Shopify POS, i.e. Shopify checkout system

What is Shopify POS?

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) is an intuitive checkout system offered by Shopify that combines the store and online store into a seamless whole.

With Shopify POS, an entrepreneur can manage products, stocks, orders and customer information easily and effortlessly from one centralized user interface.

Shopify's checkout system is flexible and suitable for managing both a single store and online store as well as multiple locations and online stores. It offers an easy and functional solution for companies of different sizes and different industries, as well as a good framework for scalability.

If you have a Shopify store (or are moving products online) and are looking for a cash register system for your store, Shopify POS is therefore a very viable option.

How does the Shopify POS checkout system work?

In practice, Shopify POS enables you to make purchases as follows:

1. The customer goes to the cashier with the product or products in the store.
   
   

2. The seller scans the products or retrieves them manually from the system. If necessary, the seller also has the option to create new products directly at the checkout or add discounts to them. In addition, the seller enters a personal access code into the checkout application, for example at the beginning of the work shift or before each sales transaction, if security is to be increased or if purchase transactions are rare.
   
   

3. Before payment, the customer's information can be recorded in the system for creating a customer account or e.g. for delivery. Customer information previously stored in the Shopify checkout system and on the online store side can be quickly retrieved from the system.
   
   

4. The seller selects the customer's payment method from the checkout application, such as card, cash, gift card or mobile payment. The customer makes the payment and receives a receipt for the purchase.
   
   

5. The system saves the sales data in Shopify and automatically synchronizes them with the online store. Stock balances and product information are updated in real time in both directions, if they are the same. If store and online store inventories are kept separate, only store balances are updated with product information.
   
   

6. If Shopify POS is integrated with an accounting or e.g. ERP system, the data is automatically transferred to other company systems as well.

Sales reports can be viewed at any time in the Shopify dashboard (under "Sales channels" -> "Point of Sale") and it is possible to export them out of the system.

Shopify POS's user interface is also very well designed, making it easy and intuitive to use. The use is thus natural and without (excessive) stretching of the brain.

If Shopify is already a familiar environment, you probably won't need to learn how to use the POS checkout system at all after it's been implemented.

The main benefits of the Shopify POS system

Shopify POS offers entrepreneurs a wide range of features that make store and online store management a step smoother and more efficient:

Up-to-date stock situations

With Shopify POS, you can monitor your inventory in real time, so you stay on top of the situation. In addition, you can receive notifications when products are running low. This way you never sell to your non-waiting customers and you can react to rapidly growing and unexpected demand.

At the same time, the entrepreneur can say goodbye to manual updating work, and use the saved time for something else, for example marketing the company or developing the product range.

Smooth and fast order processing

With Shopify POS, processing purchases and orders, printing receipts, and creating invoices are easily done in one place, which speeds up service and processes. Order tracking, returns and exchanges are also a seamless part of the Shopify checkout system.

So you can process both in-store and online orders from the same place. When the entrepreneur and seller do not have a constant need to switch between applications, the management of sales channels and the whole is much smoother and more efficient.

Consistent customer data

Shopify POS makes it possible to combine customer data from different sales channels, as the customer data of the store or stores and the online store are automatically updated in the system.

This may not sound significant, but when customer data is consistent and up-to-date, customer relationship management is more efficient. In addition, the entrepreneur receives reliable information for, for example, decision-making and marketing, which are thus more effective.

Versatile payment methods

The shopping experience is better when the customer can choose the preferred payment method. In the Shopify POS application, the seller can choose the customer's preferred option, such as cash, credit card, Apple or Google Pay, as well as several different payment methods, i.e. paying in parts.

You can also easily pay with a gift card using the Shopify checkout system, which is not a given in many other checkout systems/online stores.

Flexible scaling possibilities

Shopify POS grows with the company. The Shopify checkout system can effectively manage the rapidly growing number of products, payments and employees, so there is no need to change the checkout system immediately or at all when the business grows.

