What's in this article?

In this article, you'll learn how to connect the different types of card readers. First we'll cover connecting the Wifi enabled card readers, then we'll cover connecting the smaller mobile Bluetooth card reader. Last, we'll go over scenarios where you may not want to have a card reader connected but still use the register.

If no readers are connected to a POS device, you'll see the option for connecting a new reader on the register as seen below:

Connecting a WiFi/Network Reader

The WiFi/Network card readers tends to be better used in high volume workflows where the reader is staying in the same place. The customer facing screens help guide your customers through paying and the internet connection results in a faster checkout process than a bluetooth connection. Our primary WiFi Card Reader is the WisePOS E.

Connecting the WisePOS E

1. Plug the reader in and turn it on. The WisePOS E can be used wirelessly and you can expect ~8 hours of battery life. If that is not required, we do recommend leaving it plugged in.
2. Once turned on, swipe from the left off the screen.

3. Connect the reader to the same Wifi network as the tablet running the POS app under Network.
4. Once connected, tap the 'Generate Pairing Code' button to generate a 3 word code with dashed in between.
5. On the tablet you are connecting the reader to, go into the settings page of the POS app and select 'Card Readers'.

6. In the input box of the Wifi card reader section labeled 'Reader Authentication Code', enter in the 3 word code with the dashes included between the words. Once entered in, tap the 'Connect' button.
7. If properly connected, you should receive a confirmation popup. Now, restart the POS app by quitting out of it and reopening it. On reopen, you should be taken to the Register page. It'll show a loading animation as it is connecting.
8. The WisePOS E will automatically attempt to connect any time the POS app is launched as long as both devices are on and connected to the same network.

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Connecting the Bluetooth Reader

The smaller bluetooth card reader is best used for lower volume operations or mobile payments due to the smaller size. The bluetooth reader still accepts chip, swipe, and tap payments similar to the larger network readers, but sacrifices a bit of speed for the size and connection type. Our primary bluetooth reader is the Stripe Reader M2.

Connecting the Bluetooth reader

1. Turn on the reader by pressing and releasing the power button. The status LEDs turn on and the reader will beep twice. The reader will wait for a Bluetooth connection for five minutes before turning off.
2. You can turn the reader off by holding down the power button for 4+ seconds.
3. With the reader on, pressing the power button once will show your battery status on the status LEDs. 4 LEDs is full charge, 3 is 75%, 2 is 50% and so on.
4. Make sure there are no Wifi readers enabled on the POS tablet you are attempting to connect to. The bluetooth reader will not be able to connect if there are.
5. On the register page, tap 'Connect Reader' in the bottom right of the page.

6. The reader should connect automatically from here. A device specific permission may pop up, and permissions should be 'allowed'.
7. If you'd like to automatically have the app search for a bluetooth reader every time you open it, you can enable that setting in the Card Reader section of the POS settings.

Scenarios You May Not Need a Card Reader For

Most likely, any register you setup will require a card reader to be connected as that will be where all in-store orders happen. However, there are certain times where you may not need a card reader.

A common use case for this is delivery heavy restaurants. As phone calls are coming in for placing delivery orders, a tablet could enter in these orders using the Saved Orders workflow and then charge them using manual card entry at checkout. Since the customer is not physically in the store, there is not a need to connect a card reader. Many of our delivery locations will have dedicated order placing stations near their phones for this.

Another common use case would be taking customer orders while they are in line and having them pay once they get to the register. This can be useful for locations that have a Chipotle style setup where the customer is paying after placing their order. A tablet could enter their order in as a saved order and fire it off to the ticket screens and printers and then it could be reopened and paid off at the register.

Finally, any tablet used as a ticket screen, a delivery screen, a inventory screen, etc, would not need to be connected to a card reader as they won't be processing payments.

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