
The standard for printing receipts is to use thermal printers because they are robust, fast and requires no toner change. Also the paper costs for such printers is close to nothing. But thermal printers equipped with WiFi are pretty expensive these days and quite intricate to connect to the WiFi network.
With our order-taking app (for now only on Android version) it is possible to directly print from the order-taking device (smartphone / tablet) to a thermal printer connected via USB cable, Bluetooth or Ethernet. In case of an Ethernet printer this will work as long as both the order-taking device and the thermal printer are connected to the same network via a WiFi modem or a network cable that is wired to the printer.
This is working due to a native mobile sdk integration for Epson, Seiko and Star thermal printers. You just have to update to the latest version of our Android order-taking app and you'll see another tab called "Thermal printer" from where you can connect the app for direct auto-print to a thermal printer.
So far these are officially supported printers by the integrated SDKs. Let us know if you manage to make it work with other models too.
EPSON:
TM-T20, TM-T20II, TM-T20II-m, TM-T70, TM-T70II, TM-T81II, TM-T82, TM-T82II, TM-T83II, TM-T88V, TM-T90II, TM-P20, TM-P60, TM-P60II, TM-P80, TM-U220, TM-U330, TM-m10, TM-m30
SEIKO:
DPU-S245, DPU-S445, RP-D10, RP-E10, RP-E/11
STAR:
TSP100ECO, TSP100U, TSP100GT, TSP100LAN, TSP650, TSP650II, FVP10, TSP700II, TSP800II, TUP500, TUP900, SP700
IMPORTANT: Before you try this make sure the thermal printer is correctly set (no lid open errors, load paper ok, etc) and properly connected to the WiFi/LAN network, Bluetooth or USB cable by following manufacturer's user guide instructions otherwise the printer cannot be found during the auto-discovery search. Also for proper network/settings configuration some printer models requires a first time setup using a PC and and an installation CD coming inside the package. Make sure you’ve checked that before struggling with deeper router IP settings.
Direct (auto)-printing methods: other simple ways directly from the order-taking device
We provide you the ability to auto-forward order details via SMS to an SMS printer or just copy the order details into any other application you use (more details below).
Robust option: Auto-print the order via SMS from your order-taking device. (on iOS smartphones only the manual SMS print works)
The other practical case at an affordable price is to use gsm/gprs printers by auto-SMS the order details from the Restaurant orders-taking app. You need a GSM-SMS printer with a valid SIM card in it.
You do not need to use the GPRS functions of that printer so you don't need to buy/make any software integration for it. You just rely on such a printer's ability to print any SMS arriving to it (just make sure it has the ability to print SMSes as they come).