First Order

Overview

Ahead of using Ember the first time you will need to Download the app onto your smartphone and add Sync Credentials so that the app knows who you are. If you haven't done so, first visit this Quick Start page to review Download and Get Started instructions. The following is provided to help you through a first order and to handle any related questions or issues that may come up.

Input Method

In several places throughout Ember you will need the ability to quickly input barcodes from product or shelf-tags. We have provided several options for whatever works best for you.

Camera (default)
Bluetooth
Keyboard

From the Scan Order screen you can set your preferred input method by tapping the settings cog in the bottom-left. On the Configure Barcode Scanning screen you can tap Camera to bring up other input methods and select the one best for you. Once selected, the new choice will show in the place where Camera previously displayed. To lock-in this setting and get back to the Scan screen, be sure to tap Save in the top-right of the screen.

Camera Scanner Tips

Using the camera to scan is a quick alternative to using a keyboard to manually enter barcodes, but the initial learning curve may be steep for some users. Store lighting conditions or quality of device optics can also add to or reduce this initial learning curve.

By default the camera is set to single-scan mode. This means after the app recognizes a barcode, it closes the camera until you next initiate it with "Click to Scan". When the camera is launched and actively looking for barcodes, there is an option on screen to change to continuous scanning. This will keep the camera running and continuously scanning new barcodes.
A red overlay helps you target the barcode being scanned. This overlay can be moved up or down vertically. Depending on your device, this overlay may need to be adjusted in either vertical direction. This can be adjusted by tapping the settings cog in the bottom-left of the Scan screen. On the Configure Barcode Scanning screen you can adjust the overlay offset. Select Test Scanner to bring up the camera while you adjust the offset. Once satisfactory, tap Save to exit the screen and save the offset appropriate for your device. It may take some trial and error to identify the best position for the overlay.

Bluetooth Scanners

A bluetooth scanner is entirely optional but can help speed up scanning. We recommend the Unitech MS912 line of scanners, which are compact, available through various outlets online, and affordable. The current model is the "MS912+". You will need to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for pairing the scanner. If you opt for the MS912, you may use the instructions we provide here.

Ensure that the scanner you use has UPC-E to UPC-A conversion enabled, otherwise some product barcodes will not be recognized when scanned.

Sync Errors

When a sync does not complete error free, it can be for a number of reasons. Below are a few situations and how to handle them.

First sync: If the sync fails within a few seconds it is either because you are not connected to the internet, your sync credentials are entered incorrectly, or your sync credentials are invalid. Please first ensure you are connected to the internet, and then delete and re-enter your sync credentials. If the sync still fails, please email info@vergeretail.com for further troubleshooting support.
Sending order: Don't panic or try to re-enter your order or resend it. With how the app and sync process is designed, it is likely your order is already safely off the device by the time a sync fails. If an error does come up after the sync has started, acknowledge it, and then back out to the Store Menu and attempt syncing again from there. If it again fails, and you are indeed connected to the internet, call Customer Support to ensure your order is received and for further assistance.

Order

With Ember you can use the camera on your phone to scan in a grocery order. You may also create a template of items you routinely order. Both methods can be used interchangeably to complete a single order.

Open Ember
Tap Get Started
Sync with Corporate to get the most up to date price-book or if recently synced, proceed to Work with A Store
Tap Create Order

You are now in the Create Order menu. On this screen you will see the two ways to add items to your order.

Scan
1. Select Scan
2. Tap "Add" in the top-right corner of the screen
3. You may now begin scanning in items to your order. Initiate scanning with the Click to Scan button. You may tap this button before scanning each item or when the camera window is open, toggle "Mode: Single" to "Mode: Continuous". At anytime you can close the camera window by tapping the Stop Scanning button.
4. When an item is recognized, a sound will be emitted confirming the good scan. The item will appear on screen with important details like cost, and pack size. You may increment the order quantity by tapping the plus button, or tapping in the quantity field to bring up a keypad. You may also scan the item multiple times in a row to increment up the item.

Voice prompts will enhance your order experience by letting you know if an item is already on order, if an item quantity has been incremented, or if an item isn't recognized. Should you experience any issues with the camera recognizing barcodes or scan speed, please reach out for assistance.

Template
1. Select User Templates
2. On the Order Templates screen you will see a list of templates previously created. You can create new templates or manage/delete existing templates by tapping Manage in the bottom-left of the screen.
3. On the Manage Templates screen, select the template you wish to manage or tap Add in the top-left of the screen to create a new template.
4. Once a template is created, select it at any time in the future to see the list of items in that template and quickly increment items you wish to add to your order.