[New] Identify Customers with QR Code/Barcode Scanning

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Hi Sellers! 👋

We’re excited to share that with Square for Restaurants, you can now identify diners by scanning their barcode or QR code using a physical scanner or camera via the Square for Restaurants app on iPad. This feature helps you know who your diners are, faster, by surfacing their information, preferences, and order history. 

Benefits:

• Speed up your checkout line: Reduce wait times and mistakes by easily adding a customer to a sale early in the checkout process without manual effort. Once added to sale, the customer’s relevant group discounts are automatically added to the cart. Apply the right discount every time and streamline service. 

• Personalize interactions: Distribute codes to groups of your key customers (e.g., via email or printed identification cards) so they can be identified and have service tailored to their preferences (e.g., past purchase activity, notes, loyalty) in their customer profile. This is especially relevant when you want to offer a differentiated level of customer service to VIPs or club members. 

Example Use Cases:

• A ski resort uses Customer Group Discounts to automate discounting for their Season Pass holders. Scanning the customer’s pass via iPhone at POS automatically applies a 10% discount and adds the customer to the sale, improving accuracy and saving time.

• A winery started a membership club to drive more engagement and customer loyalty. Wine club members receive a member card with a barcode that can be used to scan them to be added to the sale. Members then receive a pre-configured 20% off wine club member discount at the POS.

Set up QR codes 

• Add reference IDs to customer records in Directory via Import, Customers API, or manually via Dashboard/POS (more information here)

• Generate a barcode or QR code (printed or digital) and distribute to your customers

• Enable this feature by going to the Settings > Checkout > Customer Management

  • Toggle on “Scan customers using device camera” then toggle on “Show Add customer button during checkout” and/or “Show Add customer button after checkout” to enable. 

Scan a barcode or QR code via Restaurant Point of Sale

iOS - tablets or S3

1. Tap on “Add a customer”

2. Tap on scan icon within search bar

3. Scan ID to add a customer using your camera or a peripheral scanner.

Square Register or Square Terminal

1. Tap on “Add a customer”

2. Tap on scan icon within search bar

3. Scan ID to add using a peripheral scanner.

For more information on identifying customers via scanning QR codes or barcodes, check out our Support article here. 

Please let us know what you think in the comments below and reach out with any questions.