Working with modifiers

At the company level, use Menu > Modifiers to add modifier groups and modifier items; however, at the store level, you can only edit the pricing and availability for individual modifier items.

This document describes the following:

Understanding modifiers

Modifiers exist to allow a server or cashier to provide specific instructions for how to prepare an item. This includes special requests, such as 'Lite Mustard' and 'No Mayo,' a requirement such as meat temperature, 'Steak - Medium Rare,' or an option on a side, such as 'Salad - Ranch Dressing.' Modifiers also allow you to charge extra for additional ingredients, such as 'Add Bacon.' Modifier groups enable you to easily locate modifier items on the Point-of-Sale (POS).

Modifiers and kitchen printers

If you do not have modifiers configured in Back Office, you can only add kitchen notes.
If you have modifiers configured and you have a kitchen printer, you can use the kitchen notes and modifiers.
If you have modifiers configured, but you do not have a kitchen printer, the modifiers only print on the customer receipt (but the kitchen notes do not print).
If the kitchen printer is offline for any reason, an alert appears on the POS to let you know there is an issue. Any tickets sent to the kitchen printer are added to a storage queue for approximately 10 minutes. Once the kitchen printer is back online, the tickets begin printing. If it takes longer than 10 minutes for the printer to come back online, recall and resend those tickets manually to a printer of your choice. If you are unable to get the kitchen printer back online, you can edit your receipt printer settings and designate it as a receipt and kitchen printer. You would then need to take the printed receipts to the kitchen.
For restaurant establishments, you can capitalize on the combination of kitchen printing and holding tickets to essentially work like a "tab". Though you will not capture any payments, you can add the customer, place a drink order, place the order on hold, which will send the drinks to the kitchen printer. Later, you can recall the ticket, add an appetizer, and put the ticket on hold, which prints the appetizer only to the kitchen printer.
The system only sends an item to the kitchen printer one time, when you place a ticket on hold or during checkout.

Item modifiers

Setting up item modifiers makes it easy for employees to select options and extras when selling an item in the POS. This feature also allows restaurants to charge for additional ingredients you may add to an item, such as $1 for bacon.
You configure item modifiers once and reuse them across multiple items. This differs from variations (such as size and color), which are set for each individual item under item setup.
Item modifiers provide special instructions to kitchen or prep station staff about how to prepare items. For example, item modifiers for a sandwich could include condiments or other toppings, such as lettuce, pickles, cheese, and bacon.
Item modifiers are grouped into modifier groups for quick navigation on the POS. For example, the Sandwich Toppings modifier group would contain toppings that go on the sandwich.
You can set an item modifier to have a $0.00 price or with an actual dollar amount. You could set the price for lettuce to be $0.00, but the price for bacon could be $1.00. Prices for item modifiers are added as an upcharge to the base item's price.
You can share modifier groups and modifier items across multiple items. For example, you could use a modifier group of Sandwich Toppings for turkey burgers, beef burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. Create them once and use them for any item.
You can limit the modifier groups that are available with items. For example, you have a cafe, but you also sell t-shirts with your logo on them. Your sandwich modifier groups, such as bread, cheese, etc, wouldn't make much sense when associated with t-shirts. You could then choose to not have any modifier groups tied to your t-shirt item.

Adding modifier groups

You can create as many modifier groups as necessary for your menu. When you configure a modifier group, you can define whether you want the prompt for the modifier group to appear when the parent menu item is selected. Additionally, you can rank the order in which modifier groups appear.

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers. The MODIFIER GROUPS screen appears.
Click Add a Modifier Group. The Add Modifier Group screen appears.
Type a name for the modifier group.
(Optional) Assign an External ID number to the modifier group.
- If you leave External ID blank, the system populates the External ID with a system-assigned Master Item ID when you save the item record.
- If you enter a number for the External ID, the External ID number for the item will be different than the Master Item ID number.
Enter a Minimum Quantity for the modifier group, to define a minimum number of modifier items a customer must select for the item.
- A minimum of '1' means the customer must select at least one modifier item from the modifier group.- A minimum of '0' means the customer need not select a modifier item.
Enter a Maximum Quantity for the modifier group, which limits the maximum number of modifier items a customer can select for the item.
- A minimum of '1' and a maximum of '1' means you require a modifier, but the customer can only choose one modifier item. For example, meat temperature, such as 'Well Done' or 'Rare,' or a side choice, such as 'Fries' or 'Chips.'
- A minimum and maximum of '0' means you do not require the customer to make a modifier choice, but the customer can have unlimited modifier choices.
- A minimum of '1' and a maximum of '2' means a customer must choose at least one modifier but can select no more than two modifiers. To know how to use the forced modifiers on POS, refer to Working with forced modifiers.
Click Show modifier group when item is added to force the system to display the modifier group options for an item without requiring the customer to select a modifier.
Click Save Changes.

