The Square Register point-of-sale (POS) system, while marketed as a modern solution for businesses, has proven to be a source of frustration for many users. After five years of using Square Stand, upgrading to Square Register with the expectation of improved performance was a letdown. Particularly in a combined restaurant and nightclub environment, the Square Register’s functionality falls short and creates operational challenges.
One of the primary issues is the limited feature set compared to Square Stand, especially when using the paid Square for Restaurants Plus subscription. Compared to other POS systems on the market, Square Register fails to meet all operational needs, addressing only a fraction of them. The only notable advantage of Square Register is its Ethernet connectivity, ensuring fast and stable operation.
The Square Register System lacks several crucial functionalities:
- Course Separation: The inability to separate appetizers and main courses when entering orders creates difficulties for the kitchen in preparation and serving. The entire order is printed at once, making it challenging to distinguish between different courses.
- End-of-Day Reporting: The system lacks the functionality to generate shift reports or comprehensive end-of-day reports, hindering revenue management and business tracking.
- Reopening Closed Bills: The inability to reopen closed bills creates inconvenience if customers need adjustments or have inquiries after payment. This is particularly problematic in busy restaurant and bar environments.
The system automatically closes out transactions after each employee’s shift, instead of waiting until the end of the day like other POS systems. This complicates tip adjustments for employees, especially when using a shared tip pool.
Another issue is the five-minute time limit for completing payments with multiple cards or cash. The lack of card-on-file functionality, common in other POS systems, causes significant inconvenience, especially during peak hours. If payment is not completed within five minutes, the card transaction is canceled, resulting in losses for both employees and the business.
Creating payment tabs on Square Register is also more complex than on Square Stand. Instead of a simple card swipe, the system requires multiple steps, consuming time and reducing efficiency.
While some of the following issues might be addressed through system updates, they currently impact user experience:
- Dark Mode: Dark mode is not available on Square Register, despite being a common and beneficial feature.
- Apple Pay: The system does not automatically print receipts for Apple Pay transactions, even with a connected printer.
- Virtual Keyboard: The virtual keyboard constantly appears when adjusting tips or opening the tab menu, hindering smooth operation.
- Multiple Menu Tabs: The system lacks seamless switching between different menu tabs, creating inconvenience when using multiple menus.
- Printer Errors: The system persistently displays error messages when the service printer is turned off, creating unnecessary distractions for users.
