Printer Integration Elite
Connect thermal receipt printers directly to Unavakam. Print KOT (Kitchen Order Tickets) and customer receipts automatically — no manual hand-off, no paper chits, no billing delays. Supports Bluetooth printers from the Mobile App and network/USB printers from the Admin Panel.
Overview
Unavakam's printer integration lets you connect standard ESC/POS thermal receipt printers — the same type used by most restaurants for billing. Once configured, the system can print two types of documents automatically:
- KOT (Kitchen Order Ticket): A print-out sent to the kitchen printer whenever a new order is placed, showing the table number, items, quantities, variants, modifiers, and any kitchen notes. This works as a physical backup alongside (or instead of) the digital KDS screen.
- Customer Receipt / Bill: A GST-compliant itemised bill printed for the customer at checkout — showing all ordered items, GST breakdown, total, payment method, and your restaurant's GSTIN and address.
Supported Connection Types
📡 Bluetooth
Used with the Mobile App. Pair a Bluetooth ESC/POS printer with the phone or tablet running the app. Ideal for counter billing or waiter-carried devices. Range: up to 10 metres.
🌐 Network (Wi-Fi / LAN)
Used with the Admin Panel (browser). Connect a network-enabled thermal printer to your restaurant's Wi-Fi or LAN. Enter the printer's IP address in Settings. Best for a dedicated billing counter printer.
🔗 USB
Used with the Admin Panel on a PC. Connect the printer directly via USB cable. The printer must support ESC/POS. Works without a network — useful where Wi-Fi is unreliable near the billing counter.
Setting Up Your Printer
Bluetooth Printer (Mobile App)
Pair the printer in your phone's Bluetooth settings
Turn on the thermal printer. On your phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and pair with the printer (it usually appears as "RPP02N", "MTP-II", or similar). Complete the pairing before opening the Unavakam app.
Open Unavakam → Settings → Printer Settings
In the Mobile App, go to the Settings screen and tap Printer Settings. The app lists all paired Bluetooth devices.
Select your printer and set paper width
Tap your printer from the list. Set the Paper Width to 58mm or 80mm depending on your printer's roll size. Getting this wrong causes text wrapping — words cut mid-line or excessive blank margins.
Tap "Test Print"
The app sends a test receipt to the printer. Confirm the text aligns correctly, your restaurant name appears, and the paper width looks right. If the print is misaligned, toggle the paper width setting and test again.
Network Printer (Admin Panel)
Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi or LAN
Use your printer's built-in network configuration (usually accessed via a button-hold sequence or via the printer's own setup page) to join your restaurant's Wi-Fi or connect via Ethernet. Note the printer's IP address — it is printed on a configuration ticket (hold the feed button while powering on most printers).
Go to Admin Panel → Settings → Printer Settings
Open the Unavakam Admin Panel in your browser and navigate to Settings → Printer Settings.
Enter the printer's IP address and port
Enter the IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.105) and port (9100 is standard for ESC/POS network printers). Set Paper Width to 58mm or 80mm.
Save and run Test Print
Click Save. Then click Test Print. A test receipt prints confirming the connection. If nothing prints, check that the printer and the browser PC are on the same network, and that no firewall is blocking port 9100.
Printer Configuration Options
These settings apply to all print types (KOT and receipts) and are configured in Settings → Printer Settings:
- Paper Width: 58mm or 80mm. Match this to the paper roll loaded in your printer. 80mm is more common for customer receipts (wider, easier to read); 58mm is more common for compact portable printers.
- Print Order: Choose whether items print in Category Order (all starters together, then mains, then drinks) or Cart Order (the order items were added). Category order is better for kitchen prep — the chef sees all dishes of the same type grouped together.
- Receipt Footer Text: A custom message at the bottom of every customer receipt — e.g. "Thank you for dining with us! Visit us again soon." or "Follow us @SpiceGarden". A good place for a QR code mention or a brief promotional message.
- Auto-Print KOT on New Order: When enabled, a Kitchen Order Ticket prints automatically on the kitchen printer every time a new order is placed — without any staff action required. Useful as a paper backup alongside the KDS. Disable this if you use KDS as your primary kitchen communication method and don't want duplicate information.
- Auto-Print Receipt on Checkout: When enabled, the customer bill prints automatically when a checkout is completed, without manually clicking "Print". Enable this for high-volume billing counters where every second matters.
What's Printed on Each Document
KOT (Kitchen Order Ticket)
- Restaurant name (header)
- Table number or order type (Dine-in / Takeaway / Delivery)
- Order number and timestamp
- Each item with quantity, variant, and selected modifiers
- Kitchen notes (if any waiter notes were added to items)
Customer Receipt
- Restaurant name, address, phone number, and GSTIN
- Order number, date, time, and table number
- Itemised list with unit price, quantity, and line total
- GST breakdown (CGST + SGST or IGST, per slab)
- Sub-total, discount (if applied), and total
- Payment method (Cash / UPI / Card) and amount paid
- Change due (for cash payments)
- Footer text (custom message)
Troubleshooting Common Printer Issues
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing prints after Test Print | Wrong IP / port, or printer not on same network | Recheck printer IP address. Ensure both browser PC and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network. Try pinging the printer IP from a terminal. |
| Text wraps or is cut off | Paper width set incorrectly | Toggle Paper Width between 58mm and 80mm and Test Print again. |
| Garbled / symbol characters on print | Printer not ESC/POS compatible, or wrong mode | Check printer manual — confirm ESC/POS mode is active. Some printers default to a different protocol and need a settings change. |
| Bluetooth printer not appearing in app | Not paired in phone's OS Bluetooth settings | Go to phone Settings → Bluetooth, pair the printer there first, then return to Unavakam Printer Settings. |
| Auto-print stops working mid-service | Printer went offline (paper out, power issue, network drop) | Check printer: reload paper, check power, reconnect to network. Run Test Print to confirm connection is restored. |