Editing modifier group requirements

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers. The MODIFIER GROUPS screen appears.
Click the pencil icon to the right of the modifier group to edit. The Edit Modifier Group dialog appears.
Make the desired changes.
Click Save Changes.

Configuring modifier settings

You can use modifier settings to:

Automatically sort and move the required modifiers to the top.
Change the view of optional modifiers groups as collapsible.
Automatically close the minimum required groups after selection.

Log in to Back Office using a specific store.
Select Menu > Modifiers. The MODIFIER GROUPS screen appears.
Click Modifier Settings. The Modifier Settings screen appears.
(Optional) Do the following:
- Auto-Sort Required Modifiers to top position: Select Yes to display modifiers in the required modifier groups at the top of the list during modifier selection.
- View Optional Modifier Groups in closed position: Select Yes to view optional modifier groups in the collapsed view.
- Auto close minimum required groups after selection: Select Yes to auto-collapse required modifier groups after making selections. To learn how to use modifiers on the POS, refer to Working with modifiers.
Click Done to apply the changes.

Sorting modifier groups

You can rank modifier groups to change the order in which they appear on the POS.

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers. The MODIFIER GROUPS screen appears.
Click Sort Manually.
Click sort up arrow icon to move a modifier group up one level or click sort down arrow icon to move a modifier group down one level. Repeat until you have the modifier groups ranked as desired.
Click Done Sorting.

Adding a modifier

To add a modifier:

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers.
Click Add Modifier. The Add Modifier screen appears.
Click the plus icon to add a new modifier item or select an existing one from the drop-down list.

Tip: (Optional) Select Do not print on customer receipt to have modifiers printed only on kitchen receipt and to supress the modifier on the customer receipt/CFD. This is enabled only for the modifiers with $0 price.

Tip: (Optional) Select Independent Modifier to separate the modifier from the parent item. This enables you to select a different routing group from the Routing Group drop-down list. Now the modifier gets seperated and appears on the selected kitchen routing station.

Tip: Modifier items designated as an 'Independent Modifier' print at the kitchen station to which they are routed.
Click Save Changes.

Editing a modifier

You can edit a modifier item, remove it from a modifier group, and configure the required cook time for the modifier item. Also, can rank the order in which modifiers appear in a modifier group.

To edit a modifier:

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers.
Select the modifier group containing the modifier item to edit or remove.
Select the modifier item to edit or remove. The Edit Modifier screen appears.

Tip: (Optional) Select Do not print on customer receipt to have modifiers printed only on kitchen receipt and to supress the modifier on the customer receipt/CFD. This is enabled only for the modifiers with $0 price.

Tip: (Optional) Select Independent Modifier to separate the modifier from the parent item. This enables you to select a different routing group from the Routing Group drop-down list. Now the modifier gets seperated and appears on the selected kitchen routing station.

Tip: Modifier items designated as an 'Independent Modifier' print at the kitchen station to which they are routed.
Click the pencil icon to the right of the modifier item to edit. The Edit Modifier Item dialog appears.
Make the desired edits and click Save Changes.

-OR-

Click Remove Modifier to remove the modifier item from the modifier group. A prompt appears.
Click OK.

Sorting modifiers alphabetically

You can rank modifier items within a modifier group or sort them alphabetically.

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers.
Select the modifier group to sort alphabetically.
Click Sort Alphabetically. The modifiers appear in alphabetical order in the list.

Exporting the modifier list

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores)/Store View.
Select Menu > Modifiers.
Click Export List. The system directs you to the Results > List Reports > Modifiers. The Modifier Report screen appears.

