How to Set Up Table Needs POS

Learn how to set up your new Table Needs POS System. Includes instructions for setting up your printer, kitchen display system, and card reader. 

Video Timestamps: 

0:43 - Connect Printer to the Network and WiFi

4:18 - Connect Printer to POS

7:35 - Connect Kitchen Display System (KDS)

10:02 - Connect Card Reader to POS

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Step-by-Step Table Needs POS Setup Guide

What you'll need: Your Table Needs tablet, printer, kitchen display system (KDS), and card reader. Make sure everything is plugged in and powered on before you start.

The basic Table Needs setup has three pieces: a printer, a card reader, and a kitchen display. We'll connect them one at a time.

Part 1: Connect Your Printer to Wi-Fi

1. Find the feed button on your printer — it's the second button, the one with the arrow.
2. Hold down the feed button while you press the power button. The lights will come on. Keep holding the feed button.
3. A sheet will print. At the bottom, you'll see two options: "less than one second" or "one second or more." Hold the feed button for one second or more.
4. A second sheet prints. Look for #5 — Interface Setup.
5. Press the feed button five times, then hold it for one second or more.
6. You're now in Interface Setup. Wi-Fi Setup is the first option.
7. Press the feed button once and hold for one second.
8. Look for Simple Setup. Press the feed button two times, then hold for one second.
9. Release the feed button. Tear off the printed paper and set it aside. Wait for a QR code to print.
10. On your phone, download the Epson TM Utility app from the App Store.
11. Open the app and scan the QR code to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network.
12. The printer will print three tickets showing a pass/fail result and your IP address. Write this down — you'll need it in the next section.
13. To double-check: turn the printer off, then back on. It will print a ticket with the IP address. You'll also see the blue Wi-Fi indicator light turn on when it's connected.

Part 2: Connect Your Printer to the POS

1. Log into Table Needs on your tablet. From the main screen, tap Settings, then Device Settings.
2. Enter a name (like "Printer"), select Default Printer, and choose an in-house dining method. Tap Update or Register.
3. You'll see a confirmation: "Device was successfully updated."
4. Now go to Menus, then tap Destinations in the top right corner.
5. Tap New Destination. Name it (like "Printer"). Set the destination type to Printer. If you have a label printer, select Label.
6. Under printer settings, change the setting to Epson. Enter the IP address from the ticket your printer printed earlier. Set paper width to 48. Tap Save.
7. Now create a Destination Group. Name it something like "Printer."
8. Open the group, add your printer destination, and tap Save.
9. To assign the printer to a menu item: go to the menu item, scroll down to Destinations, and add your printer group. Now that item will print a ticket whenever someone places an order.

Part 3: Connect Your Kitchen Display System (KDS)

1. From the main screen, tap KDS, then New Device.
2. Name it "KDS." Select Default Printer and your house settings. Enable All Alerts. Tap Register.
3. Go to Menus → Destinations → New Destination. Name it "KDS" and set the destination type to KDS. Tap Save.
4. Create a new Destination Group called "KDS."
5. Add your KDS destination to that group and save.
6. To assign the KDS to a menu item: open the menu item, scroll down to Destinations, and add the KDS group. Now that item will show up on the kitchen display when someone orders it.
7. Go back to the KDS screen on the device you registered. All tickets will now show up here. You can view open orders, closed orders, and upcoming orders — and switch between destinations if needed.

Pro tip: You can create multiple KDS screens (KDS 1, KDS 2, KDS 3) inside a single destination group. This makes it easy to route different menu items to different stations in your kitchen.

Part 4: Connect Your Card Reader

1. Power on the card reader.
2. Swipe down on the card reader screen and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. You'll see a darkened Wi-Fi icon when it's connected.
3. Tap the square button on the card reader. You'll see the Table Needs app and the Sierra app. Open Sierra — the IP address shown here is what you need.
4. On your Table Needs tablet, go to Settings → Terminals → Add Terminal.
5. Give it a name (like "Card Reader 1"). Leave the serial number blank — it fills in automatically after the connection test. Enter the IP address from the Sierra app.
6. Tap Test Connection. Allow the notification if prompted. You'll see: "Terminal was successfully created."
7. Now tap Configure. Click "No assigned terminal," then select Card Reader 1. Confirm the IP address matches, tap Test Connection, then Save Changes.
8. Your card reader is now active.

To test it: Go back to the menu, create an order, select a menu item, tap Card, then Process Card Payment. The card reader will prompt the customer to leave a tip and insert, tap, or swipe their card.

You're All Set!

Your printer, kitchen display, and card reader are all connected. The system is talking to itself and you're ready to take orders.

Need help? Call/text us at 720-821-4691 or email support@tableneeds.com