Shopify POS can also be combined with several applications found in the Shopify App Store , which can help the entrepreneur manage his business effectively, since the installations can be done by himself and each new functionality does not require a customized solution.

Integrations with other systems

Shopify POS can be integrated into many business systems that are also popular in Finland, such as accounting and inventory management software or customer management systems.

The integration of the Shopify checkout system and used business systems enables more streamlined and efficient business processes. Automated and seamless data transfer also saves time and avoids mistakes in business operations.

Of course, Shopify is a big and reliable operator, which increases confidence in the checkout system and integrations. This is also why Shopify POS offers a solid foundation for managing the store + online store combination and for flexible business expansion.

Shopify POS Lite vs. Shopify POS Pro

There are two different versions of Shopify POS checkout systems, the free Shopify POS Lite version and the more practical Shopify POS Pro version. Both Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro are easy to use for the seller and offer a seamless shopping experience for the customer.

Shopify POS Lite is practically a stripped-down version of the POS system, and it's already included in all Shopify packages.

Efficient, i.e. almost all entrepreneurs should, however, upgrade to the Shopify POS Pro system at the very beginning, because the free version does not have the option of automated, i.e. real-time updated, inventory management or management of multiple stores.

However, it is not necessary to upgrade all branches to the Shopify POS Pro version.

That is, if you have, for example, a couple of brick-and-mortar stores and one pop-up store, you can only upgrade one of the locations to the Pro version and use the Lite version in the other two locations.

Even though there is one Pro version, the stock balances are automatically updated between all points in the example situation.

What does the Shopify POS checkout system cost?

The basic version of Shopify POS is free. The more powerful and functional Shopify POS Pro checkout system costs $79-$89 per month + taxes depending on the selected payment frequency. Annually, this means 948-1068 dollars without taxes .

However, according to our experience, this price is worth paying, especially if you run a store + online store combination. The Shopify checkout system offers many significant advantages, but the most important of them is the saving of time and effort brought by the system.

Shopify POS is easy to set up and even easier to use. However, what makes the entrepreneur's everyday life much easier is the fact that the sales of the store and the online store are in the same place and the sales channels communicate seamlessly with each other.

The management of several stores and the store + online store complex also becomes significantly smoother and more agile with the help of Shopify POS.

If you have Shopify Plus, Shopify POS Pro is already included in it, which means you can use a more functional checkout system without additional costs.

What devices does Shopify POS support?

Shopify's checkout system is multi-system compatible, so it may be possible for an entrepreneur to use existing hardware with Shopify POS, an iPad, a cash drawer, a receipt printer or a barcode scanner, without investing in new equipment.

At the beginning of 2024, for example, at least the 5th generation iPad, iPhone 7 and Android phone or tablet (with at least 10.0 operating system version) are suitable for using the application.

Through the following links, you can find out in more detail whether upgrading your hardware is relevant for you: Shopify POS device requirements and supported Shopify POS devices .

If you do not own suitable equipment, you can order the necessary equipment and supplies through us at a reasonable price. Growly acts as an official reseller for Shopify POS devices.

How do I install the Shopify checkout system in my store?

The installation of Shopify POS Pro or Lite should be quite easy, even on your own, if you only have a little time and desire to focus on it.

However, time should be well reserved, e.g. for defining store products, adding barcodes, configuring payment methods and adding staff members, as well as setting other settings, as well as testing the system for the first time.

If you install the Shopify checkout system yourself, you can use Shopify's own instructions here.

If you want, Growly can help you install a Shopify POS checkout system in your store. We have an expert team that is ready to help with all questions related to installation and commissioning, even today. At the same time, we also help ensure that your business gets the most out of the versatile features of Shopify POS.

Don't be afraid of our location (Kuopio), because we often travel further from our office, for example to the capital region.

So please feel free to contact us if you need installation or equipment!