Products To Help You Take Payments During COVID-19

We understand that this can be a challenging time for your business and we are here to assist. Square has connected with our manufacturing and supplier partners and researched various third-party products that can help you to prepare your business to reopen and/or continue to accept payments. Note that these products are not intended for medical use or for the prevention, mitigation, treatment or cure of disease. For guidance on how to navigate COVID-19 support and other programs and services for your business, see what the Canadian government can do for your business here.

Accepting payments at the counter

The below products can help you maintain your business operations while minimizing contact between your employees and customers.

Consider using a product like the Countertop Sneeze Guard to act as a visible barrier during face-to-face transactions, available in standard and larger sizes. This single-panel countertop shield has a window opening at the bottom, allowing Square card readers to pass through and sit on both sides of the shield. You can scan barcodes at checkout through the clear plexiglass.

According to a Mastercard global consumer study, nearly 8 in 10 respondents mentioned that they use contactless payments, with 79% of respondents worldwide say they are now using contactless payments, citing safety and cleanliness as key drivers. Encourage your customers to pay with contactless cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Square Reader for contactless and chip, Square Stand, and Square Terminal all accept contactless payments. Recent increases in contactless credit card limits from $100 to $250 allow customers to pay for larger purchases with a tap. You might also consider skipping the receipt screen and disabling the signature screen during checkout. Click here to learn more.

There are more ways you can prevent employees and customers from directly touching Square hardware, tablets, or phone screens when completing transactions. Consider products such as disposable gloves, which can be changed frequently, or disposable wax paper which your customers can wrap around their fingers before using a touch screen. Stylus pens can also prevent employees from touching the screen directly. If you have a business with multiple employees or want to offer the stylus to customers, consider a stylus multipack to avoid cross-sharing and clean periodically with a disinfectant.

The Government of Canada recommends wearing a cloth face covering in situations where social distancing may be difficult to maintain at all times. Face cloth coverings should fit snugly around and comfortably cover your nose and mouth, as well as include multiple layers of breathable fabric. Make sure to wash after use.

Accepting payments from a distance

While social distancing, it is recommended to stay ~2 metres away from others whenever possible. We’ve rounded up the below products to help you and your employees complete transactions while distanced from your customers.

With Square hardware you can ring up the transaction in a separate area from where your buyer taps or inserts their card. If you have Square Reader for contactless and chip & PIN cards or Square Stand for contactless and chip, connect your Square Reader from a distance using Bluetooth connectivity. You can also use a USB extension cable to keep your Square Reader plugged in and connected away from your Square Stand, phone or tablet. We’ve seen some of you doing this already, using standard camera mounts and tripods to secure your Square Terminal. Square Terminal has a standard 1/4”-20 UNC screw on the bottom.

You can extend your Wi-Fi range to set up a temporary checkout away from your normal counter. The Google Nest Wi-Fi Router or eero Wi-Fi router will help keep your Square hardware connected with fast, reliable Wi-Fi, even at longer ranges.

You can also create a Wi-Fi signal anywhere using cellular data with either a mobile hotspot device or by turning your cellular phone or tablet into a mobile hotspot.

Disinfecting & Cleaning

You can use the below products to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like your Square hardware. Follow the instructions on the product for effective use.

Use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe that are intended for electronic screens. Be sure to gently wipe the surface and avoid getting moisture in any opening as repeated use may impact Square hardware over time. For a non-liquid solution, you can also consider using UV-C LED technology to kill bacteria and germs.

Note: Products listed are not intended for medical use or for the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.