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Software company Square has today announced the next generation of Square Stand, the popular iPad-based POS product for small business users.
Starting at £99+VAT, the reimagined Square Stand combines Square’s point of sale software and hardware into one complete solution. It will be available to order from June 2022.
Square, which also owns the online store builder Square Online, says the new iteration will improve the customer experience and enable sellers to take in-person payments more quickly.
As Square Stand can be used in conjunction with small business ecommerce builders, users will also be able to manage their ecommerce sales, deliveries, and click-and-collect orders from one place.
One of the first small businesses to test the stand was Franklin's Wine Bar in Notting Hill, which also hosted the launch of the new Square Stand.
Speaking at the launch, Filippo Carnevale, sommelier at Franklin's, told Startups the new Square Stand helps him to juggle many tasks at once.
“When I'm working, I need to ensure a good customer experience, but I also have to play around with stock, and organise shifts. The thing I love the most about the new stand is the simplicity of the way you can jump between different areas of the business, from back of house to front of house.
“I spent seconds with [the new stand] and it was very easy to understand. [Its] slick design and low cost of operation makes it a smooth and efficient system.”
Franklin's Wine House, host of the new Square Stand's London launch event
The rise of tap and go
According to trade association, UK Finance, nearly 70% of debit card transactions are now contactless.
The same report found average contactless spend increased by 29% per transaction after the limit rose from £45 to £100 in October 2021.
In recognition of the importance of ‘tap and go’ payments, Square POS contactless and chip card readers can now be fully integrated into the display, helping sellers to simplify their countertops.
The new software also includes an order summary screen and a secure PIN interface. There is also illuminated payment icons on the face of the device, so that buyers can see a summary of their purchase before paying.
In a press release, Square said the Stand’s latest features will help to create a faster, more transparent checkout process.
Should I use the Square Stand?
Introduced in 2013, the original Square Stand gave merchants a way to take payments and access business insights and analytics, using just an iPad.
Square Stand remains a popular tool for new businesses that are just starting out with payment software. In fact, the Startups research team ranked Square as one of our top POS systems for small businesses, earlier this year.
The new Square Stand is best-suited for users that want not just a POS system, but an entire command centre that can play the role of multiple small business tools.
It is therefore a great option for service-based small business owners, who often have to play the role of several departments in just one day.
Retailers, restaurants, and cafes in particular will benefit from the huge array of additional functions including:
- Marketing (using Square Marketing integration)
- Inventory management
- Omnichannel commerce tools
- Advanced order summary screen
- Secure PIN interface
- Illuminated payment icons
- Time tracking
- Shift scheduling
- Tip management
Square Stand is also fully supported by all of Square’s vertical point of sale offerings, which include Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail, and Square Appointments.
Alyssa Henry, Head of Square, said: “The new Stand was built with the future of commerce in mind. Square Stand offers sellers an integrated way to meet the purchasing preferences of today’s consumers.”
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April 11, 2022 at 11:27AM by Helena Young, Khareem Sudlow
