Silverware Considerations for Programming & Menu Setup
This is a guide to programming categories and items within Silverwareto provide the best insights via Avero reporting. To read more about Silverware and Avero visit: Silverware POS
For helpful videos on how to make the configuration changes we discuss here, go to Silverware's Resources Center: Silverware Resource Center
Updating Silverware Programming or Programming a New Silverware System
Different POS systems require some degree of configuration for the data to display correctly in Avero and be analyzed effectively. An understanding of your POS categories and how Avero handles your categories is needed to make changes. Avero provides the following Global categories: Beverage, Food, Misc., Other, and Retail. The major and minor categories come from your POS. In Silverware these are called Classes - classes are both Minor and Major, just like Categories in Avero. A Minor Class is more specific and rolls up to a broader Major Class.
You also have Menu Groups in Silverware POS - Menu Groups are about the display screen where the menu item lives for a server or bartender to add it to an order. These are not categories and aren't read by Avero.
Categories are an essential element when viewing Avero reports - this is how to apply the business intelligence that Avero provides to your operation. Categories with enough detail enable you to analyze your operation from a financial viewpoint and also better evaluate server performance. Category mapping decisions should be made with input from the chef, the FOH, and the accounting teams so all needs are met.
Creating Categories in Silverware
Your POS Provider has experience with creating new sales categories for a new installation. The categories are guided by your requests. Understanding how your categories will show up in Avero will help you direct your POS provider to create your categories. See our examples below.
When creating Menu Items, you'll assign them to a Minor Class, Minor Classes will be assigned to Major Classes, so you only need to assign the Minor Class. Remember, Menu Groups won't be shown in Avero, these are just the screens on which the button lives!
To update Groups, Classes, or Menu Items, go to the manager login and select Configuration then Menu.
Categories may be used in multiple Cost/Revenue Centers, so don't use the Revenue Center Name in your Category Name. For example the Category Salads may be used in the Revenue Centers In Room Dining, Dining Room, and Rooftop Lounge so you don't need to have an individual category for Dining Room Salads you'll be able to report on salads in only the Dining Room or in all areas based on the selections you make in the Avero report generator.
Modifiers – Zero Dollar ($0) or Add-on Sales ($)
In Silverware, modifiers are treated like items and may or may not have a dollar value attached to them. We recommend that you create an additional category called ‘Modifiers.’ By putting these in one auxiliary category, the percentage of category sales metric will not be skewed. This also allows the opportunity to report specifically on the success of upsell campaigns focused on add-ons, such as adding fixings to a burger or sides to a lunch order.
Each Menu Item has a base price, and a modifier may add an extra charge for the modification, such as charging $2 to Add Avocado to a burger or sandwich. You'll see the Menu Item in Avero with its regular price and the additional charges will be associated with each modifer. It looks like this:
Recommended Categories
Below are the common categories we see and how they roll into Avero's Global Categories, which are above the POS Categories. These sub-categories may come directly from your printed menu.
Under Avero’s Global Food Category:
- Appetizers (including specials, prix fixed items, banquet items, salads, soups)
- Entrees (including specials, prix fixed items, banquet items)
- Sides
- Desserts
- Dollar Food Modifiers – Add-on sales
Under Avero’s Global Beverage Category:
- Beer
- Liquor
- Wine Bottle
- Wine Glass
- Specialty Cocktails (including all margaritas, sangrias, sake)
- N/A Beverages (*may be considered as a food category)
- Coffee/Espresso
- Dollar Bev Modifiers – Add-on sales (up charge)
Under Avero’s Global Misc. Category:
- Zero Dollar Bev Modifiers (rocks, no salt)
- Zero Dollar Food Modifiers (allergy, fire, seat #)
Examples of how menu organization may impact reporting:
Cost / Revenue Centers
Revenue centers in Silverware are called Cost Centers.
Make sure your Cost/Revenue Center Names are clear and accurate. For example in your Restaurant, you may have a Dining Room, a Bar, and a Private Dining Revenue Center. Having specific revenue centers helps you categorize your revenue and evaluate customer behavior, while still being about to roll everything up to a single sales report for the Business, incorporating all Revenue Centers. When Silverware sends data to Avero we get the ID and Name of each revenue center, so don't include the ID in the name.