Timed events automatically make changes to your POS, such as switching the ordering menu, according to a schedule that you set in the Back Office. For example, you can use a timed event to display your lunch menu at noon every day or a holiday menu on specific dates only.

With timed events, you can ensure that employees always see the correct options on the POS when taking orders, eliminating errors and streamlining service.

Timed events apply to POS configurations, meaning they affect any POS device using that specific configuration. This feature requires the latest version of the Lightspeed Restaurant POS app.

Accessing timed events in the Back Office

To view existing timed events or create new ones, go to the POS configurations page in your Back Office and select a configuration. Timed events set up on the selected configuration will apply to any POS device using that configuration.

1. Log in to the Back Office with your Lightspeed credentials.
2. From the navigation menu, select Configuration > Configurations.

3. Click the Timed events section.

   All existing timed events for that configuration are displayed. From here, you can create, edit, or delete timed events.

Creating and managing timed events

Create any new timed events you want to use on your POS. You can also edit timed events to change their schedule or delete them if no longer needed.

Before setting up a timed event for a menu, first create the menu you want to schedule and choose a default menu for when the timed event is not active.

1. In the Back Office, go to the Timed events section of a POS configuration.

2. From here, you can manage your timed events for that POS configuration:

   • To create a new timed event, click Add event, then follow steps 3-6 below.
   • To edit an existing timed event, click the pencil icon next to it, then follow steps 3-6 below.
   • To delete an existing timed event, click the trash can icon next to it.

   

3. Enter an Event title, and choose an existing menu for the event.

   The selected menu replaces your default POS menu for ordering based on the schedule you set in the next step.

4. Configure the event's schedule using the available options:
   • Start event on: Select the date the event should become active.
   • Define an end date: If the event should only be active until a certain date, toggle this setting on and select the last date of the event.
   • All-day event / Specific times: Set whether the event is All-day or should only run at Specific times. If only at specific times, enter starting and ending times for the event.
   • Select event availability: Choose from Every day, Weekdays, Weekends, or Custom. For Custom, select specific days of the week for the event to run. 

5. Click Save to apply your changes.

   

6. Click Save again to save changes to the POS configuration.

Settings for timed events

Some additional settings are available on the timed events page in the Back Office. These options allow you to control if staff are alerted at the POS when a timed event is about to start.

• Notify POS users about event updates: If enabled, a notification will appear at the top of the Register screen of the POS before a timed event starts.
• Send notification: Select whether the POS notification is delivered 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes before each timed event becomes active. This setting only appears when Notify POS users about event updates is enabled.

Timed events at the POS

After setting up timed events in the Back Office, they will run automatically. This section covers what your staff can expect to see on the POS when a timed event starts and how they can view the day's schedule of events.

How timed events work

Here's what happens at the POS when a timed event takes effect at its scheduled date and time:

• A notification appears at the top of the Register screen letting staff know that the timed event is starting soon and when it starts (if configured in the timed event's settings).
• The POS automatically reloads to implement the timed event's changes (for example, a new menu that take effects). If a staff member is working on an order, the POS waits to reload until they are done.
• When the timed event is finished, the POS switches back to its default state.

Viewing scheduled timed events

Employees can check which timed events will be happening on the current day from the Settings menu of the POS. This helps staff anticipate and prepare for changes throughout their shift.

1. In the Restaurant POS app, tap Settings to open the Settings menu.

2. Select Timed events.

   All timed events for the current day are displayed with their title, schedule, and status (Not started, Active, or Ended).

   

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