Create product categories
- web admin
A category groups products by type — for example, Food, Beverages, or Accessories. Setting up categories before you add products lets the POS group items so staff can find them quickly during a sale. You manage categories from the web admin dashboard.
Before you start
- You’ve completed the account setup and are logged in to the admin dashboard
- You know how you want to group your products (by type, section, or department)
Navigate to categories
Step 1: Open the category list
From the dashboard sidebar, expand Commerce and click Category. The category list shows every category in your shop. If you just finished setup, this list is empty.
Step 2: Click Create
Click the Create button in the top-right corner to open the category creation form.
Create your first category
Minh’s café sells both food and drinks. He starts by creating a category for food items.
Step 3: Fill in category details
Enter the following:
- Name — the category name shown to staff at the POS. Minh enters
Đồ ăn(Food). The form has EN and VI tabs — fill at least one; the other falls back to it if left empty - Description — an optional note for yourself. Minh leaves it blank
- Is Addon — leave unchecked. Check this only if the category holds add-ons (toppings, extras) that attach to a main product rather than selling on their own
- Status — set to Activated so the category is immediately selectable when creating products. The other options (Deactivated, Draft, Archived) are for categories you’re not ready to use
Step 4: Save the category
Click Save. BANA opens the category edit page so you can refine it later. The category is now available to pick when you add or edit a product.
Repeat Steps 2–4 for each category you need. Minh creates a second category, Đồ uống (Beverages), for his coffee and tea lineup.
What you created
Your shop now has two categories, ready to assign to products:
| Category | Status | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Đồ ăn | Activated | Sandwiches, snacks, and other food items |
| Đồ uống | Activated | Coffee, tea, and other beverages |
Verify in the category list
Open Commerce > Category from the sidebar to see every category you’ve created. Both appear with Activated status, ready to be chosen when adding products.
What’s next
Your categories are set up. Here’s what to do next:
- Create your first product — assign each product to the right category as you create it
- Refine over time — rename, deactivate, or add categories as your menu or inventory evolves
Frequently asked questions
Yes for most businesses — you select a category when creating each product. You can add categories later, but setting them up first saves re-editing every product.
No. BANA uses a flat category structure — each product belongs to exactly one category. Use clear top-level names like Đồ ăn or Đồ uống rather than nested ones.
Deactivated means temporarily hidden but reusable. Draft is an unpublished work-in-progress. Archived is permanently retired. For everyday use, pick Activated.