Cloud
The Cloud page connects your HandyCafe server to HandyCafe's online services. It is the home for the live connection between your cafe and the cloud, off-site backups, market benchmarking, AI suggestions, cloud messaging, and the cafeteria module.
Open the Cloud page from the Cloud button in the main toolbar. Access is controlled by the cashier role system. Owners with the Admin role always have access. Other staff see the page only if their role grants the Cloud permission.
Tabs
The Cloud page is organized into a row of tabs across the top:
| Tab | Purpose | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Connection health and a summary of your products and subscriptions | Free |
| Cafeteria | Food and drink service setup | Cafeteria module |
| AI Suggestions | Insights and action tips generated from your data | Cloud subscription |
| Backup & Sync | Off-site encrypted database backups and live sync | Cloud subscription |
| Benchmark | Anonymous comparison against peer cafes | Cloud subscription |
| Messages | Messages sent from the HandyCafe cloud | Free |
A tab that requires a subscription you do not have shows a small PRO badge. Selecting it opens a feature teaser instead of the content.
Live Link
The Live Link is the real-time connection between your cafe and the HandyCafe cloud. When it is active, your server can receive messages, run cloud backups, and contribute anonymous benchmark data.
The connection status appears on the Overview tab and the Backup & Sync tab:
- Cloud connected: The Live Link is active. The page shows the time the connection was established.
- Cloud disconnected: The Live Link is down. The page shows the last error and, when a retry is scheduled, the next reconnect attempt.
Live Link and remote messaging are always included at no extra cost. They do not require a paid subscription.
Modules and Subscriptions
Cloud features are grouped into modules. Some are free and always available. Others are paid and unlock when you subscribe.
| Module | What it unlocks | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Live Link | Real-time cloud connection | Free |
| Remote Messaging | Cloud messages to and from your cafe | Free |
| Cloud Backup | Backup & Sync, AI Suggestions, and Benchmark | Subscription |
| Cafeteria | The Cafeteria module | Subscription |
| AI Assistant | Plain-language questions about your data | Credit based |
| Payments | Online card payments from members | Commission based |
The Cloud subscription unlocks several tabs at once. Subscribing to Cloud Backup also enables the AI Suggestions and Benchmark tabs.
Locked tabs
When you open a tab for a module you have not subscribed to, the page shows a teaser instead of the feature. The teaser lists what the module includes and offers a button:
- Buy Now: Opens the purchase page for that module in your web browser.
- Contact us: When no purchase link is available, opens an email to the HandyCafe sales team.
Purchases and renewals are always completed in your browser through secure HandyCafe links. The Cloud page itself never asks for payment details.
Subscription status
Each product shows a status badge:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Active | The subscription is paid and current. |
| Trial | The product is in a trial period. |
| Grace period | The subscription has lapsed but is still usable for a short window. |
| Expired | The subscription has ended and the feature is locked. |
| Inactive | The product is not subscribed. |
My Products
The Overview tab shows the account the cloud services are registered to, the renewal date, and a card for each product: your HandyCafe license, Cloud Backup & Sync, AI Assistant, Cafeteria, and, when enabled, a Payouts summary. See Cloud Overview for the full breakdown.