thread Re: Beta Features in Retail & eCommerce

Beta Features

sacredheart926 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:41:56 GMT

Am I missing something? What happened to joining beta groups? I have to say this new community square did is not my favorite.

Re: Beta Features

rtfulk — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:12:04 GMT

When they launched the new community they did away with the beta section. If I remember correctly betas will be handled through emails. The new betas will be by invitation or asked to opt-in.

Re: Beta Features

TheRealChipA — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:32:22 GMT

Adding to what @rtfulk said. Back at the beginning of the year, Square went through a major reorganization. Lots of layoffs and such. As part of that, the beta functions were merged back into the product teams. Now those product teams decide how to beta test new releases and features. Sometimes, they are on the appropriate dashboard pages. For example, a couple of reports have active beta tests going that sellers can opt-in to by clicking on the blue Beta button at the top. Other times, the product teams might decide to do a more restricted invitation-only beta. It's up to each team how they wish to proceed.

But, as of earlier this year (months before the new Community rolled out), the old beta system was dissolved. Therefore the Community had to be reorganized to reflect this new reality.

On the other subject, personally I love the new Community. As a very active member in it, I find it much easier to get around in, and especially to search for solutions in. But it takes some getting used to because, as we all know, change is not always easy. Are there specific things that bother you about the functionality of the new Community experience? It's possible I, or others like me who are very active here, might have some pointers now that we have had a month or so working with it.

Re: Beta Features

nika — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 20:48:00 GMT

Hey @sacredheart926 - Thanks for sharing your feedback. I know change can be tough to navigate in the beginning.

+1 to everything @TheRealChipA said. The old Beta Community was sunset after some company re-orgs. We shared a few emails and updates prior to us sunsetting it so that the change wouldn't come as a shock- sorry if those slipped by. But testing is still happening! Like @TheRealChipA said, you'll see opportunities to test either via email invite, posts in the Community, or visual "opt in" buttons as you're in your Dashboard or POS.

Hopefully as you keep exploring the new structure it becomes a bit more helpful.