Get started with Shopify POS (Quick Guide)

Since the very beginning, online shops have been treated as a virtual extension of the real world, or as a smaller, less refined business for self-started entrepreneurs. It’s about to change. It seems that tables have turned. Most top ecommerce, who started online, set up brick-and-mortar stores to serve their customers. Look, for example, at Amazon.

In effect, offline and online sales are converging, and with that their inventories, databases, marketing strategies come together so that e-commerce and retail can be united. Clients, what isn’t that surprising, has come to expect that. They want a unified experience. And the strategy that is supposed to cater to that is called omnichannel.

In view of that, Shopify has prepared a system to execute such a strategy. It is called Shopify POS and as a merchant you can use it. We will explain what it is and how to get started with it.

What is Shopify POS?

Shopify POS is a point-of-sale system that allows you to sell your products online and in person. With Shopify POS, you can manage your inventory, orders, customers, and payments from one platform. You can also sync your online and offline sales, track your performance, and offer discounts and loyalty programs. Shopify POS is designed to help you grow your business and provide a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Benefits of modern POS

Modern POS solutions offer a range of benefits. First and foremost, they make it easy to accept payments of various kinds (even cash), barcode scanning, using gift cards and promo codes set up online, sending receipt via email or phone number, cost returns, and much more. A streamlined customer service is just a start.

There are more things to come. New POS systems give us a wholesome view into customer’s buying behavior. Thanks to that, we can observe a complete customer journey – regardless of the medium. And that creates a better means of understanding our target persona that is beyond psychographic and demographic data. We learn about their behavior, preferences, etc. It’s a huge potential for marketing.

For that reason, Shopify POS becomes a bridge that connects two worlds, offline and online, and allows us to build from that.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro plan comparison

Shopify POS Lite and Pro are two different plans that offer different features and benefits for merchants who want to sell online and in person. In this article, we will compare the two plans and help you decide which one is best for your business.

Shopify POS Lite is the default plan that comes with all Shopify subscriptions. It allows you to accept payments, track inventory, manage orders, and sync your online and offline sales. Shopify POS Lite is ideal for merchants who sell occasionally in person, such as at pop-up shops, markets, or events.

Shopify POS Pro is an upgraded plan that costs $89 per month per location. It offers more advanced features and functionality for merchants who sell regularly in person, such as in a retail store or multiple locations. Shopify POS Pro lets you create staff roles and permissions, offer store credit and gift cards, track staff performance, generate custom reports, and more.

The main differences between Shopify POS Lite and Pro are:

1. Price: Shopify POS Lite is free with any Shopify plan, while Shopify POS Pro costs $89 per month per location.
2. Features: Shopify POS Pro has more features than Shopify POS Lite, such as staff management, store credit, gift cards, custom reports, etc.
3. Functionality: Shopify POS Pro is more suitable for merchants who need more control and flexibility over their in-person sales, such as managing multiple locations, staff, and inventory.

How to use Shopify POS?

Shopify describes many a situation in which a POS system was used to a business’ advantage. One such a case is a lingerie brand who right after becoming an internet success, opened a brick-and-mortar store. With experiential retail in mind, they make in-store client appointments where a client can experience the brand before buying.

What do you need to do to start with Shopify POS? It requires a special kind of hardware that syncs with the system and configure a POS app.

What equipment do you need to get started with Shopify POS?

• mobile devices with iOS 11.04 (and up) or Android 5.0 (or up), it can be a tablet or mobile phone, the device itself doesn’t matter
• receipt printer that is compatible with Shopify POS, the receipts can also be sent through email or text message
• credit card reader or a terminal that connects with Shopify POS system (list)
• bar code reader 1D or 2D, your mobile device can also be used as a reader if it has a camera

You can get the gear in Canada and the US without any difficulty, for us in Europe and other part of the world, the equipment is sold at conferences and Shopify events.

6 steps to setting up Shopify POS

The equipment isn’t a mystery to us anymore. But we still don’t know how to set up Shopify POS. We put together a six-step guide that will help you through the process. Let’s jump straight into it.

1. Download Shopify POS app – app is available for iOS and Android, because those are the two operational systems that are compatible with the app
2. Configure settings – add a shop localization, set up taxes, add employees
3. Update product availability to Point of Sale – if you have products in your store, choose the ones you want to sell on location, if not, add them and set their availability
4. Add bar codes for a bar code reader
5. Set up payment methods – you can admit coupons, credit cards, payment split, etc.
6. Test a few orders  – see if everything works fine, then you’re done

Are you going to connect in-store with online purchases?

Online shops are becoming an entry point for a lot of brands. Only when they are successful, should they think about setting up a physical store or a pop-up one, and growing their brand. Think Amazon. But it’s exciting to see that online and offline stores merge into one thanks to technological advancements. If you need a hand with Shopify POS – let us know using the contact form below. Our team can also make an app for you that can be fully customized for your store. 

If you are looking for a simple and affordable way to sell your products online and in person, you might be interested in Shopify POS. Shopify POS is a point-of-sale system that integrates with your Shopify online store and allows you to accept payments from various channels. Here are some common questions and answers about Shopify POS: