What happens when the internet goes down?

A customer is ready to pay when the internet drops. You still have power, the till is running, and the goods are on the counter. You should be able to finish the sale.

That is why Faida saves work on the shop computer first. Selling does not need a round trip to a cloud server. There are limits to this setup, though, and they matter when choosing where to put your devices.

On the main computer

Once Faida is activated, the desktop holds the local workspace: products, sales, stock, and customer records. You can keep making sales and checking those records during an internet outage.

The computer still needs power and working storage. Keeping a copy locally does not protect it from a damaged drive or a stolen machine. Backups are a separate job.

On a paired tablet

A tablet reaches the main computer over the shop network. The outside internet can be down while that local connection still works.

But if someone switches off the router, puts the desktop to sleep, or takes the tablet out of Wi-Fi range, that is a different problem. The tablet has lost its connection to the workspace. Check the local connection before trying to pair it again.

We keep this distinction in the tablet setup guide, because “offline” can mean either of these situations at the counter.

What waits for the internet

Cloud sync, off-site backups, and reports viewed away from the shop need a connection. During an outage, an owner looking at the portal should not assume it includes the latest sales. Work waiting on the desktop needs to sync first.

There is a similar distinction with payments. Recording a sale as mobile money in Faida is not confirmation that the payment provider received the money. Staff still need to check the payment through their usual provider.

Try it before a busy shift

After setup, check your own arrangement during a quiet moment. Keep the shop Wi-Fi running, disconnect its internet connection, and check that the desktop and paired tablet can still reach the workspace. Reconnect and check the sync status if you use Cloud.

Also check what happens when the main computer sleeps. It is better to find that setting now than while a customer is waiting.