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Spaces & devices

Digital menu boards that sync with Square

Square menu board automation builds your in-store menu screens from the items, prices and availability already in Square. Sold-out items are marked within moments, and the menu changes by time of day without anyone editing the screens.

An example of how the studio would build it. No live services are connected.

From the till to menu screens that are always right.

  1. Step 01

    Item changed

    Square reports a change to an item’s price, details or sold-out status.

  2. Step 02

    Menu rebuilt

    Rebuild the menu from the Square catalogue, keeping the sections and order your team has chosen.

  3. Step 03

    Daypart chosen

    Pick the right menu for the time of day, such as breakfast until late morning and lunch after.

  4. Step 04

    Changes approved

    Show new items and price changes on a preview first, for a manager to approve before they go live.

  5. Step 05

    Screens updated

    Each Raspberry Pi shows the menu full screen on its Smart TV, with sold-out items clearly marked.

The result

Customers stop ordering things the kitchen has run out of.

Sold-out changes go straight to the screens, but new items and prices wait for a manager’s approval. If Square can’t be reached, the screens keep showing the last approved menu.

Before we connect it.

Where this is useful

Useful for cafés, bakeries, takeaways and food stalls that use Square at the till and already have, or want, TVs as menu boards. A sensible first version runs one screen with sold-out marking, then adds dayparts and more screens.

What we need to connect

  1. 01Square API access to your catalogue, prices and item availability for the location.
  2. 02A Raspberry Pi or similar player for each TV, set to open the menu page whenever it powers on.
  3. 03Your menu layout, sections and dayparts, and who approves new items and price changes.

What needs careful handling

Allergen information must stay accurate, so any allergens shown on screen come from one checked source and the screens also point customers to staff and your full allergen information. Square item names are often written for the till, so each item can have a separate display name and description. Prices on screen must match what customers are charged, so price changes are previewed and approved before the screens change.

Questions people ask.

Can it run on our existing TVs?

Usually, yes. Most TVs with an HDMI input can show the menu from a small player such as a Raspberry Pi, and some smart TVs can open the menu page directly. Commercial displays tend to last longer if the screens are on all day.

What if the internet goes down?

Each player keeps the last menu it received and carries on showing it. Sold-out marks won’t update until the connection returns, so staff should know to tell customers in the meantime.

Rota read → Changes followed
Automation 112

Staff room screen with Deputy rota and Slack notices

Hours read → Devices confirmed
Automation 106

Opening-hours building automation

All automation examples