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What's the difference between the Master POS, Slave POS, and Waiter Pad?
What's the difference between the Master POS, Slave POS, and Waiter Pad?
Kevin Cheav avatar
Written by Kevin Cheav
Updated over a week ago

The Abacus application can be used for a Master POS, a Slave POS, or a Waiter Pad; you just need to reconfigure the settings.

Different settings are required for different uses, with different capabilities.

Master POS

The Master POS is the central hub for your POS system, configured during the initial setup. It has full access to all features of the Abacus POS application, making it the most powerful device in your system.

  • There can only be one Master POS, as it acts as the communication point for Slave POS devices and Waiter Pads.

  • To ensure constant communication between terminals, the Master POS must remain active at all times. On the Master POS device, go to Settings > General > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set it to Never.

Slave POS

A Slave POS is any additional terminal connected to the Master POS. It can take orders and complete transactions but relies on the Master POS for communication with other devices.

  • Slave POS is ideal for fixed Point of Sale terminals, typically on regular iPads or iPad Pro devices.

  • It has most of the same functions as the Master POS but cannot operate independently.

Waiter Pads

The Waiter Pad is a specialized type of Slave POS, designed for handheld use in restaurants.

  • The main difference is that a Waiter Pad can take orders but cannot complete transactions. This makes it distinct from the regular Slave POS.

  • Waiter Pads are best for iPads carried around the dining room, enhancing table service efficiency.

If you prefer, you can use a Slave POS for payment on the dining room floor by disabling the Waiter Pad function.

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