Timing It Perfectly: Using the Auto-Fire Feature ⏱️🔥
Managing course timing is critical to a great dining experience. To help your service flow flawlessly, NX includes an Auto-Fire feature (sometimes referred to as Delay Printing). Instead of relying on memory to manually send entrées or desserts later, staff can schedule items to automatically release to the kitchen at a precise time.
🔐 Required Permission
Because managing kitchen timing directly impacts order flow, access to this capability is secured. Employees must have the Check: Items - Auto-Fire claim assigned to their user profile or Job Code to access this command button on the terminal.
How to Use Auto-Fire 📝
Scheduling an item to release later takes just a few quick taps:
Select the Items: On your order entry screen, tap the item(s) you wish to schedule (these can be freshly rung or currently On Hold).
Open the Commands Menu: Tap the Commands button on the modifier layout screen.
Select Auto-Fire: Tap the Auto-Fire tile.
Choose a Release Time: * Quick-Select: Tap a pre-set interval (5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m, or 30m from now).
Specific Time: Tap Specific Time... to select an exact target time on the clock.
Confirm: The items are instantly placed On Hold and tagged with their countdown.
Tracking the Countdown 🕒
Once scheduled, a live status indicator appears on the right side of the item row on the virtual check. This keeps your service team perfectly aligned:
| Time Until Fire | Live Display Status |
|---|---|
| More than 2 minutes | Displays a static fire icon and remaining minutes (e.g., 🔥 13m) |
| Under 2 minutes | Displays a live-updating second countdown (e.g., 🔥 45s) |
| Firing now | Displays a flashing 🔥 Firing... state as it routes to preps |
Directly below the countdown indicator, the system displays the exact clock time (e.g., 3:15 PM) for a foolproof glance-and-go reference.
Fail-Safes and Under-the-Hood Logic 🛡️
To prevent duplicate tickets or missed meals during a chaotic shift, NX uses several built-in guardrails:
Offline Functionality: If your restaurant’s internet connection drops, the local terminal still executes the fire right on time. Once the network is restored, the fire event syncs globally with the rest of your POS network.
Multi-Device Collision Protection: If multiple terminals are viewing the same open table check, only the first terminal to reach the target timestamp executes the print job. Stale claims (older than 45 seconds) are automatically released and taken over by an active terminal.
Late Editing & Voids: You can edit or void scheduled items normally until 15 seconds before the fire time, at which point the row locks to guarantee printing integrity. To change a locked item, you must cancel the auto-fire schedule first.
Modifying or Cancelling Schedules 🛑
If plans change—for instance, if a guest wants to delay their next course—managing the schedule is simple:
To Cancel: Select the scheduled item and tap the Auto-Fire button again. The countdown is removed, and the item safely reverts back to a standard On Hold status.
To Adjust: Cancel the existing timer, then tap Auto-Fire once more to choose a new interval or specific clock target.
Automatic Clean-up: If all items attached to a specific countdown schedule are deleted or voided from the check, NX automatically destroys that scheduled event behind the scenes.
Handling Specific Scenarios
Partial Item Voids: If a guest cancels one appetizer but wants the other three, simply void the unwanted item row. The remaining items will still fire exactly when scheduled.
Full Check Voids: If an entire check is voided or abandoned, all pending auto-fire events associated with that check ID are immediately wiped from the system queue.
Need Help? 💡
The "Auto-Fire" tile has a lock badge or is disabled.
This indicates that your employee profile lacks the Check: Items - Auto-Fire permission. Contact a floor manager to adjust your security settings or schedule the item on your behalf.
The item fired, but nothing printed in the kitchen.
Double-check your station routing! Auto-fire uses your standard printing rules. If the item doesn't print when fired manually, verify that your printer devices are marked Online in the Manager View's printer list.
Can I use Auto-Fire on quick-service or bar tabs?
Absolutely. While most common in traditional multi-course dine-in areas, Auto-Fire is accessible across any Area where items can be placed On Hold.
Still mastering your kitchen timing workflows?
Reach out to your local NX Partner or browse our guide on Managing Kitchen Course Sequences! 🆘✨