Square integrates POS tech for retailers

Dive Brief:

Square on Tuesday introduced Square for Retail on Square Register, which integrates its software, hardware and payments solutions technology.
The tech allows business owners to manage their storefront, back-office operations and online store in one hub, according to the company announcement. For $60 per month per location, plus an additional payments processing fee, the software allows retailers to, for example, track their inventory, generate profit projections and other internal reports, and manage their sales online and via social media platforms like Instagram, the company notes on its sales page.
Square for Retail on Register is aimed at taking away the necessity for multiple devices and instead giving sellers an "all-in-one POS solution specifically designed for retail workflows."

Dive Insight:

The integration of its retail technology is the latest effort Square has taken to court the retail sector. Last March, the payment technology company rolled out its updated versions of Square Online Store and Square for Retail, a move that would help it stand out among competitors like Shopify. Shopify released its own point-of-sale system upgrades a month later.

As the competition heats up between Square and its competitors, the payments company has made strides in improving its software and overall capabilities. Last May, the company acquired Eloquent Labs, an artificial intelligence tech company which automates responses to consumer inquiries, in hopes of providing customer communication software for companies of various sizes. Back in August, the company introduced Order API, a tool which allows businesses to manage their fulfillment operations.

With a rollout of Square for Retail on Square Register, the company is trying to streamline the onboarding process and tailor its offerings to address the needs of up-and-coming retailers.

"The launch of Square for Retail on Register provides retailers the best of Square's hardware and software in one fast, secure, and intuitive solution," Jesse Dorogusker, head of hardware at Square, said in a statement.