How to open a session
Start your shift by opening a session at the till. Covers getting to Station Home on a Native or Virtual Station, the Open New Session step, PIN, and the opening cash float.
What is a session?
A session is a single trading period at a Station — usually one shift. Sales are always recorded against an open session, so you open a session at the start of your shift and close it at the end. Opening a session works the same way on a Native Station and a Virtual Station; only how you get to Station Home differs.
Step 1 — Get to Station Home
On a Native Station (the Final POS app on a device): open the Final POS app and sign in. The app loads the Station it's bound to, and Station Home appears. (See "How to set up a Native Station.")
On a Virtual Station (in a web browser): open the Station's URL and sign in. The browser loads that Station and shows Station Home. (See "How to set up a Virtual Station.")
Virtual Stations are single-session: if the Station is already open in another browser, you'll be blocked until that session is closed. Only one session can run a Virtual Station at a time.
Step 2 — Open the session
On Station Home, tap Open New Session.
If your flow requires a PIN to start a session, enter your PIN when prompted. (This is set per flow under Run → Your Flows → Station Home → PIN Requirements.)
If Cash Management is on, enter your opening cash float — the cash already in the drawer at the start of the shift. You can also add a note. (You'll only see this step if Cash Management is on for the flow and your role has cash access.)
The session opens, the Station shows as in use, and you're taken into the flow to start selling. The session is recorded under your name.
If Cash Management is off, the session opens straight away after you tap Open New Session — there's no float step.
Resuming vs. opening a session
If a session is already open on the Station — for example, after the app was closed, or because a coworker started the shift — Station Home shows Resume Session instead of Open New Session. Tap Resume Session to go back into the flow and keep selling; you don't open a new one.
Frequently asked questions
Is opening a session different on a Native vs. Virtual Station? The session itself opens the same way. The difference is access: a Native Station opens in the Final POS app on its bound device, while a Virtual Station opens from a URL in a browser. A Virtual Station also allows only one session at a time.
Why am I asked for an opening float? Because Cash Management is on for your flow. Enter the cash already in the drawer so the till can reconcile at close.
Why don't I see the opening float step? Either Cash Management is off for the flow, or your role doesn't have cash access.
The button says Resume Session, not Open New Session. A session is already open on this Station. To start fresh, close that session first, then open a new one.
Do I need a PIN to open a session? Only if your flow requires a PIN to start a session.
Frequently asked questions
Is opening a session different on a Native vs. Virtual Station?
The session itself opens the same way. The difference is access: a Native Station opens in the Final POS app on its bound device, while a Virtual Station opens from a URL in a browser. A Virtual Station also allows only one session at a time.
Why am I asked for an opening float?
Because Cash Management is on for your flow. Enter the cash already in the drawer so the till can reconcile at close.
Why don't I see the opening float step?
Either Cash Management is off for the flow, or your role doesn't have cash access.
The button says Resume Session, not Open New Session.
A session is already open on this Station. To start fresh, close that session first, then open a new one.
Do I need a PIN to open a session?
Only if your flow requires a PIN to start a session.