Square has partnered with Sysco, a global foodservice leader, to usher in a new era of efficiency for food and beverage businesses. This collaboration promises to integrate advanced technology solutions that aim to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences in restaurants and bars.
For over ten years, Square has focused on delivering innovative products that help food and beverage operators optimize their businesses. With the backing of Sysco, renowned for its comprehensive support and solutions, Square’s suite of services will now reach a wider audience, benefiting even more restaurants worldwide. “Sysco is committed to helping our customers succeed through innovative solutions and technology,” stated Neil Russell, Chief Administrative Officer at Sysco. “Square’s technology is comprehensive and easy-to-use for operators and workers alike, and we know that their solutions can help food and beverage businesses work smarter, operate more efficiently, and find new avenues of growth.”
In addition to the partnership, Square has announced a series of highly anticipated features, soon to be available across its platforms. These enhancements aim to save time and improve cash flow, critical factors for small business owners, especially in the highly competitive food service industry.
One of the new features, Bar Tabs, allows restaurants and bars to preauthorize customer payments via credit cards or digital wallets. This innovation enhances the guest experience by expediting orders and simplifying checkout processes while ensuring a secure payment environment. It is particularly beneficial for bars and breweries, where managing multiple tabs can become a logistical challenge. Eric Lurwick, General Manager at Cisco Brewers, emphasized its importance, saying, “Holding onto people’s credit cards at the bar – and having 20-30 people per night forget to close out their tabs – can be a nightmare.” The integration of Bar Tabs aims to alleviate this frustration for both staff and patrons, ensuring a smoother service flow.
Square’s upgraded Instant Payouts feature is another game-changer for restaurants. By enabling immediate access to funds from third-party delivery platform orders, it addresses a significant pain point—cash flow. Traditionally, restaurants could wait up to 11 days to access their earnings from these orders. Now, with Instant Payouts, sellers can improve their liquidity, allowing them to replenish inventory, compensate staff, and maintain operational momentum more effectively. This service is available for Square for Restaurants Plus and Premium sellers already integrated with DoorDash or Uber Eats, with plans for broader integrations in 2025.
Additionally, restaurants can now establish House Accounts for trusted regular customers or institutional clients, allowing for flexible invoicing based on the business’s needs. This feature can help streamline payments from repeat clients, making it easier for businesses to manage financial and customer relationships.
For restaurant owners, these advancements come with the promise of simplified management and improved operational efficiency. However, as with any new technology deployment, potential challenges such as staff training and integration with existing systems may arise. Square has introduced the Release Manager, allowing sellers to opt into new features at their convenience, ensuring that staff can be trained adequately before the changes take effect.
Ming-Tai Huh, Head of Food and Beverage at Square, articulated the firm’s commitment to addressing the complex realities faced by restaurateurs: “Day in and day out, our sellers are tasked with navigating the ever-changing and increasingly complex restaurant environment. We pride ourselves on listening to their challenges and needs so that we can deliver new solutions that make their lives easier.”
As small business owners weigh the benefits these new tools bring against potential implementation hurdles, it’s clear that Square’s partnership with Sysco stands to empower them with technology designed for real-world application. By optimizing efficiency and improving cash flow, these solutions might mean a more sustainable business model for many in the industry.
To explore Square’s offerings tailored for food and beverage businesses, visit their website at squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/restaurants. For more details on this partnership and features, you can view the original announcement at squareup.com/us/en/press/sysco-bar-tabs.
Image Via Envato: JulieAlexK
