded to the Back Office. This view displays all the items on your uploaded menu in editable rows and columns. Click each field to either edit the text or choose from the drop-down menu, depending on the field.

• Name: The item's name as it will appear on the menu.
• Type: The type of item. An item can be classified as an Item, a Sub-item, a Combo, a Group, a Modifier, or a Modifier Group.
• SKU: The unique identifier assigned to each item.
• Price: The price of each item.
• Screen category: The button the item will appear under on the POS, such as Starters or Drinks.
• Button color: The color of the menu button on the POS for this item.
• Accounting group: The assigned accounting group for the item.

To delete an item, click the trash can icon at the end of the item's row. To add more items, click + Add item.

Adding modifier groups

Modifier groups allow you to group similar modifiers together. Modifier groups can be assigned to one or more items and the customer can choose from the modifiers in that group.

To add a new modifier group:

1. Click + Add modifier group and fill in the fields.
2. Click + Add option to add modifiers to this group.

The following fields can be edited.

• SKU: The unique identifier for this group. The SKU is automatically generated but can be edited.
• Group name: The name for this modifier group, like Sizing Options.
• Min/Max: The minimum and maximum number of times each modifier in this group can be added to an item at the POS. If choosing an option is mandatory, the minimum should be set to 1.
• Render style: Choose to make each option in this group either a sub-item or a linked item. Sub-items can only be sold as part of a combo. Linked items can be sold separately. For example, if you sell fries with ketchup as a combo or modifier, the ketchup would be a sub-item.

Option count refers to the number of modifiers included in this group. This section is automatically generated depending on how many modifiers you add.

To delete a group, click the trash can icon.

Adding modifiers

Modifiers are single changes or instructions to add to an item. You must have at least one modifier group to add modifiers. Each modifier can be added to multiple groups.

To create multiple modifiers, click + Add option in the modifier group for each modifier you want to add.

• SKU: The unique identifier for this group. The SKU is automatically generated but can be edited.
• Option name: The name for this option, like Small.
• Price adjustment: The extra amount this modifier will add to the base price.
• Accounting group: The associated accounting group.
• Parent item group: The modifier group this option belongs to. This section is automatically generated when you add options to a modifier group.
• Actions: Click the trash can icon to delete this modifier.

View as POS screen

Click View as POS screen to view your menu as it will appear on the POS. Edit, delete, and rearrange items to suit your business.

Editing the menu

• Click + Add Category to add a new menu category, such as Appetizers.
• Click the + icon beside a category name to add a new sub-screen, such as adding Perogies to your Starters.
• Hover over a category or a sub-screen to choose from the pencil icon to edit, or the trash can icon to delete.
• Click and drag the six-dot icon to move an item or combo to a new position or category.
• Filter for specific items or combos by clicking the dropdown menus for Type and Accounting group, or enter an item or combo name in the text box to search.
• Click + Create an item to add a new item or combo to the menu.

Adding modifier groups

Modifier groups allow you to group similar modifiers together. Modifier groups can be assigned to one or more items and the customer can choose from the modifiers in that group.

1. Click the combo name.
2. Click + Create modifier group.
3. Enter the group name, such as Choice of side.
4. Enter the minimum and maximum number of choices you want the customer to be able to select from that modifier group.
5. Choose whether the group is a sub-item or a linked item. Sub-items can only be sold as part of a combo. Linked items can be sold separately.
6. Click Create modifier group.
7. Drag the modifier group to the combo.

Exporting menus

To save and use menu data beyond the Back Office, export existing menus into .CSV files. The file contains the SKU of each item on the menu and the name of the screen each item is on.

1. Log in to the Back Office with your Lightspeed credentials.
2. From the navigation menu, select Menu > Menu management.
3. Click the name of the menu you wish to export.
4. Click the More actions drop-down and select Export. The .CSV file will be automatically saved to your computer.

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