Square increases access to omnichannel payment

Payments processing company Square is launching new APIs that will open its platform to seamlessly conduct transactions in-store or digitally.



A new e-commerce API will allow retailers of all sizes to accept payments for transactions on their websites. It provides a hosted Javascript library that embeds a secure credit card form on the page. A one-time use token encrypts the customer’s payment information as it travels to the retailer’s application server, which then sends the card notice and payment details to Square for processing.



Since the customer’s actual payment card data is never stored on the retailer’s site, hosted Square e-commerce transactions are PCI-compliant. The e-commerce API also offers features such as dashboard reporting and assistance from Square with chargebacks.



Square is also releasing a register API that allows retailers to build their own apps for in-store or mobile payment. Other APIs focus on areas including item and inventory management, sales reporting and analytics, and employee management.



Square does offer existing solutions that handle activities such as digital payment processing, but its new APIs allow retailers to take advantage of Square for e-commerce and other features without having to implement Square software. It also important to note that Square’s e-commerce API provides a seamless back-end that will help support omnichannel commerce.



The company is pursuing increased payment processing volume at the possible expense of software sales. Considering the glut of transactional solutions on the market, focusing on easy omnichannel volume growth may not be a bad idea.