Square’s 2025 Restaurant Updates: 5 Features That Will Transform Your Daily Operations

TLDR

Square has rolled out a fresh wave of updates for restaurants in 2025, designed to take the stress out of daily operations. From AI-powered phone ordering to real-time menu updates and smarter ingredient tracking, these tools make management simpler and reduce the chaos behind the counter. For restaurant owners, these new features bring one big advantage: less time spent managing systems and more time focused on guests, food, and growth. Here are five of the most valuable Square updates that can help restaurants work faster, stay consistent, and run more efficiently this year.

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1. AI That Answers Every Call and Takes Orders

Every restaurant has experienced the stress of a ringing phone while the team is already managing a rush of in-store customers. Missed calls often mean missed orders and unhappy guests. Square’s new AI-powered voice ordering feature is designed to eliminate that problem. It automatically picks up every call, takes customer orders, and sends them straight to the kitchen without any human involvement.

This feature ensures that no customer is left waiting and that the staff can stay focused on service instead of trying to handle phones during peak times. It also keeps a consistent experience for callers by using preset greetings and menu details that reflect the restaurant’s tone and personality.

Even though this feature is still in beta, it has the potential to change how small teams handle communication. Once it is fully rolled out, restaurants using Square will be able to rely on this system to manage phone orders quickly, accurately, and around the clock.

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2. Update Menus Once, Sync Everywhere

Keeping menus accurate across all platforms is one of the most frustrating parts of franchise management. A single menu change can mean hours of updates across multiple systems like delivery apps, kiosks, and websites. Square has simplified this entire process with its real-time menu sync feature.

Now, your managers can edit the menu once and instantly see the changes reflected across all channels and locations. Whether it is updating a price, removing a sold-out item, or adding a new seasonal dish, the update goes live everywhere at the same time. This ensures that customers always see correct and current information, no matter how they order.

This update also works in complete sync with Per Diem. If you’re using the app, making a change in the POS will automatically update the app as well. The integration keeps every online channel aligned without extra effort. It saves staff time, avoids confusion, and helps maintain a consistent customer experience across in-person and online orders.

Want to see how menu sync works perfectly with your own branded mobile app? Explore Per Diem’s Square-integrated solution.

3. Make Faster and Smarter Decisions with Square AI

Square’s introduction of Square AI Beta adds intelligence to everyday operations management. This tool gives owners quick, data-driven insights using information already collected through their POS system. Instead of searching through reports or spreadsheets, you can ask questions in plain language and get instant answers.

For example, they can ask which dishes sold best last week or what time of day drives the highest revenue. The AI then compiles real-time data to show clear results. It helps owners make faster choices about menu adjustments, staffing, or marketing without waiting for manual analysis.

When combined with Per Diem’s built-in AI CRM, the advantage becomes even greater. Per Diem allows restaurants to see customer behavior patterns, repeat visits, and order trends directly through their app. Together, these systems form a smart toolkit that helps restaurants act on real insights, not guesses. In a fast-moving industry, this level of clarity can make all the difference between reacting late and staying one step ahead.

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4. Real-Time Item Availability Across All Channels

Running out of a menu item during a busy shift can be frustrating for both staff and guests. Square’s new Item Availability feature helps solve this problem instantly. With just a few taps, restaurants can mark an item as sold out and have that update appear across every sales channel. This keeps customers informed before they place an order and prevents confusion at checkout.

This real-time visibility also helps teams stay coordinated. Front-of-house staff, kitchen teams, and delivery partners all view the same information simultaneously, eliminating awkward moments when someone has to inform a guest that their order is unavailable.

Restaurants using Per Diem benefit from this feature, too. The app allows you to set items as out of stock when unavailable, and even allows you to set auto alerts that notify staff when items are back in stock, keeping everything running smoothly. Together, these tools help restaurants maintain consistency, reduce frustration, and deliver a better guest experience every day.

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5. Get Every Order Right with Advanced Modifiers

Handling complex orders can be stressful for any restaurant team. Square’s new Advanced Modifiers feature makes that process easier by guiding staff through customizations step by step. It supports modifier sequencing, quantity controls, and clear instructions for things like toppings, sides, or preparation styles. This helps reduce mistakes, speed up service, and ensure guests receive exactly what they ordered.

Restaurants using Per Diem can benefit from this integration as well. The modifier options that exist in Square also appear in the app, allowing customers to make the same detailed selections when ordering through the app or webpage. You can then set specific quantities, limits, and additional options directly from their Per Diem dashboard. This ensures a consistent and accurate experience across all ordering channels while giving full control over how customizations are handled.

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Final Thoughts

Square’s 2025 updates make running a restaurant simpler and faster. Features like AI ordering, synced menus, and real-time item tracking save time, reduce mistakes, and keep customers happy. When paired with Per Diem’s white-label app, everything stays connected between the POS and mobile orders, creating a smooth and reliable system. Together, they help restaurants focus less on tech and more on great food and service.

Per Diem is a top-rated Square partner trusted by restaurants nationwide. Discover how it can help your business stay connected and grow faster — Sign up today.

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