Offline Mode Limitations with Gift Cards

Overview

This article outlines the limitations and required procedures for handling gift cards when your site enters Offline Mode in Tabit. Understanding these restrictions is critical for managers and staff to ensure accurate reconciliation and guest communication.

What Happens to Gift Cards in Offline Mode?

• Gift cards cannot be redeemed or loaded while the site is in Offline Mode.

  • This applies to all channels: PAD, Online Ordering, and Kiosk.

  • Attempting to process a gift card payment or load will result in an error or the option being unavailable 1 2 3.

Why Are Gift Cards Disabled?

• Gift card transactions require real-time validation with the central server to prevent fraud and ensure accurate balance tracking.

• When the site is offline, PADs and the POS cannot communicate with the server, so gift card balances cannot be checked or updated 3 4.

Manager & Staff Responsibilities

1. Pause Gift Card Use

• Inform staff and guests that gift cards cannot be accepted for payment or loaded until connectivity is restored.

• Clearly communicate this limitation at the point of sale and, if possible, with signage.

2. Monitor Orders and Payments

• Continue to process other payment types (e.g., credit cards, cash) using the Offline Payment Flow.

• Orders and payments are stored locally on each PAD until the site reconnects 3.

3. Reconcile Once Back Online

• When the system reconnects, all queued orders and payments will sync with the server.

• Managers should:

  • Review any suspended or pending orders.

  • Ensure no gift card transactions were attempted during the outage.

  • Resume normal gift card operations only after full connectivity is confirmed 4.

4. Fraud Controls

• Treat outages as higher-risk periods for manual processes.

• Review all transactions and reconcile reports after coming back online to ensure no discrepancies 4.

Best Practices

• Train staff on how to recognize Offline Mode and what payment options are available.

• Post clear notices for guests about the temporary unavailability of gift card payments during outages.

• Check reports after reconnecting to verify all transactions and balances are accurate.

Related Resources

• Working in Offline Mode (Manager Guide)

• Key Limitations: Offline Mode

• Operations (Offline Rules, Fraud Controls, Permissions)

Summary:
Gift cards are fully disabled in Offline Mode. Managers must pause all gift card activity and reconcile transactions once the system is back online to maintain financial accuracy and prevent guest issues 1 2 3.

Sources

1. Key Limitations: Offline Mode

2. Key Limitations in Offline Mode

3. Working in Offline Mode (Manager Guide)

4. Operations (Offline Rules, Fraud Controls, Permissions)