Shopify is a leading e-commerce company that offers a point-of-sale (POS) system that is integrated with its online sales platform. Whether you sell online through Shopify or not, you’ll have the same intuitive interface for managing orders, inventory, and staff. Shopify’s own hardware makes accepting payments a breeze, and the POS app works on iPad and Android and can be customized to your needs.
Pros
- Easy to use and highly intuitive
- Integrates with your Shopify online store
- Comprehensive inventory management tools
Cons
- High monthly costs if you operate from multiple locations
- Online cash payments only
Ideal For
- Small and medium-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use point-of-sale (POS) system
- Existing Shopify customers who want to sell both in-person and online
- Businesses looking to adopt an omnichannel approach to customer service
Why Go With Shopify POS
Shopify’s POS system is designed for a variety of businesses, providing a personalized experience, whether you’re managing multiple stores, a full-fledged e-commerce operation, or selling at events. Shopify POS is integrated into the Shopify e-commerce platform, which means you’ll have access to an intuitive dashboard and all the tools used by millions of online stores. Shopify POS offers a customizable mobile app that’s compatible with a variety of devices, including iPads, iPhones, and Android devices.
With a variety of plans available, you can choose one that fits your immediate business needs while still having the flexibility to upgrade or modify it as needed. While the main reason to choose Shopify is for its integration with the online platform, there’s also a Lite plan for those who are simply looking for a point-of-sale solution. Regardless of the plan you choose, you’ll need to purchase a point-of-sale system. You can purchase it directly from Shopify, ensuring compatibility with your tablet and the Shopify POS app.
Shopify’s customer support is excellent. Its tutorials, knowledge base, and community forums make it easy to learn the platform. So, even if you run into issues, you’ll have a solution at your fingertips.
What’s On Offer
- Omnichannel sales ensure a consistent experience for your customers, both online and offline.
- The platform offers integrated tools for digital marketing, shipping solutions, and more, providing a comprehensive solution for businesses.
- Product and inventory management to stay organized and reduce errors.
- Includes support for offering discounts, returns, refunds, and exchanges.
- Reports and analytics to make informed business decisions.
- Customer profiles to view purchase and spending history.
- Monthly plans with no hidden costs.
- Integrated one-time payment process.
- 24/7 support via chat, phone, and email.
Ease of Use
Shopify POS offers a streamlined multi-store experience, ensuring that businesses can effectively manage sales across multiple locations.
One of the standout features of Shopify POS is its ease of use. There’s no complicated application process; all you need to sign up is an email address. If you’re already familiar with Shopify POS or want to explore its features, you can get started right away by setting everything up yourself. Otherwise, the instructions will walk you through a series of setup steps.
When completing the setup process or contacting customer support, you’ll need to provide your name and phone number.
If you run into any issues, Shopify offers a variety of support options. Its knowledge base and community forum can help you resolve most issues, while email support and live chat are available for more complex issues.
So, if you’re new to Shopify, you’ll find:
- Simple signup process
- Setup guide that makes it easy to get started
- A comprehensive knowledge base, active community forum, and YouTube channel that answer most questions and help you get the most out of the platform.
- Clean and intuitive interface
What’s Unique About Shopify POS?
Of course, Shopify POS integrates seamlessly with your online sales platform. Millions of businesses use Shopify to manage their e-commerce sites. It’s a well-established and reputable option. Shopify has applied its online experience to its POS systems. If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to manage your inventory and sell products online and in stores, Shopify is an option worth considering.
Even if you only need a point-of-sale system, you’ll benefit from features designed for online sellers. For example:
- Easy-to-use product and inventory management tools.
- Analytics and reporting that provide a wealth of data that you can use to make future business decisions.
- Payment options that allow you to set special discounts and automatically calculate taxes based on your store’s location.
- A customizable mobile app that’s compatible with iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.
For those who are making a big investment, the most advanced features include:
- Omnichannel commerce for a better customer experience. This allows you to take advantage of options like cash on delivery, buy online and pick up in store, and online returns and exchanges for in-person purchases.
- Smart inventory tools to predict demand, alert you to stock shortages, and offer discounted items.
- Staff management lets you assign sales to employees in exchange for commissions.
You can purchase point-of-sale equipment, such as card and barcode readers, directly from Shopify, with free shipping and a 30-day return policy. Direct Purchase provides plug-and-play compatibility with the Shopify POS app. The app has a customizable smart grid interface that lets you configure tiles to display the features you need.
Shopify offers an excellent support ecosystem with guides and tutorials on how to easily use its platform. You can also find free business tools and additional educational materials on YouTube and Shopify Learn. Shopify Experts lets you get quotes from recommended freelancers and agencies, allowing you to hire additional support to get the most out of the platform.
Customer Support
Shopify’s customer support is generally very good, although you can usually find the answers you need without having to wait for help. The Help Center is a knowledge base with guides that offer solutions to common issues. The Community Support area is a comprehensive forum that answers almost any question. These answers are from other users who have had the same issues as you.
If you don’t find a helpful answer in the Help Center, you’ll receive an email with a form to contact the support team. Shopify’s support team is available 24/7 via email, live chat, and phone.
Pricing (Software and Hardware)
Shopify POS lets you sign up for a 3-day free trial without a credit card required. After that, you can get a three-month Shopify subscription for $1 per month, regardless of the plan you choose. It’s worth noting that you can get the best deal by paying annually, as it guarantees a 25% discount.
Shopify POS hardware is ready to use, with no contracts or credit checks.
If you want to use Shopify for your online sales and Shopify’s point-of-sale (POS) system, plans are available for $39, $105, and $399 per month. Each of these plans includes Shopify POS Lite for accepting in-person payments.
You can also choose more niche plans, like the $5 per month Starter plan if you sell exclusively on social media, or the $89 per month Retail plan if you have a brick-and-mortar store and need a simple online presence.
Contract Terms
Shopify’s 3-day free trial lets you test out the POS system before you provide your information and make a payment. Shopify plans are monthly unless you sign up for a long-term plan. When you sign up, you’ll be offered one-, two-, and three-year discounts, with lower monthly prices.
If you use Shopify’s online services, you’ll need to use the same payment processor as their POS service. If you decide that Shopify POS isn’t the right solution for your business, you can cancel at any time and keep your online services active.
Bottom Line
Shopify’s POS system integrates seamlessly with its popular e-commerce platform, offering businesses a unified solution for both online and in-store sales. It’s designed for small and medium-sized retailers, offering features like omnichannel sales, comprehensive inventory management, and excellent customer service. While the price may be a factor for some, the value it offers, especially for those who already use Shopify to sell online, makes it an attractive option. Shopify is undoubtedly a valuable POS system for businesses looking to grow and operate more efficiently.
About Shopify
Founded in 2006, Shopify is one of the world’s leading online retail platforms. This Canadian company offers a variety of e-commerce services, including payment, shipping, and customer support tools. Since 2013, Shopify has provided POS systems that allow online retailers to use the same platform for in-store sales.
The comprehensive e-commerce platform is used in more than 175 countries. Shopify is used by more than 3.7 million websites, including major brands such as Gymshark, Heinz, Tupperware, and Netflix.
