Square Launches In-App Payments Kit For Sellers

Payment company Square, popular for its square-shaped mobile card reader, has released an in-app payments software development kit (SDK) that will give developers and sellers alike a new way to process payments.

The company announced on Wednesday (Jan. 9) that the SDK would allow a totally PCI-compliant, safe and secure payment flow in either Android or iOS apps. It’s available in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Japan and Australia.

The SDK is customizable and works with most payment types. It “includes a … user experience that guides buyers as they enter their credit card information, preventing errors and providing a smoother checkout experience.”

Developers can use the system as is, or customize it to match the aesthetic of their own apps. There are options to pay with a credit or debit card (and an ability to store card info for future uses), as well as Apple Pay or Google Pay.

“By using one platform for payments, developers and sellers minimize the complexity, security and compliance of managing payments across channels,” the company said. “For sellers, that also means a single, unified system for back-office reporting and the ability to see a holistic view of their buyers’ behavior for easier customer service and loyalty.”

Carl Perry, developer lead at Square, said the SDK will be a boon for developers and sellers.

“With the introduction of in-app mobile payments to the Square platform, developers now have a complete, omnichannel payments solution for all their payment needs,” Perry said. “From software to hardware to services, Square offers a complete payments experience all in one cohesive open platform. Even better, developers and sellers can manage all their payments across in-store, mobile and online all in one place.”

Square has been allowing a few companies to beta-test the SDK. Brushfire, a ticketing and registration company, said the system increased conversions by 20 percent. “Square’s in-app payments SDK was painless and easy to use,” said Jorin Slaybaugh, a technology lead at Brushfire. “We loved it from a technical standpoint: It allowed us to do something that was literally impossible for us to do before, and we were able to do it easier than ever. That’s all that matters to developers.”