Square Inventory Automatically Finding Images

[GreatEscape]

Hello,

We previously had this working and something changed and I was unable to find where or why. Square was finding images and automatically uploading them for our website, but it stopped working. Was this auto-create? I don't believe it was, as we had items get images that were uploaded before that feature. 

Any ideas?

[Candlestore]

@GreatEscape ;

I believe it was the Auto Create feature.   Alot of Square users including myself did not always like it.  When I would scan an Item it  would sometimes find the wrong image and description.  Square did some updates and now you need to select the Auto Create button.  This works better if I scan an Item under Auto Create and it locates the Wrong image.  I can delete, Scan the item again and the Add my own images and description without worrying if I missed a Box.  the feature is there you just need to select it when adding an Item.  Think it was something like Auto Populate or something.   Good example I found that brings up wrong image was a can of Dr Thunder 12oz soda from Walmart.  This Item comes up as "Face Your Fun"  07 - 87 - 42 - 42 - 9465 is the Barcode if you wanna try it.

Not sure if the barcode will be removed.

How are you trying to add Items to your Catalog?  When I scanned the Soda above, It asked me if Face Your Fun is correct or if I wanted to create a different item using this GTIN or a 3rd option.   This was on a Square  Stand with barcode reader.   I am not sure what it will say using different methods, Register, Terminal, Tablet or on a computer for example.

[GreatEscape]

We use a barcode scanner in a browser. I hate the terrible titles of auto create, but I care about the images. I'm looking into other POS/Inventory options because of this alone. 

Is there a way to get the images tied to the GTIN without the terrible titles? And automatically without needing to redo everything?

[Candlestore]

@GreatEscape ;

Open a Web Browser, Open Google Search, Scan Item.  Let Google find the image, and if it matches your Item save it.  Otherwise goto https://www.barcodelookup.com/ and try looking there also.  Some items are found and others are not always found with either method.  Issue is either way you would have to download and upload the image it is not automatically populated to Square.  I use these as backups when Square finds the wrong image.  Now if your going through all this it might be better to take your own photos and upload them.  Just becareful sometimes Google finds images that might be copyrighted.  What else may or may not still work depending on your app and hardware, Create New Item, enter all your information for said Item Then scan the GTIN.  Then with the Ipad I use I would take an image of my item then save.    By typing the Information in First, then entering the GTIN, the information I entered stayed.  Now when I scanned a GTIN now, I get questions, Use this, Create New Item using GTIN or add the GTIN as a variation of an item.  Try tapping Create new item and enter the data you want then take a Picture of it.

[GreatEscape]

Unfortunately, that doesn't work without insane man-hours. We have over 30k unique items. 

[Candlestore]

@GreatEscape ;

The problem I believe is POS / Inventory systems use probably the same Database of Images and Descriptions for Items.  I have been using another inventory management system and when I scan a GTIN into it, I get the same data Square gives me.  The only other thing I can suggest is Importing by CSV all your Items without images.  I do not know of a way to import the Image you may have to Square and have it associated with the GTIN or SKU number of an item automatically.  You can Bulk Import images to Square, but then again long hours to open each Item and select your image from Squares Image Gallery, save then repeat. 

[GreatEscape]

Yeah, that's why I'm leaning towards leaving square and just starting from scratch with automatically uploaded images elsewhere unfortunately. 

[Sammie_C]

Hi @GreatEscape, thank you for reaching out. I am sorry to hear you are experiencing difficulties with your images. @Candlestoreoffers some great workarounds, but I understand that this would take additional man-hours.

When you have a moment, @GreatEscape, could you answer a couple clarifying questions:

1) Are you using Square for Retail? 

2) Are you trying to edit/add the items directly from your Dashboard or your POS?

Let me know and I can take a further look into this for you.

[GreatEscape]

I am using square for retail and I can/will use any route that works for images

[Sammie_C]

Thank you for getting back with me, @GreatEscape. I have reached out to our Operations team to take a look on their side as well.

Could you clarify if you are attempting to edit/upload these items through either your Dashboard or through your POS system?

[GreatEscape]

I have done this through both. 

[Sammie_C]

Hi again @GreatEscape. I just heard back from our Operations team and they said that the manual option is the only option available at the moment. The system used to be set up where an image would automatically be uploaded, but it has since changed.

I do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Using @Candlestore's workaround may be the best available option at this time.

[GreatEscape]

I think i just will look for other POS options