Offline Mode Guide

Audience: All Users Difficulty: Beginner Estimated Time: 20 minutes

Overview

TrafficPOS supports two operational modes to fit your dispensary's needs:

Offline Mode: Completely standalone operation with no backend required
Online Mode: Connected to Rails backend API for multi-terminal sync

Recommended: Offline Mode is the default and recommended setup for most dispensaries, especially those with unreliable internet connections.

Choosing Your Mode

Offline Mode (Default & Recommended)

Perfect for:

Single terminal operations
Stores with unreliable internet
Lower cost deployment (no server costs)
Complete data privacy (all data stays local)
Quick setup and deployment

Online Mode

Perfect for:

Multi-terminal operations
Centralized reporting across locations
Real-time inventory sync
Remote management capabilities

Setting Up Offline Mode

Install the PWA

Visit your deployed app URL
Click "Install" when prompted by browser
The app will work completely offline once installed

Configure App Mode

Navigate to Settings → App Configuration

Select "Offline Mode"
No API URL configuration needed
Save settings

Import Your Products

Go to Settings → Data Management

Use "Import Products (CSV)" to bulk import
CSV format: SKU,Name,Category,Price,Stock,Unit,Pricing Type

Example CSV:

SKU,Name,Category,Price,Stock,Unit,Pricing Type
FL001,Blue Dream,Flower,15.00,1000,g,weight
ED001,Gummy Bears,Edibles,25.00,50,unit,fixed

Set Up Automated Backups

Access Settings → Data Management

Enable "Automated Backups"
Choose frequency: hourly, 4 hours, or daily
Backups stored locally with 7-day retention

Configure Business Information

Navigate to Settings → Business Information

Enter complete business details
Upload logo for receipts and branding
Set contact information

Data Management Best Practices

Daily Operations Workflow

Start of Day

Morning Checklist:

Verify product inventory levels
Check last backup date and status
Clear any pending sales if needed
Open till and count starting cash

During Operations

Continuous Operation:

All sales process instantly without internet
Voice assistant works completely offline
Barcode scanning functions normally
Real-time inventory updates

End of Day

Closing Procedures:

Export daily sales report (CSV format)
Perform manual full data backup (JSON)
Store backup copies securely
Close till and count ending cash

Weekly & Monthly Tasks

Weekly Tasks:

Review comprehensive sales reports
Update product inventory counts
Clean up old unnecessary data
Test backup and restore procedure

Monthly Tasks:

Archive old backup files
Review browser storage usage
Update complete product catalog
System performance optimization

Backup & Restore System

Critical: Regular backups are essential in offline mode since data exists only on local device.

Automated Backup System

Configuration:

Set up in Settings → Data Management
Runs automatically at configured intervals
Stored securely in browser with 7-day retention
Access via "View Stored Backups" option

System Recovery Options

Method 1: From Settings (When Logged In)

Settings → Data Management → Import Full Backup

Method 2: System Recovery (When Locked Out)

Login Page → System Recovery → Import Backup

System Recovery: Perfect when you can't log in - it restores all users and passwords for complete system recovery.

Warning: Both restoration methods replace ALL existing data. Always backup current data before restoring.

Complete Feature Set in Offline Mode

Full Functionality Available

Complete POS operations and sales processing
Customer management and loyalty tracking
Employee time tracking and payroll
Delivery driver management and routing
Voice assistant (with OpenAI API key)
Barcode scanning and product lookup
Mix-and-match pricing and bulk discounts
Touch-optimized interface for tablets
Automated backup system
Encrypted data exports and imports

Current Limitations

Multi-terminal real-time synchronization
Remote access and management
Cloud-based backup storage
Advanced centralized reporting
Automatic software updates

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Storage Space Issues

Problem: Browser storage approaching limits

Solutions:

Export and archive old sales data
Clear completed sales from system
Check browser storage settings and limits
Move to device with more storage capacity

Performance Degradation

Problem: System running slowly

Solutions:

Clear old unnecessary data
Restart the application completely
Check device available memory and resources
Consider device upgrade if consistently slow

Data Loss Prevention

Best Practices:

Enable automated backups immediately
Export manual backups at least weekly
Store backups in multiple secure locations
Test complete restore process monthly
Use System Recovery feature if locked out
Document backup passwords securely

Data Protection: With automated backups enabled and proper procedures, your dispensary data is always protected and recoverable!

Daily & Weekly Checklists

Daily Operations Checklist

☐ Verify automated backup completed successfully
☐ Check remaining device storage space
☐ Review daily sales totals and transactions
☐ Ensure all employees clocked out properly
☐ Secure backup files if created

Weekly Maintenance Checklist

☐ Export and secure manual backup file
☐ Review weekly time clock records
☐ Update inventory counts and adjustments
☐ Check for any system updates available
☐ Test backup restore procedure

Emergency Recovery Procedure

Navigate to login page

Click "Import Backup" under System Recovery section

Select your most recent backup file

Enter backup password correctly

Wait for complete system restoration

Verify all data restored properly