Square Launches Powerful Handheld POS and Unified Restaurant Platform to Fuel Growth

Square has unveiled a suite of hardware and software innovations designed to help restaurants scale, improve efficiency, and deliver better service. At the center of the update is Square Handheld, a new portable point-of-sale device built for demanding restaurant environments.

Key Features of Square Handheld:
• Spill- and splash-resistant 6.2” Gorilla Glass touchscreen with IP54 durability
• Long-lasting battery for all-day use
• Barcode scanner and camera for scanning items or capturing new menu images
• Integrated with Square’s redesigned, unified Point of Sale app, which supports multiple workflows (QSR, FSR, retail, catering)
Square also introduced restaurant-specific tools, including:
• A new Dashboard App for back-office tasks like payroll and alerts, now accessible from mobile
• Combos and Item Splits to boost upselling and ease group checkouts
• Surcharging to pass credit card fees to customers

New integrations support online ordering and third-party delivery:
• Revamped Square Online Ordering with built-in commission-free pickup and delivery
• Sysco partnership offering up to $1,000/month in food subsidies for new restaurant sign-ups
• Streamlined Uber Eats and DoorDash integrations with same-day payouts
• Enhanced guest management via Resy, OpenTable, and SevenRooms
• Loyalty and analytics boost through Thanx

These innovations are part of Square Releases, the company's twice-yearly product launch program. The new restaurant ecosystem will be showcased at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, May 17–20.

Cash App Pay Partners with Domino’s as First Nationwide Pizza Chain Integration

On May 8, 2025, Block, Inc. announced a new partnership between Cash App Pay and Domino’s, making Domino’s the first nationwide pizza restaurant to integrate the payment service. Customers can now select Cash App Pay at checkout on the Domino’s app for a seamless payment experience using their Cash App balance.

The partnership targets Gen Z and Millennial consumers, 79% and 85% of whom, respectively, use mobile apps for fast-food orders. Domino’s aims to enhance convenience and deepen engagement with Cash App’s young, digital-native user base. The integration is also expected to build long-term loyalty and unlock value for both brands.

Domino’s, the world’s largest pizza company, generated over $19.2 billion in global retail sales over the past year and conducts over 85% of U.S. sales digitally. Cash App continues to expand its footprint in commerce, offering users tools for payments, investing, and financial services.

Square has launched a new video series titled *"The Way Up"* in partnership with acclaimed podcast host Guy Raz. The series celebrates local business innovation and resilience by highlighting the real-life stories behind six thriving, Square-powered businesses across the United States. These include:

- Nixta Taqueria in Austin, Texas, now a James Beard Award-winning restaurant
- Charles Pan-Fried Chicken in Harlem, New York
- The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, focused exclusively on women’s sports
- Vala’s Pumpkin Patch in Gretna, Nebraska, now a 450-acre seasonal destination
- Green Apple Books, a long-standing independent bookstore in San Francisco
- Rustler Hat Co. in Nashville, Tennessee, known for custom-crafted hats

The series explores each business’s pivotal moments, strategies for scaling, and use of Square's technology. It will be available through Square’s YouTube channel, Guy Raz’s podcast *Wisdom From the Top*, and Square’s publication *The Bottom Line*. This initiative is part of Square’s broader effort to highlight how local entrepreneurs use tech to impact their communities and adapt in a fast-changing economic landscape.

Square unveils next-generation Point of Sale app

Square introduced its new unified Point of Sale (POS) app, designed to serve sellers across industries including restaurants, retail, and services. The next-gen app merges Square’s commerce, payments, and business operations into one customizable platform.

The app simplifies the experience by offering industry-specific “modes”:
- Quick Service, Full Service, and Bar modes for food and beverage
- Retail mode for inventory and multi-location management
- Bookings and Services modes for wellness and mobile businesses
- Standard mode for general use

The unified app allows sellers to personalize and scale their POS systems as their businesses evolve. Internal testing showed an 80% increase in feature discovery and usage among new sellers compared to the previous POS experience.

Square plans to roll out more features and enhancements during its first "Square Releases" event on May 13.

Square Partners with Bluestone Lane to Power Operations Across 65 Locations

Bluestone Lane, the upscale Australian-inspired café brand, has announced a new partnership with Square, implementing the company’s all-in-one commerce technology across all 65 of its U.S. locations. This move is aimed at boosting both customer and employee satisfaction while modernizing operations.

The rollout includes Square Registers, mobile Square Terminals for tableside service, and the Square KDS (kitchen display system), enabling faster service and greater order accuracy. The switch has already yielded results, with Bluestone Lane reporting a 50% improvement in order speed and significant time savings for staff.

Square’s platform integrates with key systems Bluestone Lane already uses, such as Olo for digital ordering, Thanx for mobile loyalty, Uber Eats and DoorDash for delivery, and Restaurant365 for back-of-house management. Custom API integrations also enable advanced analytics and real-time insights across all locations.

Nick Stone, Bluestone Lane’s founder, praised Square for its flexible, scalable solutions and collaborative approach, stating the platform "offered everything our complex business needed."

This partnership will also include co-branded local events combining Bluestone Lane’s hospitality with Square’s commerce technology.

To learn more, visit [Square](https://www.squareup.com) or [Bluestone Lane](https://www.bluestonelane.com).

Cash App Afterpay Report Reveals Gen Z Shifting Away from Credit Cards Toward Smarter Spending Tools

Cash App Afterpay released a new report titled *Why Credit Cards Give Gen Z The Ick*, highlighting a major generational shift in payment preferences. Based on a survey of over 5,400 U.S. adults, the report shows that 63% of Gen Z have moved away from credit cards in favor of alternatives like debit cards and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions due to concerns about hidden fees, high interest rates, and financial stress.

The report found that 68% of Gen Z experience anxiety from credit card bills, and over half say credit cards give them the “ick.” Additionally, 52% believe BNPL services help them manage their finances more effectively than traditional credit. Overall, nearly half of all Americans—and 55% of Gen Z—express openness to using BNPL options in the future.

The findings underscore a growing demand for payment solutions that offer transparency, control, and flexibility. Cash App Afterpay, part of Block, Inc., is positioned at the forefront of this shift by providing structured, interest-free payment options that promote financial well-being and eliminate the burdens of revolving debt.