Customers in your loyalty program carry their Karma card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. With a handheld scanner at the till you scan the card's QR code, the customer is linked to the bill and the purchase earns points automatically. This guide covers what you need, the one-time scanner setup and everyday use.
What you need
A handheld scanner that reads QR codes (a so-called 2D scanner) with a USB cable. Ordinary scanners that only read product barcodes will not work, because the card in the customer's phone is a QR code. This guide was tested with a Zebra handheld scanner.
The Karma POS in Chrome or Edge on a computer. Safari and iPad do not support this kind of scanner.
Step 1: Put the scanner in serial mode (once)
Most scanners ship in keyboard mode: they type whatever they read as if someone were typing. The Karma POS cannot receive scans that way. The scanner must be in serial mode, which the manual usually calls USB CDC, USB COM or USB Serial.
You change the mode by scanning a setup code from the scanner's manual. The scanner beeps and restarts, which takes a few seconds.
Zebra: open Zebra's page of USB modes and scan the code called USB CDC Host. The page has nine codes close together and the scanner may read a neighbour, so zoom in until only one code is visible or cover the others with a sheet of paper. Do not scan IBM Table-top, SNAPI or HID Keyboard, they do not work with the POS.
Other brands: look for USB CDC, USB COM or USB Serial in the manual's USB section. If the scanner offers USB HID POS instead, that works too, but then you pick the other button in step 2.
Step 2: Connect the scanner to the POS (once per computer)
Plug the scanner into USB.
Click the scanner icon Barcode scanner at the top right of the POS.
Click Pair & verify scanner.
Click Connect serial scanner (COM). For a scanner in HID POS mode, choose Connect USB scanner (HID).
Pick the scanner in the box the browser shows and click Connect.
Scan the barcode shown in the POS. When it says Scanner verified you are done. Close the box.
The pairing is remembered. Next time the scanner is plugged in, or the page is reloaded, it connects by itself and the panel shows Scanner connected.
Step 3: Using it at the till
Open a bill and add what the customer is buying.
The customer shows their Karma card on their phone.
Scan the QR code. A dialog opens with the customer's name, points and tier. Click Add to Tab.
Take payment as usual. The points land on the customer's account automatically and the card on their phone updates.
In Instant Pay mode (over-the-counter sales): add the items, press Pay, scan the card while the payment screen is open, link the customer and finish the payment.
If something does not work
The POS types text instead of opening the customer dialog. The scanner is in keyboard mode. Repeat step 1.
The browser says no compatible device was found. The scanner is in the wrong mode. Repeat step 1 and check that you scanned the right code.
Nothing happens when you scan the card. If the POS says Open a bill first, then scan the loyalty card again, open or select a bill and scan again. If no message appears, open the scanner panel and check that it says Scanner connected.
The scanner will not read the code on the phone. Hold it 10 to 20 cm from the screen, tilt it slightly to avoid glare and ask the customer to turn up the brightness. It can take a couple of tries.
The scanner was unplugged and plugged back in and the POS says No scanner connected: reload the page. The pairing is saved, so it reconnects by itself.
Good to know
The card can be linked to any open bill, also a new one that has not been sent yet. The customer is linked when the bill is sent or paid.
If the card is not a member of your loyalty program, the POS says That card belongs to another venue's loyalty program. Add the customer through Add Loyalty Member under Guests on the bill instead.
General POS troubleshooting lives in Troubleshoot Karma Backoffice or POS.