Set volunteers up for success by gathering the right equipment, configuring event details, and testing beforehand. A little prep beforehand can make event day much smoother!
Technical equipment may vary for each event, but most require the following at minimum:
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Printers (if you want to print labels)
Dymo
Zebra
Brother (Wi-Fi)
Brother (Bluetooth)
Citizen
Print from Mac/Windows station device
✓
✓
✓
✓
Print from iOS/Android station device
✓
✓
✓
Uses Wi-Fi
✓
Uses Bluetooth
✓
✓
Battery option
✓
✓
✓
Connect to multiple devices
✓
Printing speed (1=fastest)
2
1
3
4
5
Tip
Are you planning an event off-site? Check out best practices for churches on the go!
Once you have the right equipment, you're ready to set up your event, labels, and stations! There are four main steps to complete on the administrative side of your event, and you'll need editor permissions in Check-Ins to get started.
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Create a new event. You only need one event for each recurring event at your church, even if it has multiple times.
For example, a Sunday service with 9:00 and 11:00 AM service times only requires one event. You can add both times and assign specific locations to each if needed.
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Set up locations. To ensure specific people check in to specific locations based on age or grade, set those parameters as location filters.
Important
To use location filters, a person's profile must be complete and have accurate grade and age information.
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Create stations and adjust their settings as necessary. Check out the table below for a comparison of station types.
Make sure your stations are working as expected by testing your setup before event day.
Follow these steps to test your setup:
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Choose the Events page from the top navigation in Check-Ins.
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Choose your event on the left of the page.
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Select the Times tab.
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Select New Time in the top right corner.
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Add a new time with today's date and your testing time.
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Select Save at the bottom of the window.
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Open the Check-Ins app on each station you want to use for this event. If you don't see the event, check your testing time and station settings.
Important
Roster stations rely on previous check-ins and may not populate unless you have past sessions with matching times.
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Check in your family and another person's family using the Church Center mobile app, a barcode, or a phone number. Verify that the expected locations are available and the correct labels are printed.
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Once you're happy with the setup, go back to the Check-Ins admin pages.
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Choose your event on the left of the page.
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Select the Times tab.
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Select your testing time.
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Select Delete at the bottom of the window to delete the testing time. This will delete all the data for the time in that session.
In your testing, consider the different types of people you'll be checking in. Here are some helpful examples to test:
Tip
Ready to pass on your knowledge? Train your volunteers!