Variants and modifiers help you offer multiple options for a single item without cluttering your catalogue. This guide explains the differences between them and shows you how to add them to your items.
| Variants | Modifiers | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The same item with different options, such as size, colour, or flavour. | An extra option or change you can add to an item. |
| Required? | The customer must choose one. | The customer can choose none, one, or more. |
| Example | Latte: Small £3.00, Medium £3.50, Large £4.00. | Extra shot £0.50, oat milk £0.40, decaf (free). |
| Reusable across items? | No. Variants are set up for one item only. | Yes. Once you create a modifier, you can add it to any item that needs it. |
How do I add a variant to an item?
Variants are added directly to the individual item in your catalogue. When this item is selected during a sale, your Card Machine will prompt you to pick one of the variants before the item is added to the cart.
- Go to Settings, select Manage items, and open the item you want to update.
- Tap Add variant.
- Enter the details: Provide a name and a price for each variant option you want to offer.
- Tap Save.
How do I add a modifier to an item?
Modifiers can be reused across your catalogue to save you time. Once you create a modifier like "Oat milk," you can attach it to every drink that offers it without recreating it each time.
- Go to Settings, select Manage items, and open the item.
- Tap Add modifier.
- Select your modifier: You can either pick an existing modifier from your catalogue, or tap Create new modifier.
- Set the details: If creating a new modifier, give it a name and set its price. You can also leave the price blank if it is a free addition.
- Tap Save.
When an item with modifiers is in the cart, it will show a label indicating that modifiers are available. You can tap the item in the cart to open the modifier screen and add any combination the customer wants.
How do I use modifiers for common special requests?
Free-text order notes (like typing "extra hot" or "no nuts") are not supported in the catalogue. However, you can easily turn your most common requests into free modifiers to speed up the checkout process.
- Hot drinks: Add a free modifier called "Extra hot" and attach it to your coffee or tea items.
- Food items: Add free modifiers like "No nuts" or "No salt" and attach them to the relevant meals.
By setting these up in advance, you can simply tap the modifier during a sale. No typing is needed, and the special request will print clearly on the receipt or order ticket.