# Navigating the Admin Panel

The Admin Panel is the management hub for your BuyerKiosk store. From here you can configure store settings, view reports, manage team members, run marketing campaigns, and access every module in the system. This guide walks you through the layout and how to find what you need.

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## Admin Panel Layout

The Admin Panel has three main areas:

1. **Top Navigation Bar** -- Account menu and global controls across the top
2. **Sidebar Navigation** -- The main menu on the left side with all modules and sub-pages
3. **Content Area** -- The main page content fills the right side of the screen

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## The Sidebar Navigation

The left sidebar is your primary way to navigate between modules. It includes:

### Sidebar Header

At the top of the sidebar you will find:

- **BuyerKiosk Logo** -- Click to return to the Dashboard
- **Store Selector Dropdown** -- Shows your current store (store code and city). Click the dropdown arrow to switch between stores you have access to. The store list is populated automatically based on your user permissions.
- **Pin Button** -- Click the thumbtack icon to keep the sidebar expanded on desktop. When unpinned, the sidebar collapses to icons only and expands on hover.

### Collapsing the Sidebar

The sidebar can be collapsed to save screen space:

- On desktop, click the **hamburger menu** (three horizontal lines) in the top navigation bar to toggle the sidebar
- When collapsed, only icons are visible with the store code displayed in small text
- Hover over the collapsed sidebar to temporarily expand it
- Click the **pin button** to lock it in the expanded state

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## Main Menu Sections

Each section in the sidebar expands to show its sub-pages. Click the section name to expand or collapse it. Sections you do not have permission to access appear grayed out.

### Dashboard

| Item | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Dashboard** | Store overview with key metrics and daily summary |

The Dashboard is your home page. It shows a high-level view of today's activity.

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### Store Settings

Access store configuration and operational settings.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Store Configuration** | Core store settings (timezone, MPC defaults, features) |
| **Task Lists** | Configure recurring task lists for daily operations |
| **Workbook Notes** | Manage notes that appear in the Workbook |
| **Survey Settings** | Configure post-buy customer surveys |
| **Text Log** | View history of all SMS messages sent from the store |
| **Download Invoices** | Access and download historical invoices |
| **Chat Templates** | Manage SMS chat response templates (Premium only) |
| **Chat Usage** | View SMS chat usage metrics (Premium only) |

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### Billing

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Billing Overview** | View your store's billing status, plan details, and usage |

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### Customers

Search and manage your customer database.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Search Customers** | Look up customers by name, phone, or other criteria |
| **Top Customers** | View your most frequent sellers ranked by visit count |
| **Customer Alerts** | Manage customer flags and warnings (e.g., multi-store alerts) |
| **Marketing Report** | Customer data for marketing campaigns (requires marketing permission) |

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### Team

Manage the people who work at your store.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Manage Team** | Add, edit, and deactivate team members; set roles and permissions |
| **Labor Report** | When I Work labor cost analysis (requires WIW integration) |

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### Scheduling

Manage staff schedules, timesheets, and availability. Some sub-pages require Premium.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Schedule Calendar** | Visual calendar for creating and editing shifts |
| **Timesheets** | Review and approve clock-in/clock-out records |
| **Approval Queue** | Approve or deny schedule change requests (manager permission) |
| **Availability** | View and manage team member availability (manager permission) |
| **Audit History** | History of all schedule changes (admin permission) |
| **Scheduling Settings** | Configure scheduling rules and policies (admin permission) |

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### Reports

Access store performance data and analytics.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Daily Close Reports** | End-of-day summary reports |
| **Daily Store Stats** | Daily transaction volume and metrics |
| **Buyer Stats** | Performance metrics per buyer (speed, volume, averages) |
| **Sorter Stats** | Performance metrics per sorter |
| **Deleted Buys** | Log of buys that were deleted from the queue |
| **Inventory Analytics** | Trends in inventory levels and movement |
| **Retention Dashboard** | Customer return rates and retention metrics |
| **Wait Time Analysis** | Historical wait time data and patterns |
| **P&L Dashboard** | Profit and loss financial overview |
| **Peer Comparison** | Compare your store's metrics against other stores |
| **Brand Pricing Health** | Pricing analysis across brands and categories |

