We're highlighting exhibitors from the 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo, returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 24-26. Miss any of our past spotlights? Catch up here!

This week we chatted with Square, which provides integrated hardware and software solutions that do everything from taking payments to managing orders to staff scheduling.

 

1. Why are you exhibiting at the Bar & Restaurant Expo?

This is Square’s first year exhibiting at the Bar & Restaurant Expo. Nothing energizes us more than meeting in person with businesses that run on Square. What better place to do that than to attend one of the nation’s largest hospitality gatherings.

 

2. What do you hope to gain from the Expo?

We know the right tech makes a big difference to food & bev businesses. We’re ready to show attendees why 100,000+ restaurants use our cloud-based POS platform to optimize every part of their business.

 

3. What products/services will you be showing at the Expo?

Square for Restaurants is a comprehensive, all-in-one POS solution made specifically for restaurants. It lets you do it all, all in one place —integrating menu creation, payment processing, inventory management, and much more.

  • Servers can pre-authorize bar tabs and let customers pay with credit card or Apple Pay, securing sales and offering quick, no-fuss checkouts.
  • Our updated orders tab keeps dine-in, to go, and delivery orders in a single dashboard — regardless of whether they’re placed in-person or online — with clear organization.
     

Square Kitchen Display System (KDS) connects with our POS, online ordering, and third-party ordering and delivery platforms to keep orders synced with a direct link between front and back of house.

With Square Kiosk, guests can self-serve through an easy-to-use interface with embedded contactless and chip payment technology.

Square Dashboard app allows managers and teams to track business performance, run payroll, resolve issues with customers, and pay bills. 

Owners can scale their brand and power their entire franchise from one integrated POS with Square for Franchises, a central hub to onboard franchise operators, create permissions, manage menus, offer loyalty programs and gift cards across all locations, and more.

square tech

4. What challenges do you see operators facing in 2025, and how can your product/service help them overcome these obstacles?

Restaurants are spending more time on operations than they used to. Restaurant operators are getting pulled in every direction, and many are turning to technology solutions to manage their front and back of house to save operational time so they can focus on their customers.

Over the last year, higher operational costs have put a lot of pressure on restaurant owners to turn a profit, pay staff, and retain customers who’ve said they’ve cut back on spending. To help make more informed business decisions that boost the bottom line, Square for Restaurants and the Square Dashboard app provide real-time reports, comparable business by time period, sales by location, and more. 

Operators are focused on finding faster and easier ways to communicate with customers to improve relationships. Businesses that use Square can ramp up direct email and text marketing programs while staying active on social media channels for more general awareness and marketing efforts.

 

5. What trends are you seeing in the bar and restaurant industry?

Operators are experimenting with new loyalty and value programs to attract more customers. Coupon codes, loyalty discounts, value items, and combo deals are among the top value adds. With Square Loyalty, businesses can choose whether customers earn points by visits, by amount spent, or by categories purchased. And with instant access to data, including top loyalty customers and loyalty-attributed sales, businesses can fine-tune promotions whenever they need to.

Customer-driven ordering and payment methods are on the rise. If you think a newer technology (such as a self-service kiosk) could change the way your restaurant operates for the better — and that your core diners will embrace it or at least give it a try — this is the year to give it a try. 

Businesses are looking to amp up growth in 2025, and they’re introducing new revenue streams to achieve their goals. Square for Restaurants is set up to help businesses diversify, whether that’s by adding non-core products without straining the bottom line or by testing new concepts in small batches. Whatever the new revenue stream might be, businesses can rely on the many rich data points we provide to make short- and long-term decisions. 

For more insights into the top bar and restaurant trends for 2025, watch out for Square’s Future of Restaurants report launching soon.

 

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Plan to Attend or Participate in Our Events:

To learn about the latest trends, issues and hot topics, and to experience and taste the best products within the bar, restaurant and hospitality industry, plan to attend Bar & Restaurant Expo 2025 in Las Vegas. Visit BarandRestaurantExpo.com.

To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at our events, fill out our form.

Also, be sure to follow Bar & Restaurant on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest industry news and trends.