Annual Square Research Signals 2024 Will Be a Year of Long-Awaited Growth for Businesses

Rhea-AI Summary

Square's fourth annual Future of Commerce report reveals insights on how businesses are shifting and how consumers are responding, particularly amid further advancement in automation and generative AI. The report highlights the top of mind challenges for restaurants and retailers, emphasizing business expansion and automation to address staffing challenges. The collaboration with Wakefield Research surveyed thousands of business owners and consumers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, revealing cautiously optimistic sentiments among business owners despite diverging consumer economic sentiment. 100% of surveyed restaurateurs in the United States plan to expand their businesses in the next 12 months through offering new products or opening additional locations, with 79% reporting feeling more optimistic.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The recent report by Square highlights a significant trend in the restaurant and retail industries, where business expansion and automation are becoming strategic priorities. This is indicative of a wider industry shift towards leveraging technology to optimize operations and manage labor costs, which have been exacerbated by recent staffing challenges.

From a market perspective, the push towards automation may signal an increase in capital expenditures for businesses investing in new technologies. This could lead to a short-term dip in profitability due to these upfront costs. However, long-term gains are anticipated as automation can drive efficiency, reduce human error and potentially lead to cost savings.

Moreover, the report suggests an optimistic outlook among restaurateurs in the United States, with a unanimous intention to expand. This optimism, if reflective of broader industry sentiment, may result in increased investor confidence, potentially buoying stock prices of companies within this sector. It's important to monitor how this optimism translates into actual growth and the impact on market share, especially in competitive landscapes.

Financial Analyst

The unanimous expansion plans among U.S. restaurateurs, as reported by Square, point to a bullish outlook for the restaurant industry. The introduction of new products and additional locations could lead to increased revenue streams for these businesses. However, expansion carries inherent risks, such as the potential for overextension and increased debt levels, which investors should watch closely.

Furthermore, the adoption of automation and generative AI technologies could enhance operational efficiencies and customer experiences, potentially leading to improved margins over time. It is crucial to evaluate the ROI of these technological investments and their impact on the company's balance sheet. Businesses that manage to effectively integrate and capitalize on these technologies may see their valuations rise as they demonstrate growth and scalability.

Investors should also consider the macroeconomic environment, as diverging consumer economic sentiment could affect discretionary spending. A cautious approach to expansion in such an environment may be warranted, with a focus on sustainable growth and maintaining a strong cash flow.

Technology Industry Analyst

The emphasis on automation and generative AI within the restaurant and retail sectors, as indicated by Square's report, underscores a transformative period in these industries. The integration of these technologies is not merely a response to staffing challenges but also a strategic move to harness the benefits of AI, such as personalized customer experiences and data-driven decision-making.

Businesses adopting these technologies may gain a competitive edge by streamlining operations and creating more engaging customer interactions. However, the implementation of such technologies requires careful planning to ensure compatibility with existing systems and to avoid potential disruptions to customer service.

As businesses increasingly rely on these advanced technologies, we may see a rise in demand for AI and automation solutions, benefiting providers in the tech sector. This could lead to growth opportunities for companies specializing in AI applications for the restaurant and retail industries, potentially impacting their stock performance positively.

Business expansion and automation to address staffing challenges are top of mind for restaurants, retailers

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Square released its fourth annual Future of Commerce report, with comprehensive analysis on how business owners and consumers are considering the evolution of the restaurants, retail, and beauty industries. The report offers insights on how these businesses are shifting – and how consumers are responding – particularly amid further advancement in automation and generative AI.

In 2024, business expansion and automation to address staffing challenges are top of mind for restaurants and retailers. (Photo: Business Wire)

In collaboration with Wakefield Research, Square surveyed thousands of business owners and consumers on restaurant, retail, and beauty industry trends across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

“For businesses, the future is looking cautiously optimistic, and business owners say they’re looking to grow despite diverging consumer economic sentiment,” said Matthew O’Connor, Head of Verticals and Platform at Square. “With Square’s ecosystem, businesses can easily expand – whether that means opening a new location or introducing new non-core offerings – while continuing to drive customer loyalty and engagement.”

Decisively, 100% of surveyed restaurateurs in the United States say they plan to expand their businesses in the next 12 months through offering new products or opening additional locations, and 79% report feeling more optimistic about the future of their restaurants. At the same time, three in four consumers say they expect to pull back on restaurant spending in 2024 – so restaurateurs need to invest in more efficient ways to find and engage customers in order to see return on their investments.

