Overview

Cloud Connect is a lightweight integration service installed on a store server to connect the Last Yard cloud platform with local data sources and systems. It enables real-time communication and operational workflows between Last Yard and a retailer’s in-store IT environment.

1. What is Cloud Connect?

Cloud Connect is a software component that resides on a server within the store network. It links the Last Yard cloud platform to local data sources and systems such as:

• Point of Sale (POS) systems

• Local or network databases

• Printers and print management systems

Cloud Connect enables Last Yard to operate seamlessly with the retailer’s existing infrastructure. It also supports real-time, on-demand printing of PDF ticket batches directly to designated printer trays within the store.

2. Installation Requirements

Where does Cloud Connect need to be installed?

Cloud Connect must be installed on a machine within the store network that has access to:

• The POS system

• Local or network printers

• Any relevant data sources required by Last Yard

This is typically a Windows server or workstation that remains online.

3. Purpose of Cloud Connect

Cloud Connect serves as the local data agent used to retrieve product, price, and promotion information from the store’s POS system. This ensures Last Yard can deliver accurate and up-to-date ticketing data to your store.

Additionally, Cloud Connect can act as a printing endpoint, allowing print jobs to be routed with the correct printer settings for each ticket type.

4. Data Access

What data is accessed through Cloud Connect?

Cloud Connect retrieves:

• Product data

• Price data

• Promotion data

How is data extracted?

• Cloud Connect runs on a Windows machine inside the store network.

• It fetches data from the POS system using read-only credentials supplied by the retailer.

• The service builds a local cache of POS data, so only incremental (delta) changes are transferred back to Last Yard, improving performance and reducing load.

• The retrieved data is securely sent to Last Yard for ticket creation and other platform processes.

5. Printing Workflow

How is printing handled?

Cloud Connect integrates directly with local or network printers to support store-level printing.

• Cloud Connect must be installed on a Windows machine with printer access.

• In Last Yard, each stationery type used for tickets can be mapped to a printer and specific tray.

• When Cloud Connect is configured for printing, the print dialog in Last Yard will default to Cloud Connect as the destination.

• Users still have the option to instead download a PDF if required.

This ensures tickets are printed using the correct formatting, tray, and media settings.

6. Installation Details

How is Cloud Connect installed?

Cloud Connect is distributed as a single Microsoft Installer, packaged within a setup.exe.

Once installed:

• The service and tray icon executables are located in:
  C:\Program Files (x86)\Last Yard\Cloud Connect

• On first run, Cloud Connect unpacks additional files into:
  C:\ProgramData\Last Yard

Installation Notes

• Total installation footprint: ~280 MB

• Auto-update package size: ~60 MB

• There is no built-in rollback mechanism, but older versions can be reinstalled using standard Microsoft Installer (msiexec) commands if required.

7. Runtime Behaviour

Once running, the Cloud Connect client:

• Reports its status to Last Yard

• Sends environment and system information

• Reports its current version number

This helps Last Yard monitor availability and performance.

8. Updates

How do updates work?

Cloud Connect can update itself in several ways:

1. Manual update — triggered remotely by sending a command to Cloud Connect

2. Auto-update on service start — occurs when the machine or service is restarted

3. Scheduled update window — occurs automatically between 00:10 and 04:10 (local server t