Starting Your Shift
A proper shift start takes less than two minutes and ensures your sales are accurately recorded against your register from the first transaction. Skipping any step can cause reconciliation problems at the end of your shift.
Step 1: Log In
Open FlexotiumPOS on your device. Enter your email address and password on the login screen. If your workplace uses PIN login, enter your 4-digit PIN instead.
If you've forgotten your password, click Forgot Password and a reset link will be sent to your email. Contact your manager if you don't have access to the email account.
Never share your login credentials with another cashier. Every sale, void, and discount you process is recorded against your account. If someone else uses your credentials, you could be held responsible for their actions.
Step 2: Select Your Register
After logging in, you'll be prompted to select a register. Choose the register you'll be working on today. Each register tracks its own cash float and transaction history separately.
If your register isn't listed or is showing as already in use:
- Already in use — the previous cashier may not have closed their shift. Contact your manager to close the previous shift before you open yours.
- Not listed — your manager needs to add the register in Settings → Registers.
Step 3: Count Your Opening Float
Before confirming your shift, you need to count the cash in your register drawer and enter the total as your opening float.
Count denomination by denomination for accuracy:
- Count all £50 notes → enter the total value
- Count all £20 notes → enter the total value
- Count all £10 notes → enter the total value
- Count all £5 notes → enter the total value
- Count all £2 coins → enter the total value
- Count all £1 coins → enter the total value
- Count smaller coins → enter the combined total
The system adds these up automatically and shows your total opening float.
Count your float twice. Counting errors at the start cause reconciliation headaches at the end of your shift. If the float doesn't match what you expected (usually a standard amount set by your manager), report it before you start trading.
Step 4: Enter the Float Amount
On the Shift Open screen, enter the float total you just counted. If you used the denomination breakdown method, the total is already filled in. Review it and confirm it's correct.
Step 5: Confirm Shift Open
Click Open Shift. The system records:
- Your name and role
- The register you're on
- The time shift opened
- The opening float amount
You're now on the POS terminal and ready to take your first sale.
What to Do If the Register Is Already Open
If you select a register and see that it's already showing an open shift from a different cashier, do not proceed — contact your manager. Opening a shift on top of another cashier's session can cause float and transaction discrepancies.
Offline Mode
If your device is offline, the POS terminal switches to Offline Mode automatically. You'll see an amber banner at the top of the screen: "Working offline — transactions will sync when connection is restored."
In offline mode:
- Cash sales work normally
- Card payments are unavailable (no internet = no payment processing)
- Transactions are queued locally and upload automatically when connectivity returns
Offline mode is a safety net, not a normal operating mode. If you're offline for more than 10 minutes, alert your manager so the connection issue can be investigated.
Next Steps
With your shift open, you're ready to process your first sale. The next lesson walks you through the complete checkout flow.