The night before
Confirm everything one last time while there's still time to fix a problem.
- All hardware charged, powered, and connected
- Menu or catalog reviewed one final time
- Staff schedule confirmed with full coverage
- Old system batched out and backed up
- Support contact confirmed and reachable
First thing in the morning
Power everything on well before opening, not five minutes before the first customer. Run one full test transaction, including a void, before doors open.
Keep the old system available, powered down
Don't remove or return old hardware on day one. Keep it available as a fallback in case something on the new system needs troubleshooting mid-shift.
Staff the shift generously
Schedule slightly more staff than you'd normally need for the volume expected. An extra set of hands to help a struggling coworker, or to answer the phone if support calls back, is worth it for one day.
Watch for the same problem twice
One confused staff member is normal. If two or three people hit the same snag independently, it's a workflow or configuration issue worth fixing immediately, not a training gap.
Close out the day properly
Run your end-of-day close, confirm the batch went through, and check that your deposit reporting looks right before you leave. This is also a good moment to note anything to fix before tomorrow.
Check in the next morning
Confirm the previous day's deposit actually landed, and ask staff how the first full day felt. Small adjustments made on day two prevent bigger frustration by day thirty.