How can I set up auto printing?

For this you need to install this small app made by one of our partners:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=anil.com.andoirdbluetoothprint

Then you just have to pair any Android device with the cheapest Bluetooth printer, open the app presented above, press "scan" ->"select printer" then close the app as it runs in the background. When you get an order, instead of "print" you need to tap "copy to clipboard" and the Bluetooth printer that you've connected on the previous step will automatically print the order.

The solution was tested with generic and affordable Bluetooth 46 -58 mm printers:

https://www.amazon.com/Therm.../dp/B0753B5KYG/ref=sr_1_10...

Disclaimer: Bluetooth printers are not the best way to connect. Every time you lose connection you need to redo all the printing setup steps because their implementation of the Bluetooth protocol is very basic, they will not auto-reconnect like a pair of modern headphones once the Bluetooth connectivity is restored. And they will lose connectivity often...on each app restart, on any printer restart, when the walk with the device further than 5 meters...etc. This will lead to frustrations and support incidents.

This is why we still recommend LAN printers as first choice. The next best thing is at least to get the order-taking device and the Bluetooth printer mounted on a holder to avoid often un-pairing. (like in this photo)

https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/56361779/ef14a961f562eb30f3d0e2d2/IMG_20180419_180236+%281%29.jpg

In addition, try to use printers that also have a backup battery with micro USB so you can connect the phone to the printer and it will always charge so you don't run out of battery.

You can use this with any application you already know for sure it is working to print in your particular case / network (SMS app, Notes, etc), . This is pretty self-explanatory. More details here: https://www.gloriafood.com/restaurant-order-taking-app-copy-order-option/

There are a few more clicks and long-press paste operations on each printed order but the advantage of this solution is that is reliably working, even with WiFi or Bluetooth thermal printers that provide utility apps for receipt printing.

Like these:

• have/buy an "eprint" or "email print" compatible printer (several vendors support this function: HP, EPSON, Canon, Kodak, etc).

Important: do not assimilate "iPrint" feature with "eprint" or "email print". They are not the same!

• for an easy WiFi printer setup, the best solution is to buy/have a printer with "built-in wifi wizard" set-up. This way anyone can easily connect a printer to a wifi network without needing a computer/notebook (Wifi wizard connectivity is optional though...you may also connect through cable. Just make sure your network allows Internet access in either way).

Printers like this may cost anything between: 120 - 450 usd depending on speed, tonner, extra-features, etc. E.g. https://h30495.www3.hp.com/help

• this options works with ANY printer as long as it is connected to a PC/notebook that's linked to the internet.
• so you need an existing PC connected to the internet and working well with ANY printer, plus MS Outlook email client installed.
• you can set-up an "auto-printing" job of all accepted order emails using email rules from Outlook or any other email client or tool supporting a similar functionality.

Like this:

Read more about it here: http://tinyurl.com/ysv437

In this setup the orders get accepted over an Android/iOS tablet and then an email automatically goes to a regular pc connected to a regular printer that acts like an auto-printing server. The printer sits close to the kitchen and spills out printed orders, then the kitchen staff picks-up that paper and starts cooking.

Note: if you do not use/have Outlook installed on your PC, you may consider a simpler setup using this specialised email-to-print software or this free tool.

Set an "email to fax" service to send those emails automatically to restaurant's fax for printing.

Basically you sign-up with an email to fax service provider and you will get a email address that looks like [restaurantfaxnumber]@[emailtofaxproviderdomain].com

In each country you may great rates for domestic email to fax services, some even for free. (e.g. https://www.hellofax.com/info/pricing ).

You can use the notifications options from the advanced settings tab of your restaurant account admin area to set the fax to receive your confirmed orders via that fax email address obting from the email o fax provider. (as shown above in the first screenshot).

You can use the notifications options from the advanced settings tab of your restaurant account admin area to set the tablet/smartphone email client to receive your confirmed orders via email (as shown above in the first screenshot).

On any device, network and printer that can print emails you can also print order confirmations coming from us.

This means you have to find a way to connect the printer and print emails directly from the smartphone or tablet.

On some smartphones or tablets you have to also download and install some printer app ( from Google Play or AppStore) provided by the manufacturer of that printer.
Some of these printer mobile apps are smarter, some don't. Typically a good the printer app will be able to communicate with the email account you created and print directly from the default email client app or render your emails for printing too. This way you will be able to print the order confirmation emails directly from the system default email client or dedicated printer's app.

Like this:

If that printer cannot print from native email apps and that manufacturer's printer app does not render emails..then you will not be able to solve printing this way.

So try using 3rd party apps that do this and that are compatible with your printer model or your cloud print setup (if any). There are mobile apps out there that claim supporting email printing for thousands of printer drivers and even to any printer connected through a cloud print PC setup on Google Cloud or AirPrint.

Like these:

If this does not work either... then you may consider some deeper technical tweaks using apps like this.

No matter how you do it, printing goes slow and is cumbersome. Time is money. Skip printing to save time and some trees (or at least a little bush...something like this)!

Accept the orders on the orders-taking tablet/smartphone then set the email client on a 2nd tablet to retrieve the order confirmation emails that are sent automatically by us for this other tablet/smartphone that sits in the kitchen...

You can use the notifications options from the advanced settings tab of your restaurant account admin area to set the 2nd tablet/smartphone email client to receive your confirmed orders via email (as shown above in the first screenshot).