You've just received your ArcadePay hardware and your first QR codes are printed. The machines are ready. But what happens between installation day and the moment you're confidently running a fully optimized cashless venue? The first 30 days set the tone for everything that follows. Here's a practical checklist to help you hit the ground running.
Days 1–7: Install, Verify, and Go Live
The first week is about getting your hardware in place and confirming every machine is working correctly from a guest perspective — not just from yours.
- Complete the install on all machines in a single session when possible. Back-to-back installs are faster and easier to troubleshoot while your memory is fresh.
- Do a guest walkthrough on every single unit. Scan the QR code yourself with a personal phone, initiate a real test transaction, and confirm the credit registers on the machine. Don't skip this step.
- Check QR code legibility from a natural guest distance — typically 18–24 inches. If the code looks faded, warped, or reflective, replace it before opening day.
- Confirm your ArcadePay dashboard shows each machine as active. If a unit isn't appearing, contact support with the machine serial number before the venue opens.
- Tell your staff how ArcadePay works, even if briefly. A short 5-minute walkthrough saves 10 confused conversations per day later on.
Days 8–14: Run Your First Real Week
By now you should have real transaction data coming in. This is a great time to watch your guests interact with the system — and catch anything you missed at install.
- Watch for machines with zero transactions. A unit with no activity after 7 days of being open usually means the QR is obstructed, the machine is unpopular, or guests aren't noticing the payment option. Move or re-sign before assuming it's a dead unit.
- Note which machines are getting the most cashless activity. High-traffic machines validate your cashless rollout and tell you where signage is working.
- Gather a few pieces of guest feedback. Ask staff: "Is anyone asking how to pay?" If yes, that's a signage problem, not a product problem.
- Review your support inbox. A small burst of early questions is normal. If you're seeing the same issue repeatedly, document it and reach out to ArcadePay support once with the full picture rather than piecemeal.
Days 15–21: Review Your First Real Data
Halfway through your first month, you have enough data to start making decisions — not just observations.
- Compare cashless revenue per machine against cash/token revenue where applicable. If a machine does well on cashless but poorly on cash, consider making it cashless-only. Removing the coin mech reduces maintenance and speeds up reconciliation.
- Look at your average transaction size. Are guests spending $1.00 at a time, or $5.00+? Smaller transactions often mean guests are testing the system and not yet fully trusting it. Improve signage or offer a small "first-use" promotion to build habits.
- Check settlement timing. Confirm your payouts are arriving on schedule and reconcile against your dashboard totals. If anything is off, flag it early — not at month-end.
- Review machine uptime. If a machine has had payment failures, your ArcadePay dashboard will show error events. Address hardware issues now rather than letting them drag into month two.
Days 22–30: Optimize, Don't Just Operate
The last stretch of your first month is where you shift from "getting it working" to "making it work for you."
- Adjust credit pricing if needed. If guests are consistently buying the smallest credit package, experiment with bundling — a slightly better deal at a higher spend level encourages larger transactions.
- Add signage at natural guest decision points. Entry doors, machine fronts, and countertop stands at redemption areas all drive incremental cashless adoption.
- Consider expanding to additional machines. Once you've seen how it performs on your first wave, the second wave is usually faster and higher-confidence.
- Document what worked on install day. The lessons from your first location are invaluable for your second. Write down what you'd do differently — even a quick note in your phone is better than nothing.
The 30-Day Mark: What Good Looks Like
By day 30, a healthy ArcadePay rollout typically shows:
- All installed machines showing regular cashless transactions
- Staff comfortable directing guests to the QR code without prompting
- Zero unresolved install issues lingering from week one
- At least one piece of data insight you're using to make a decision (pricing, placement, or machine mix)
The first 30 days aren't about perfection — they're about building the habits and systems that make cashless revenue a reliable part of your operation. Operators who do well in month one tend to expand faster and troubleshoot less in months two and three.
Questions about your install or setup? Reach out to the ArcadePay team at ops@arcadepay.app.