Determine what workstation operators can and cannot access during a transaction. For example, shared revenue centers are often configured so that two revenue centers are active on different transaction levels, making some items visible to one revenue center, while the other revenue center shows different items.
Allow different prices for one menu item.
A main menu level and a sub menu level are always active. You can determine which levels are active by default (using the menu level hierarchy) and allow workstation operators to change the levels during a transaction using a function key or menu level pop-ups. You can also configure the status bar in the lower area of the workstation to show main and sub level names that are active.
Auto Menu Level
You can set the main menu level, sub menu level, or both to change automatically at a specific time of day. This configuration is called auto menu level, and controls pricing at different times of a day or week. For example, a revenue center can offer an Early Bird Special (entrées are 20% off) every weekday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For the Early Bird Special to automatically occur, you can set an auto menu level from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Set menu item definitions with multiple prices accordingly (one price for the Early Bird level and another general price).
You can set auto menu levels to overlap (although this is uncommon). In this case, menu levels become active based on the order in which you set the auto menu levels. After the workstation determines that one level is active, it does not look at the other auto menu levels. Therefore, you must pay special attention when configuring multiple auto menu levels that occur on the same days at the same times.
As an example, based on the configuration described in the following table, at 3:00 p.m., the main level becomes 2 - Early Bird. The main level does not change to 3 - Free Drinks at 4:00 p.m. When a transaction begins, the workstation considers the auto menu level table in the order of the configured auto levels. The workstation checks the status of auto menu level and because it is active, the workstation continues to use the Early Bird menu level. In this example, the Free Drinks menu level never becomes active.
Table 22-1 Example of Incorrect Auto Menu Levels
| Number | Main Level | Start | End | Days Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2 - Early Bird |
15:00 |
18:00 |
Monday–Friday |
|
2 |
3 - Free Drinks |
16:00 |
17:00 |
Monday–Friday |
According to the configuration in the following table, at 3:00 p.m. the main level become 2 - Early Bird, and at 4:00 p.m. the main level becomes 3 - Free Drinks. This occurs because the Free Drinks level is set at auto level 1, and starts after Early Bird, which is set at auto level 2.
Table 22-2 Example of Correct Auto Menu Levels
| Number | Main Level | Start Time | End Time | Days Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
3 - Free Drinks |
16:00 |
17:00 |
Monday–Friday |
|
2 |
2 - Early Bird |
15:00 |
18:00 |
Monday–Friday |
The workstation’s logic for these two menu levels is explained in the following table.
Table 22-3 Workstation Logic
| Time | Logic |
|---|---|
|
15:00 |
Is auto level 1 active? No Is auto level 2 active? Yes. Active main level is 2 - Early Bird |
|
16:00 |
Is auto level 1 active? Yes. Active level is 3 - Free Drinks |
|
17:00 |
Is auto level 1 active? No Is auto level 2 active? Yes. Active main level is 2 - Early Bird |
|
18:00 |
Is auto level 1 active? No Is auto level 2 active? No The main level is 1 - Regular, which is the default menu level for the revenue center |
Menu Level Hierarchy
The following menu level hierarchy determines which setting controls the default transaction menu levels:
Table 22-4 Menu Level Hierarchy
| Number | Enterprise Management Console (EMC) Configuration | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Serving Periods |
If the active serving period has a main or sub level that is not 0, that is the active main or sub level. |
|
2 |
Auto Menu Levels table |
If the time of day falls during an active auto menu level, the main or sub level that is specified for that auto menu level is the active level. |
|
3 |
Transaction Menu Level Defaults |
If the main or sub level set in the RVC Parameters module is not 0, that is the active main or sub level. |
|
4 |
Main 1 and sub 1 are always defaults |
If the other hierarchy rules have not been met, the workstation defaults to main level 1 and sub level 1. |
Menu Level Configuration Tasks
Set up main, sub, and custom menu levels
Configure the default main and sub levels for serving periods
Configure auto menu levels
Configure the default menu levels for a revenue center
Configure the active menu levels for menu item definitions
Configure the functionality of menu items at the workstation