Can we scan barcodes using a phone/mobile device?

[rrowe1975]

It would be very helpful, if you could scan your barcodes with you qreader, on your phone, when doing purchases with register app. 

Is this at all in the works. 

[ozpreplsat]

Guys, while in some ways Square is at the forefront of innovation, for some reason they've often flat-out refused to implement simple fixes that we've asked for. This has been going on for years.

An early example was when the SquareStand was introduced...I went out and bought an iPad especially, and since I have an iMac and Macbook already, I obviously got attached to all things Apple...

One of the very next innovations that came out was 'Appointments.' And guess what.. Square decides to introduce compatibility and syncing with Google Calendar...leaving all of us iCal users pretty confused. The whole reason I bought the iPad was for compatibility with Square! This was years ago, and I remember begging for a simple fix for iCal... it never happened. I do know that there are workarounds, but as hard as I tried, I couldn't get things to sync properly across from Square... to Google...to Apple...yeah, forget it.  So I gave up on Appointments (even though I hear positive things) and continue to use my one Apple Calendar. The last thing I need is clients showing up at the wrong times!

Here's just another example of Square refusing to implement simple, standard fixes that users are begging for. I've been perplexed about this for years...I've known fellow clients to abandon Square over the smallest (yet incredibly aggravating) things. 5 years later, and the moderators are still parroting the same  tired lines ..ie. "maybe in the future"... and "the technology is complex"... Even tech neophytes know about calendar compatibility...it's even older than the barcode scanner stuff...! There are hundreds of free QR/barcode scanners on both App and Play stores...and qr/barcode scanning has long been integrated into major apps like Amazon, What's App, even Canada Post!

Yet for the wizards in San Francisco, the solution is to invest in a 1980s-style scanner-gun? Seriously? If Canada Post can figure this stuff out, Square can too. So perhaps it's because they don't want to. Or can't.

The only explanation I can hypothesize is that Square signed some sort of exclusivity agreement with Apple, then another with Google. As for the scanning functionality, I'm sure that Square gets huge kickbacks from the few companies that make its old-school "peripherals"  like the scanning guns and those ugly little receipt printers. There's only a few brands that seem to support Square POS, and not surprisingly, the Square-compatible models are CRAZY expensive...up to $500 for a tiny Star Micronics 'thermal printer.' The non-compatible ones sell on Amazon for a tiny fraction of that. Ditto with the scanning guns.

And let's not forgot all those expensive third party apps!! Someone earlier mentioned 'Shopventory'.. I don't know them, but if indeed they offer functionality that you don't get with the standard Square system, I'd imagine that Square would be quite adverse to introduce its own in-house solutions that would supplant or even improve upon what the third-party offers. Some of those apps want hundreds of thousands of dollars a month...and I'm sure Square gets a nice kickback from that...so if introducing some fixes to placate all of us would essentially kill one of its partners, you can imagine why Square might prefer to ignore something ...and instead innovate in a totally new area. That type of move grabs more headlines, and keeps all these affiliates fat and happy.

So that's my theory--it's the only thing that makes sense. Frankly I wish the company would just be honest about things...I mean, if we all want low processing fees, so Square needs to make money in other ways. I feel bad for the moderators who have to give us all the ring-around when it's clear from this board that nobody is buying their explanations...especially those like me who have been with Square since the start.

So don't hold your breath waiting for fixes from Square.

Cheers, everyone!

[williamwm1]

Square Point of Sale : WHY can't I use iPhone's camera to scan barcode to make invoices!!!!!!!

I was waiting 4 years......

[sodanerdy]

I want to be able to add a loyalty customer to an order with a tablet or phone camera in the square app. That would be awesome! Each customer has a reference ID or use the number to create a QR code. They just show it at check out and they are added to the order and get their points or redeem points. No barcode gun equipment needed. It would be perfect for mobile businesses. 

[Millcreekmerc]

YES, YES, YES this needs to happen!!!  I do a lot of flea markets with square and have to look up every item in my inventory to check people out because I use barcodes in my store.  This needs to happen after 5 years!!!

[bleuolive]

It's been at LEAST 5 years of non answers from square on the barcode issue.  It would be really nice to get a straightforward answer as to why this cannot be done.  running out of patience.

[Millcreekmerc]

@bleuolive it is so ridiculous!  5 years???  I have several apps that have this technology and have had them for years, so I know it can be done and is not rocket science.  Square just needs to LISTEN better to their CUSTOMERS.😔😔

[Redlight2015]

Something is telling me they aren’t implementing this because they have deals with barcode gun manufacturers 

[MDHDinSD]

It makes no sense this hasn’t integrated yet. I’ve been a early adopter of Square and I’ve always thought of them as a forward thinking company but this is changing my opinion. Unfortunately I’m looking at different options after several years of use. 

[rtam]

Unfortunately this is never going to happen... profitability for the shareholders is way more important than functional solutions for the peasants ha

[Lewiskoa]

I would love to be able to add items to my checkout cart when using the square pos app by scanning the barcodes with my phone while using the pos app.