In today’s restaurant landscape, payments aren’t just about transactions - they’re about connection. From online ordering to POS, loyalty, and delivery, every system depends on fast, reliable, and transparent payment infrastructure. That’s where SmarterSwipe comes in. Co-founded by Nicole Nguyen, SmarterSwipe was built to simplify payments for restaurants and empower operators with the technology, support, and clarity they need to thrive. In this sit-down with Nicole, we explore how SmarterSwipe is redefining the payments experience, and how its partnership with Stream is helping restaurants unify operations across every channel.
1. The SmarterSwipe Story
Stream: Nicole, tell us a bit about how SmarterSwipe came to life. What gap in the market did you see, and what’s been your driving mission since launching the company?
NN: SmarterSwipe was born out of a simple frustration: small and midsize businesses, especially restaurants, were getting lost in a sea of complex payment solutions that didn’t actually solve their day-to-day challenges. My cofounders and I came from the operations side, so we saw firsthand how disconnected systems, unclear pricing, and slow support could stall growth.
We built SmarterSwipe to bridge that gap, to simplify payments while empowering merchants with technology and transparency. From day one, our mission has been to make processing not just easier but smarter, helping operators keep more of what they earn while gaining tools that truly serve their business.
2. Simplifying Payments for Restaurants
Stream: Payments and processing are often overlooked but critical parts of restaurant operations. How does SmarterSwipe make that side of the business easier and more transparent for operators?
NN: For restaurants, payments touch everything from tip distribution and menu pricing to online ordering and inventory. Yet it’s often the most overlooked part of the tech stack. SmarterSwipe makes that entire ecosystem work together.
We streamline onboarding, simplify rate structures, and provide clear reporting so owners actually understand where their money is going. Our platform and team focus on being consultative, ensuring every merchant has the right setup for their environment, whether that’s a single café or a multi location group. The goal is for them to spend less time troubleshooting payments and more time growing their business.
3. The Power of Connected Systems
Stream: Restaurants today are juggling multiple platforms - from POS and online ordering to loyalty and delivery apps. How important is integration across those systems, and how does your partnership with Stream help make that possible?
NN: Integration is everything. Today’s restaurants can’t afford to run on islands. POS, online ordering, loyalty, delivery, and marketing all need to communicate in real time. That’s where our partnership with Stream comes in.
www.StreamOrders.com helps us connect those dots by integrating third party apps seamlessly into Clover and other platforms we support. It gives operators a unified view of their operations and eliminates duplicate work between systems. Together, we’re turning fragmented tools into one cohesive ecosystem so technology works for the restaurant, not against it.
4. Impact on Restaurants and Team
Stream: What kind of feedback have you heard from restaurants using SmarterSwipe and Stream together? How has it changed their day-to-day operations or improved efficiency?
NN: The feedback has been incredibly positive. Restaurants using SmarterSwipe and Stream together tell us they’ve reclaimed hours of manual work each week. Tasks like reconciling orders, syncing menus, or managing customer data are now automatic.
For multi location operators, it’s been a game changer. They can now manage their business at a higher level, tracking performance across stores, standardizing operations, and maintaining real time oversight from a single dashboard. Managers love the visibility, teams love the simplicity, and owners love the scalability. We’ve seen operators expand faster because they finally trust their tech stack to grow with them.
5. What’s Next for SmarterSwipe
Stream: As SmarterSwipe continues to grow, what are you most excited about, whether that’s new features, markets, or partnerships, and how do you see technology shaping your next chapter?
NN: We’re entering a really exciting phase of growth. A big focus for us is targeting multi location enterprises, making it easier for operators to manage multiple brands, menus, and payment flows under one system.
We’re also introducing new payment accelerator platforms like SmarterSwipe.app to help B2B and service based businesses get paid faster and more efficiently. By expanding the ways they can accept payments, from ACH to digital wallets, we’re helping them capture more revenue and improve cash flow through smarter, more connected technology.
Looking ahead, we see technology not just as a backend tool but as the backbone of modern entrepreneurship. The next chapter for SmarterSwipe is about empowering businesses with systems that think and grow with them.
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As restaurants continue to demand technology that works seamlessly behind the scenes, SmarterSwipe and Stream are helping operators regain control - simplifying payments, syncing systems, and unlocking new levels of visibility and speed. Together, we’re building a more connected future for hospitality, where technology feels invisible and every order, payment, and integration just works.
If you’re a restaurant brand, POS provider, or technology company looking to simplify integrations and streamline menu or order management, reach out to Stream to learn how we can help connect your ecosystem.
