Set Up Check-In Stations and Kiosks

A check-in station is any computer or tablet your church uses to check people in. It can be staffed, with a volunteer checking families in, or a self-serve kiosk where families check themselves in. Set up each station once, and it's ready every week.

Before you start

• A label printer. Empower works with Dymo, Brother, Zebra, and other label printers. See Setting up a Label Printer for Empower.

• QZ Tray on the computer connected to the printer. Empower uses this small, free program to print name tags. It runs on Windows and Mac.

Add a station

1. Go to Utilities > Options.

2. Under Check In, click Manage Workstations.

3. Click Add New Workstation.

4. Enter a Station name that tells volunteers where it is, like Kids Wing Kiosk. Names can be up to 20 characters.

5. Under Print setup, choose whether this station prints to a local printer (plugged into this computer), a network printer, or does not generate tags.

6. Click Save changes.

Choose what prints on each tag

Under Utilities > Options > Check In, click Labels to see your three layouts:

• Name Badge: the tag worn by the person checking in.

• Parent Badge: the tag the parent or guardian keeps for pickup.

• Bag Badge: a tag for a child's bag.

Each layout includes a security code. Use the menu (three dots) on a layout to change it.

Start checking people in

Staffed station

1. On the station computer, sign in to Empower and go to Check In > Manned Check In.

2. The first time, pick the station under Select from existing stations and choose its print setup. If it prints to a local printer, choose the printer, then click Save changes.

Self-serve kiosk

1. Set the kiosk PIN under Utilities > Options > Check In > Self Check In PIN.

2. On the kiosk, open your church's Empower sign-in page and click Self Check-in in the bottom corner.

Related articles

• Setting up a Label Printer for Empower

• Using the Check In Portal

• The Check-In Process