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Shopify POS (Point-of-Sale): Features, Pros & Cons, and Pricing [+ Examples]

5 minutes

Shopify POS: Whether you’re transitioning from another POS system to Shopify, you’re just getting started and learning what Shopify is, or you’re expanding from e-commerce to start selling in person, it’s time to get to know Shopify’s POS system. We’ve put together a POS review to explain the pros and cons, help new users navigate the POS system, and ensure you can become a pro in no time at all.

What is Shopify POS?

The Shopify POS app allows you to sell from your Shopify store in person, but can also be used for your online store. The app syncs automatically with Shopify, allowing you to track your inventory and orders across multiple retail locations, as well as your online store and any other active sales channels you may have. Via the app, you can view, track, and manage orders and inventory.

Who should use Shopify POS?

If you’re expanding beyond selling from your Shopify e-commerce store, Shopify POS integration is a must. Whether it be from a food truck, at a craft market, from an art gallery, at pop-up shops, from home, or in your brand-new brick-and-mortar store, the POS system helps you manage all of your inventory and orders in one, synced location. To sell in person, you will need the appropriate Shopify POS hardware (more about that later).

What are the pros and cons of Shopify POS?

There are several key advantages of the Shopify POS system. Firstly, the system syncs automatically with your Shopify store, allowing you to track your inventory and orders across multiple retail locations and any other active sales channels you may have. Many merchants are aware of the struggles associated with managing inventory across multiple locations, and the POS system removes many of those headaches.

Another advantage of Shopify POS integration is how easily the interface can be customized with various apps and other features to suit your specific use case. Plus, it’s designed with the future in mind, with features such as curbside pickup functionality, global search, and the ability to easily track your store’s performance.

One downside for some users (especially smaller retailers) can be the Shopify POS pricing. While the most basic plan starts at just $9/month, you’ll also be charged 2.7% for each transaction, and are limited to the use of only Shopify’s payment gateways. More advanced POS pricing plans offer lower transaction fees, but can cost up to $299/month (read more about pricing further down).

Additionally, if you’re using Shopify’s POS to sell in-person, you’ll need a stable and reliable internet connection. Some users have pointed out that this is difficult to guarantee if you are selling at a rural farmer’s market, a remote craft fair, or any other similar location.

Migrating from your current POS to Shopify POS

Thankfully, Shopify has made it easy to migrate from your existing POS over to Shopify. Typically, you can export your product, inventory, and customer data from your original POS to Shopify without any issues. Once you’ve imported, review your data to ensure the import was successful, then set up your Shopify POS hardware. Depending on your hardware, you may be able to use your existing hardware from your previous POS once you migrate to Shopify.

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Shopify POS and your online store

Even if you’re not looking to sell in person, Shopify’s POS can be a great addition to your online store. The POS system can give you a high-level overview of your business’s performance, including a full analytics report with key metrics relating to total and gross sales, discounts, refunds, profits, margins, total orders and AOV, inventory forecasts, and so much more.

Regardless of your industry, these metrics are crucial for your success and growth, and Shopify’s POS gives you all the information you need to analyze your sales data and ensure your business targets are being met.

Shopify’s POS also offers advantages beyond sales metrics and data. The system provides you with all the tools you need to manage your business, market to your customers, and sell your products. Generate POs, send email reminders to customers, manage orders, and organize shipments to your customers, wherever they are.

Shopify POS best practices

Next up in our POS review, let’s take a look at some best practices so you can learn more about how Shopify’s POS can work for you.

#1 Using POS for inventory management

Accurate inventory management can be a headache, but it also prevents you from selling more stock than you physically have, helps you to know when to order (or make) more stock, and can also help you identify products that aren’t selling well. Shopify’s POS offers inventory management that’s synchronized across all of your sales channels.

Depending on your plan, you may have access to Stocky – Shopify’s inventory management app for POS. All of your inventory management can be performed on the “inventory” page in your Shopify admin. Here you can view inventory, adjust counts, and create transfers. To enable inventory tracking of individual products, view the “details” page in your Shopify admin account.

#2 Using POS to offer in-store pick-up

Offering in-store pickup for local customers provides numerous advantages to both merchants and customers. Customers can enjoy the convenience of ordering online, and can also usually collect their order earlier than they would be able to have it delivered by. Merchants don’t have to deal with the added step of organizing a shipment, making this a favorable and popular fulfillment option.

The Shopify POS system allows you to use the smart-grid layout on your POS home screen to customize the screen based on your specific workflow. If you are regularly fulfilling local orders, add the “local pickup” tile to the smart grid. Staff members will be able to see which orders are ready to be picked up, as well as the orders that need to be prepared. Once prepared, staff can notify customers via email or SMS.

#3 Setting up Shopify POS hardware

When selling in person, you can set up your Shopify POS system and connect it with various hardware that helps you accept payment from your customers. In many cases, you can also buy hardware directly from Shopify that’s fully supported by Shopify POS. A Shopify Retail Kit (available for merchants in the US and Canada) makes credit transactions in your store possible and includes a POS card reader and dock, as well as a retail stand that you can place a device on and allow your customers to make selections and sign for purchases.

You can also create a custom kit from Shopify with components that allow you to accept cash or card payments and print receipts. The kit includes an iPad stand, a POS card reader, cash drawer, receipt printer (there are several options to choose from), and barcode scanner (choose from two). If you’re not using hardware specifically from Shopify, you’ll need to ensure it’s compatible with Shopify’s POS before you get started.

Shopify POS pricing vs. alternative POS systems

There are a number of other POS systems available, all with different advantages and features. We’ve compared Shopify POS pricing against three of the most popular POS alternatives in the table below.

A POS app with plenty of features to help your business grow

If you’re already using Shopify for e-commerce purposes, the Shopify POS app is a natural addition, particularly for those looking to sell in-person. With competitive pricing, high customizability, and user-friendliness, Shopify’s POS is a great POS option for keeping your inventory synced and your orders in check.

If you’re looking for more recommendations from the Shopify app store, check out the PickyStory blog.

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Shopify POS (Point-of-Sale): Features, Pros & Cons, and Pricing [+ Examples]

What is Shopify POS?

Who should use Shopify POS?

What are the pros and cons of Shopify POS?

Migrating from your current POS to Shopify POS

Grow your sales with high-performing deals.

Shopify POS and your online store

Shopify POS best practices

#1 Using POS for inventory management

#2 Using POS to offer in-store pick-up

#3 Setting up Shopify POS hardware

Shopify POS pricing vs. alternative POS systems

A POS app with plenty of features to help your business grow

Grow your sales with high-performing deals.

Generate more revenue from every store visit.

Offer irresistible deals across your buyer's journey.

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