Categories, sub-categories and brands
Categories organise the product grid your staff tap all day, and brands tag what you stock by maker. Both carry through to discounts, reports and stock counts.
Categories and brands in SeroPOS
Categories and sub-categories
Group products into categories with sub-categories underneath, such as Drinks then Hot Drinks.
Category codes
Give each category a code, which can also print on invoices as an HSN or category code.
Hide in POS
Hide a category from the till, for ingredients or items sold only online.
Brands by maker
Tag products with a brand to filter, report and discount by manufacturer.
Discount rules
Automatic discounts can target a brand or category, such as 10% off one brand.
Report filters
Stock, profit and trending reports filter and group by category and brand.
Categories run the till
On the SeroPOS sale screen, staff tap a category to see its products. A clear set of categories, such as Breakfast, Burgers, Sides and Drinks, is the fastest way to a quick checkout. Sub-categories sit underneath for finer groups. Categories are managed in the back office under Products › Categories, or in the app under Admin › Categories.
Each category can have a code. Invoice layouts can print the category or HSN code on each line, which some businesses need for tax paperwork. Codes also make long category lists easier to sort and search, and they stay the same if you later rename a category for the menu.
Hide what staff should not ring up
Not every product should appear on the till. Ingredients for recipes, packaging and items sold only through online ordering can sit in a category marked Hide in POS in the app's Admin › Categories. They still exist in the catalogue, in stock counts and in reports, but they stay out of the way on the product grid.
In QSR Mode, categories can also carry their own grid layout, columns and button style, and you can choose how many show without scrolling. That lets the busiest categories get bigger buttons and the rest stay compact, so the counter layout matches how your customers actually order. It is set per category.
- Admin › Categories: parent category and Hide in POS
- Products › Categories: categories, sub-categories and codes
- QSR Mode: per-category grid layout and button style
Brands for shops and bars
Brands record who makes a product: a beer brewery, a phone maker or a cosmetics line. Add them under Products › Brands and pick one on each product. The product list filters by brand, so a rep visit or a brand promotion starts with a quick list of what you carry.
Brands, categories and sub-categories can each be turned on or off in Business Settings › Product, so a small cafe does not need to see a brand field it will never use. Switch them on later if the business grows into them, and existing products keep working as they are.
Discounts and reports by group
Automatic discount rules in Sell › Discounts can apply to a brand or a category, with a priority, a fixed or percentage amount and start and end dates. A happy-hour discount on the Beer category or a 15% off week for one brand runs itself at the till. Staff never need to remember.
Reports use the same groups. The Stock Report filters by category, sub-category and brand. Profit and Loss has tabs for profit by category and by brand, and Trending Products can narrow to one category or brand. Clean groups make every one of those reports more useful, so it is worth setting them up carefully from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have sub-categories?
Yes. Categories can have sub-categories, and products can be assigned to both. Turn on sub-categories in Business Settings › Product, then add them under Products › Categories in the back office. Sub-categories also show in report filters. They work in discounts too.
How do I hide a category from the POS screen?
In the SeroPOS app, open Admin › Categories, edit the category and turn on Hide in POS. Its products stay in the catalogue and reports but no longer appear on the till's product grid. Turn it off again to bring the category back.
Can I discount a whole brand or category?
Yes. Create an automatic discount under Sell › Discounts and choose the brand or category, the amount as fixed or percentage, the locations and the start and end dates. It applies at the till without staff doing anything. Set a priority when rules overlap.
Can I see profit by category?
Yes. The Profit / Loss report has tabs for profit by products, categories, brands, locations, invoice, date, customer and day. The Stock Report also filters by category, sub-category and brand. Compare categories across date ranges and locations. Pick any period.
Do I have to use brands?
No. Brands are optional. You can switch brands, categories and sub-categories on or off in Business Settings › Product, so the product form shows only the fields your business needs. You can switch them on later. Nothing is lost. Turn them back on any time.