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Shopify POS App: What Is It & Its Purposes
If you are an eCommerce store owner, the task that probably gives you the most headache is managing the store sales and inventory, right?
Well, lucky to all Shopify owners out there because the platform has allowed one integrated app to simplify this process: the Shopify POS app.
But what exactly is it, what are its features, and how do you set up this app? Let’s use this article as your guide!
What Is A Shopify POS App?
Definition of POS (Point of Sale) Systems
Before diving into the Shopify POS app, let us introduce you to the ‘magic’ of a POS system.
A POS app is a tool that helps businesses handle sales by processing payments, managing stock, generating sales reports, and keeping customer details.
It simplifies transactions and improves the shopping experience. These apps can be used on devices like tablets and smartphones and are popular with stores, restaurants, and other businesses that sell directly to customers.
Overview of Shopify Ecosystem
Shopify has established its own POS app that is customized to its system and helps users manage their online store effortlessly. A big win for this eCommerce platform.
Shopify allows integration with diverse apps. Source: Code
But besides diving into what is Shopify POS app, did you know, that this platform owns one of the largest eCommerce ecosystems that offers many integrated applications to support store operations from basic to advanced needs, including:
- Shopify App Store: A marketplace offering a variety of apps to boost store functionality, including tools for marketing, inventory management, and customer service.
- Themes: A selection of customizable templates that allow businesses to personalize the appearance of their stores to match their brand.
- Integrations: Seamless connections with third-party services for accounting, shipping, social media marketing, and more, enabling comprehensive business management.
- Shopify POS: A point-of-sale system that synchronizes with online stores to manage sales and inventory in physical retail locations.
- Shopify Payments: An integrated payment solution that simplifies transactions by allowing businesses to accept credit cards and other payment methods directly through Shopify.
- Shopify Analytics: A robust analytics tool providing insights into sales, customer behavior, and store performance to help businesses make informed decisions.
- Shopify Experts: A network of professionals offering services ranging from store setup to marketing and design, helping businesses maximize their platform use.
- Shopify Shipping: Solutions that streamline the fulfillment process with discounted rates and label printing directly from the Shopify dashboard.
- Shopify Community: Forums and resources that offer support, share knowledge, and foster collaboration among Shopify users worldwide.
Why Do You Need A Shopify POS App?
The main benefit of using the Shopify POS app is that it streamlines store operations and provides a smooth shopping experience across both online and physical stores.
This powerful tool unifies your sales channels, eliminating the need to manage separate systems for eCommerce and in-person transactions. However, Shopify POS app features can be more advanced than that. Check them out!
*Note: The features are available in both basic and pro packages. Check on Shopify for more details.
Shopify POS App Features
1. Omnichannel SellingOne of the standout features of Shopify POS is its omnichannel selling capabilities.
This feature allows businesses to offer a seamless shopping experience for customers, whether they shop online, in-store, or somewhere in between.
For instance, with in-store pickup options, customers can order online and pick up their purchases at a physical location, which can be a great way for businesses to attract more foot traffic.
Additionally, Shopify POS allows for buy-in-store and ship-directly-to-customer options, ensuring that customers can receive their items from any available inventory location. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for keeping customers satisfied and reducing abandoned carts.
Shopify POS App - Omi Channel features. Source: Shopify
2. Smart Inventory Management
Managing inventory effectively is crucial for any retail business, and Shopify POS makes this task more manageable with its smart inventory management features.
By using the Stocky app, businesses can reduce errors and increase profits with smart recommendations. Features like demand forecasting, low stock alerts, and inventory analysis help companies keep track of what’s selling and what’s not.
For instance, the system can suggest reordering certain products based on past performance, helping businesses avoid overstocking or stockouts, which can be particularly helpful for companies with multiple locations or those that deal with seasonal products.
Shopify POS App - Smart inventory management features. Source: Shopify
3. Staff Management
Businesses can now control staff permissions and track performance from a single interface on the Shopify POS app. By attributing sales to individual staff members, companies can easily manage commissions and recognize top performers, boosting morale and productivity within the team.
Shopify POS App - Staff Management features. Source: Shopify
4. Checkout Processes
The system allows for exchanges, order cancellations, and custom receipts, making it easy to handle any customer request at the point of sale. Additionally, Shopify POS supports various payment methods, like contactless payments, and exchange currencies, which cater to the growing demand for flexibility and convenience at checkout globally.
Shopify POS App - Checkout Processes features. Source: Shopify
5. Product Management
Shopify POS app allows store owners to add unlimited products and variants, categorize them into collections, and assign barcodes to streamline inventory tracking and checkout.
For example, suppose you are operating a clothing store. In that case, you can now accurately check different sizes and colors of a single product available in the inventory and quickly retrieve it during sales.