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### Marketing

Run promotions and customer engagement campaigns.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Comeback Cash** | Create and manage promotional coupon events |
| **Receipt Coupon** | Configure coupons printed on customer receipts |
| **Survey Results** | View customer survey responses and ratings |

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### Events

Plan and manage store events.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Event Dashboard** | Overview of upcoming and active events |
| **Create Event** | Set up a new event with dates, rules, and details |
| **Event Templates** | Reusable event configurations |
| **Event Reports** | Performance data for past events (requires reports permission) |
| **Archive** | View historical/past events |

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### Floor Plan

Design and manage your store's physical layout.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Designer** | Visual drag-and-drop floor plan editor |
| **Layout Management** | Save, load, and switch between floor plan layouts |
| **Reports** | Floor plan performance analytics |

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### Backstock

Manage inventory stored in the back of the store.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Overview** | View all backstock bins, filter by category, age, and location |
| **Seasonal Events** | Manage seasonal inventory rotations |
| **Analytics** | Backstock aging, movement, and capacity reports |

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### Cash

Track and manage cash in your safe and registers.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Safe Configuration** | Set up safe levels, denominations, and thresholds |
| **Activity Report** | View cash movement history (deposits, withdrawals, counts) |
| **Safe Level Alerts** | Configure alerts when cash levels go above or below targets |

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### Digital Sign

Control in-store digital signage displays.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **Upload Media** | Upload images and videos for your digital signs |
| **Manage Slides** | Create and edit individual slides |
| **Manage Loop** | Arrange slides into a display loop with timing |

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### Integrations

Connect BuyerKiosk with third-party services.

| Sub-Page | What It Does |
|----------|-------------|
| **QuickBooks** | Connect and configure QuickBooks Online integration |
| **FiveStars Settings** | Configure FiveStars loyalty program connection |
| **FiveStars Points Report** | View loyalty points activity |
| **When I Work** | Set up When I Work scheduling integration |
| **Constant Contact** | Connect email marketing via Constant Contact |
| **BuyerKiosk Sync** | Configure the desktop Sync application |
| **BuyerKiosk Live API Key** | Manage API keys for the BuyerKiosk Live mobile app |

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## Switching Stores

If you have access to multiple stores:

1. Click the **store selector dropdown** at the top of the sidebar (shows your current store code and city)
2. A dropdown list appears showing all stores assigned to your account
3. Click any store to switch to it
4. The entire Admin Panel reloads with that store's data

Your current store is always visible at the top of the sidebar, even when the sidebar is collapsed (displayed as the store code in small uppercase text).

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## Workspace vs. Admin Panel

BuyerKiosk has two main interfaces:

| Interface | Purpose | How to Access |
|-----------|---------|---------------|
| **Workspace** | Day-to-day operations: Queue, Workbook, Completed Buys, Buy Log | Navigate to `/{storeCode}/` |
| **Admin Panel** | Management: Settings, Reports, Team, Marketing, Integrations | Navigate to `/admin/{storeCode}` |

The Workspace has its own sidebar with quick actions (Add Buy, Clock In, Schedule) and operational pages (Queue, Workbook, Completed Buys, Buy Log, Help Center). Use the Workspace for processing buys and the Admin Panel for everything else.

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## Permissions and Access

Not all users see every menu item. What you see depends on your role and permissions:

- **Store employees** typically see the Workspace only
- **Managers** see most Admin Panel sections except BuyerKiosk Admin
- **Admins/Owners** see everything including Store Settings, Reports, and Integrations
- **Super Admins** see the BuyerKiosk Admin section with global controls

If a section appears grayed out, you do not have permission to access it. Contact your store manager or admin to request access.

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## Tips for Navigating Efficiently

- **Pin the sidebar** if you switch between sections frequently. This keeps the menu always visible.
- **Use the store selector** to quickly jump between locations without logging out.
- **Start from the Dashboard** when you are not sure where to go. It provides links to the most commonly used features.
- **Collapse the sidebar** on smaller screens to give the content area more room.

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## Related Articles

- Buy Queue Views: Classic, Enhanced, and Kanban
- Adding a Buy to the Queue
- Mastering the Queue: Your Complete Guide