Set up voice ordering and presence detection on Square Kiosk
About voice ordering and presence detection
Square Kiosk includes smart features that create a hands-free ordering experience for your customers. Voice ordering uses AI-powered conversation to let customers browse your menu, place orders, and customize items by speaking naturally.
These features work together: when a customer approaches your kiosk, presence detection wakes the device and voice ordering guides them through the ordering process, with no physical contact required.
If you’re looking for information about the iPad-based self-service kiosk, this has been renamed to Square Stand with the Square Kiosk Lite app. Learn how to set up Square Kiosk Lite.
Before you begin
Your Square Kiosk must have a stable internet connection. Voice ordering requires an active internet connection at all times.
Ensure your menu items are up to date in Square Dashboard, as voice ordering uses your menu data to understand customer requests. Learn how to create and update menus.
Consider your environment's ambient noise level, as voice ordering works best in quieter environments.
Ensure multiple Square Kiosks are not placed too close to each other to avoid audio interference. Square recommends leaving at least 24 inches of space between Square Kiosks.
Avoid positioning Square Kiosk where heavy foot traffic passes by without intending to order, like directly beside a main walkway. This prevents presence detection from triggering unnecessarily.
Square Kiosk is designed to focus on the voice of the person directly in front of it. However, if you have multiple kiosks placed near each other, in some cases one kiosk may pick up voice intended for another.
Purchase and use of the new Square Kiosk requires an active Square Plus or Premium subscription. Subscribers on other plans will be able to continue to use their existing Square Stand models with their existing plan. While Square Kiosk is not currently available with legacy pricing plans, such as Restaurants POS Plus or Premium, please reach out to your Account Manager for help with Square Kiosk order and setup.
Set up presence detection
Presence detection detects when a customer approaches your Square Kiosk. When triggered, the screen wakes, displays a greeting, and initiates the ordering experience.
- On your Square Kiosk, swipe down from the top-right of the screen and enter your employee passcode to access device settings.
- Select Presence sensor.
- Toggle Wake device when buyers approach on or off.
When presence detection is disabled, customers must tap the screen to begin placing an order. Customers can disable voice ordering at any time by pressing the speaker button in the upper left corner of the kiosk screen.
If presence detection isn’t working on your Square Kiosk, review the following details:
- Nothing should obstruct the sensor area on the front of the device.
- Clean the sensor area with a soft, dry cloth if presence detection isn’t responding as expected.
- If presence detection still isn’t working after cleaning, restart the device.
Set up voice ordering
Voice ordering allows customers to place orders by speaking naturally. Customers can browse the menu, add items, customize orders, and confirm their selections using voice, or switch to touch at any time.
- On your Square Kiosk, swipe down from the top right of the screen and enter your employee passcode to access device settings.
- Select Voice ordering.
- Enable or disable voice ordering with the associated switch. If voice ordering is turned off your customers will not be able to enable it or order by voice.
- On your Square Kiosk, swipe down from the top right of the screen and enter your employee passcode to access device settings.
- Select Voice ordering.
- Use the slider to adjust the volume level.
Set the volume based on your busiest hours. A volume that works during quiet periods may be too low during peak times.
When voice ordering is enabled, customers interact with your Square Kiosk like this:
- Browsing: Customers can say things like “What burgers do you have?” or “Show me drinks” to browse the menu by voice.
- Ordering: Customers add items by saying “I’ll have a cheeseburger” or “Add a large coffee.” The kiosk confirms each item.
- Customization: Customers can customize items by saying “Make that with no onions” or “Can I get oat milk instead?” Customers can customize based on the item modifiers and variants available. Learn how to create and edit modifiers and create and edit item options and variations.
- Upsells: Square Kiosk may suggest relevant add-ons based on your menu configuration, like “Would you like to add fries with that?”
- Confirmation: Square Kiosk reads back the order summary, and the customer confirms or makes changes.
Customers can switch between voice and touch at any point during their order. Tapping the screen during a voice interaction switches to touch mode. Customers can also disable voice ordering at any time by tapping the speaker icon at the upper left of the Square Kiosk screen.