• Consumers are looking for a tech-forward approach from eateries – 73% of consumers surveyed are supportive of local restaurants using AI-based tools, and 78% would prefer to place their orders via self-serve kiosks. This bodes well for businesses where staffing is top of mind, as understaffing issues have persisted at restaurants for a reported average of 19 months. Nearly all restaurateurs (98%) believe AI will solve some of their staffing challenges, particularly around food prep and delivery management (42%), voice ordering technology (41%), predictive ordering and inventory management (39%), and food prep robots (38%).
• Restaurateurs are not only investing in AI to address labor challenges – more established automation tools are also on the agenda in 2024. 55% of surveyed owners plan to increase their spending on technology and automation tools in the next 12 months, and 80% of consumers want restaurants to invest in at least one area of automation when they’re not at full staffing capacity.
• As restaurant owners look to expand, 78% of those surveyed say they’ll experiment in the coming year with non-core offerings like meal kits, subscriptions, events, and more. Restaurateurs say that right now, nearly 20% of their revenue stems from products and services outside of their core restaurant offerings.

“Automation and AI are going to be key growth levers for restaurants in the coming year, though not in the way you may think,” said Ming-Tai Huh, General Manager of Square for Restaurants. “The vast majority of restaurants will be integrating AI into their operations in small, iterative ways – not through flashy robots but through automation in marketing or kitchen workflows – and these minor changes will add up to saved time and more profit.”

Growth is top of mind for retailers in the United States as well, with 57% of those surveyed saying they’re eager to expand in the coming year – though they are split on whether to prioritize brick and mortar (49%) or online offerings (51%). With 58% of consumers typically shopping in-store and 42% online, the research emphasizes that keeping in touch with customers via digital channels is key no matter where or how they choose to shop.

• Offering compelling in-store experiences for customers is key for retailers this year to continue driving traffic into stores – consumers report they’re most likely to try offerings like in-person loyalty programs (56%), in-store dining options like a coffee or wine bar (43%), and interactive displays, kiosks, or activities (30%).
• AI-powered product recommendations is the top priority tool for retailers of all sizes to implement, especially for those planning to add more online options over the next year (42%).
• To compete in today’s marketplace, retailers are offering more choice and flexibility to reach new and existing customers – such as by implementing faster and easier communication channels with customers (42%) and providing Buy Now, Pay Later options like Afterpay (39%).

“Whether retailers are focusing on in-store or online shopping, it’s more important than ever to maintain communication with your customers,” said Roshan Jhunja, General Manager of Square for Retail. “Retailers should be building rapport and staying connected with their customers through social media, email, and text, and they should also be finding ways to create unique in-person experiences to bring folks into their stores.”

The report also includes findings on beauty and how consumers approach finding (and sticking with) beauty care providers – 62% of those surveyed have a preferred provider, though 69% have switched due to factors like overly long wait times. Consumers have also signaled interest in turning to beauty or personal care providers for online tutorials (27%), in-person classes (26%), and at-home DIY boxes (23%).

For a full analysis of the top restaurant, retail, and beauty trends for 2024, industry data and insights from Square experts, and real-life examples from Square sellers, download the report here or reach out to press@squareup.com.

About Future of Commerce

The retail and restaurant surveys were conducted by Wakefield Research among 2,000 retail owners and managers and 2,000 restaurant owners and managers, with quotas set within each survey for 500 respondents per market in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia between October 27 and November 8, 2023, using an email invitation and an online survey.

The consumer survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 4,000 nationally representative adults ages 18+ in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia, with quotas set for 1,000 respondents per market, between November 15 and November 28, 2023, using an email invitation and an online survey. Data has been weighted.

About Square

Square makes commerce and financial services easy and accessible with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions. Square offers purpose-built software to run complex restaurant, retail, and professional services operations, versatile e-commerce tools, embedded financial services and banking products, buy now, pay later functionality through Afterpay, staff management and payroll capabilities, and much more – all of which work together to save sellers time and effort. Millions of sellers across the globe trust Square to power their business and help them thrive in the economy. For more information, visit www.squareup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131122169/en/

press@squareup.com

Source: Block, Inc.

FAQ

What is the focus of Square's fourth annual Future of Commerce report?

The report focuses on how businesses are shifting and how consumers are responding, particularly amid further advancement in automation and generative AI.

What are the top of mind challenges for restaurants and retailers according to the report?

Business expansion and automation to address staffing challenges are the top of mind challenges for restaurants and retailers.

How many business owners and consumers were surveyed for the report?

Thousands of business owners and consumers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia were surveyed for the report.

What percentage of surveyed restaurateurs in the United States plan to expand their businesses in the next 12 months?

100% of surveyed restaurateurs in the United States plan to expand their businesses in the next 12 months.

What percentage of surveyed restaurateurs in the United States report feeling more optimistic?

79% of surveyed restaurateurs in the United States report feeling more optimistic.