For your records, all this management is tracked on one single application or dashboard, even on phones or across multiple devices. How convenient!
Shopify POS App - Product Management features. Source: Shopify
6. Customer Engagement
The POS systems collect all customer profiles, including contact information, preferences, and purchase history. So whenever there is a campaign, store owners can easily pull up the analytics to personalize their promotions to the right person at the right time.
But that’s not it. The Shopify POS app is beneficial for stores that use loyalty programs to reward repeat customers and strengthen long-term relationships.
Shopify POS App - Customer Engagement features. Source: Shopify
7. Reporting and Analytics
Shopify POS provides tools that help businesses understand their sales, inventory, and cash flow through detailed reports.
For example, a restaurant can use these insights to figure out when they're busiest and adjust their staffing to be more efficient and profitable.
By analyzing sales trends and what customers prefer, businesses can refine their strategies to meet customer needs better and drive growth. Above all, it's about using data to make informed choices that benefit the company.
Shopify POS App - Reporting & Analytics features. Source: Shopify
8. Hardware Integration
Shopify POS is designed to work seamlessly with various hardware options, making it easy for businesses to set up and operate. From tablets and barcode scanners to receipt printers and card readers, its plug-and-play solutions can integrate smoothly into the POS system.
This flexibility allows businesses to choose the hardware that best fits their needs, whether they are operating from a retail store or a mobile pop-up shop. The ease of integration ensures that businesses can focus on serving customers rather than dealing with technical issues.
Shopify POS App - Hardware Integration features. Source: Shopify
9. Payment Options
Finally, Shopify POS provides a wide range of payment options to accommodate different customer preferences.
With built-in payment processing through Shopify Payments, businesses can accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets without additional fees. Options like Shop Pay Installments offer customers flexible payment plans, enhancing the shopping experience and potentially increasing sales.
Shopify POS App - Payment Options features. Source: Shopify
How To Set Shopify POS App Point Of Sale System
How to use Shopify POS apps is a straightforward process. You can check out the detailed guide provided by Shopify. But below is the simplified version to make you better understand.
1. POS Overview Setup
The Point of Sale Overview is your command center, providing a high-level view of your retail performance. To access this powerful tool:
- Navigate to the Shopify admin and select the "Point of Sale" sales channel.
- Here, you'll find key metrics such as total sales, gross profits, and average order value.
- To dive deeper into your analytics, simply click "View report."
This overview can be customized to show data for all locations or a single store, and you can filter information by date to track performance over time.
2. Product Management
Managing your products effectively is crucial for a smooth POS experience. Here's how to set it up:
- Create new products in the Shopify admin.
- Make sure to enable these products for the POS channel.
- Stock the product at your POS device's assigned location to ensure it displays in the app.
To add a new product:
- Go to "Products" in your Shopify admin.
- Click "Add product" and enter the necessary details.
- Don't forget to click "Save" when you're done.
3. Location Management
Properly managing your locations is key to maintaining accurate inventory across your business. Most location management tasks are handled by the Shopify admin, where you can add, delete, edit, and activate or deactivate locations as needed.
To select a Shopify POS device location:
- Open the Shopify POS app and tap the menu icon.
- Go to "Settings" and scroll to the "Location" section.
- Tap the current POS location name and select the desired location.
- Tap "Switch" to confirm.
4. POS Embedded Apps
Enhance your POS functionality by installing embedded apps. These can help you streamline purchases, offer promotions, and add new payment methods. To install POS-embedded apps:
- Go to "Settings" > "Apps and sales channels" in your Shopify admin.
- Click "Shopify App Store" and search for the desired app type.
- Use the filter to select "Works with Shopify POS."
- Click "Add app" to install.
5. Managing POS Apps
POS UI Extensions allow you to further personalize your retail experience. To manage these:
- Navigate to "Sales Channels" > "Point of Sale" in your Shopify admin.
- Go to "Settings" > "POS apps."
- Select the app for which you want to activate extensions.
- In the "Smart grid" section, click "Add."
6. Required Checkout Information
For stores using Shopify POS Pro, you can configure the customer and staff information collected during checkout. To set this up:
- In your Shopify admin, go to "Settings" > "Apps and sales channels" > "Point of Sale."
- Click "Open sales channel" > "Settings."
- In the "Checkout" section, click "Required checkout information."
- Choose your preferences for customer details and sales attribution.
- Click "Save" to apply your changes.
Conclusion
If you want to manage your Shopify store operation more easily, integrate the Shopify POS App. It’s free.
But even if you need to pay for advanced features, many Shopify experts have claimed it is one of the best investments.
It helps to streamline from staff management to payment or establish customer relationships. And above all, you can manage the store performance in one single dashboard. So convenient, even for a low-tech person!