Understanding modifier items

In Back Office, modifier items can be both menu items and modifiers items. Modifier items can be sold without variation and with variations of size. When modifier items are sold by variation of size, you can link the size of the modifier item to the size of the parent menu item. When you create modifier items, you must configure how you want to sell the modifier, price the modifier, and stipulate whether the modifier is the default modifier item for the modifier group.

Understanding variations vs. modifiers

Adding modifier items to a modifier group

Modifier items are added to modifier groups, which are used to extend, alter, or further define menu items. For example, guests need to choose a meat temperature for their steak: Rare, Medium Rare, Medium, Medium Well, and Well Done.

Note: You must first create the modifier items without variations.

To modifier items to a modifier group:

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers. The MODIFIER GROUPS screen appears.
Select the modifier group for which to add a modifier item.
Click Add Modifier.
Select the Item from the drop-down list.

-OR-

Click plus symbol (+) to add a new modifier item. The Create Modifier Item dialog appears.
Select a category from the drop-down list, type a name for the modifier item, and select a tax category from the drop-down list. Optionally, type a price for the item and an external ID number. You can leave the External ID blank and the system will assign a number to the modifier item. Click Save Changes.
Select Yes to specify a price for the modifier that is different from the menu item price and type a price for the item as a modifier -OR- Select No to sell the modifier item with the default price.
(Optional) Select Yes to designate the modifier item as the default item for the modifier group. For example, if you cook all burgers to a medium well temperature unless otherwise requested, select medium well as the default choice.
Click Save Changes.

Adding modifier items with variations to modifier group

You can also sell modifier items by variation of size. This allows you to price modifier items according to the size of the menu item. For example, for turkey sandwiches, you offer the modifier item option of 'Extra Cheese.' You may want to charge more for extra cheese on a large sandwich rather than a small sandwich.

To sell a modifier with variations, the modifier item must be assigned variations and be priced according to variations.

When you choose to sell the modifier by variation, you can elect to create a modifier variation link, which connects the modifier variation dimension (i.e., size) to the parent menu item variation dimension. This allows the system to automatically apply the correct charge for the size of the modifier dimension based on the selection of the parent menu item. Also, when you enable the modifier variation link, employees cannot change the size of the modifier at the POS, they can only change the size of the parent menu item, which automatically changes the size of the modifier variation.

For example, you offer the following menu item, 'Turkey Sandwich,' available in the following sizes, 'S,' 'M,' and 'L.' You also create a modifier 'Extra Cheese,' available in 'S,', 'M,' and 'L.' You then elect to sell it by variation and link the variation of the modifier to the parent menu item. When a customer orders a medium turkey sandwich with extra cheese, the system automatically applies the correct modifier dimension and any associated price. If the customer changes their mind and wants a small sandwich instead, the user changes the size of the sandwich and the system automatically changes the size of the modifier.

The system links the variation dimension (i.e. 'Size') of a modifier only when you configure the variation dimensions of the modifiers exactly as the variation dimensions of the parent item. Linking the dimension variations of the menu item and the modifier item requires they have the same dimension name, same number of options, and the option names must be the same.

The following table provides examples of menu and modifier items with variations and whether they can be linked.

Menu Item with the variation options	Modifier tem with the variation options	Can be linked
S, M, L	S, M, L	Yes
S, M, L	Small, Medium, Large	No
S, M, L	M, L	No
S, M, L	Regular, Large	No

To add a modifier with variations to a modifier group:

Note: You must first create the modifier item with variations.

Log in to Back Office using Company View (All Stores).
Select Menu > Modifiers. The MODIFIER GROUPS screen appears.
Select the modifier group for which to add a modifier item.
Click Add Modifier.
Select the item from the drop-down list.

-OR-

Click plus symbol (+) to add a new modifier item.
Select a category from the drop-down list, type a name for the modifier item, and select a tax category from the drop-down list. Optionally, type a price for the item and an external ID number. You can leave the External ID blank and the system will assign a number to the modifier item. Click Save Changes.
Select the pricing for the modifier item. The system defaults to No, sell with the default item variation prices

-OR-

Select Yes, use the following price.
(Optional) Select Yes to designate the modifier item as the default item for the modifier group.
Click Save Changes.

View video

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