Shopify is a global e-commerce production platform used by 170 million businesses around the world.

Did you know that Shopify has a POS system that can be linked with physical stores?

Its name is "Shopify POS".

So this time, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify POS and how to set it up.

What is Shopify POS?

Shopify POS is an application created for iOS and Android devices, and is a system that allows you to synchronize offline POS data from physical stores with Shopify sales and inventory data from online stores in real time.

 Therefore, inventory and sales can be centrally managed regardless of whether it is online or offline.

First of all, what is POS?Easy to understand explanation

POS is an abbreviation for Point of Sales, which translates into Japanese as "point of sale information management."

 It accurately aggregates information such as product name, time of sale, and product price.

 Since it is often installed at the cash register in physical stores, it is also called a ``POS register'' or ``POS system.''

 The information compiled by POS is necessary for market research and marketing. 

Installing a POS system at a physical store costs a huge amount of money, but with Shopify POS you can install it for free.

POS systems that use Shopify POS

In the case of a general POS register, receipts can be created by using a receipt printer and cash drawer as a set.

 However, with Shopify POS, you can send receipts by email or SMS, so

There is no need to prepare a receipt printer etc. 

If you would like to give receipts directly to customers, you can link it to the cash drawer and receipt printer provided by Star Micronics.

Flow of how to set up Shopify POS

We will briefly explain the flow of how to set up Shopify POS.

XNUMX: Install the Shopify POS app on your smartphone or tablet

"Shopify POS" is compatible with both iOS and Android, so search for "Shopify POS" in the App Store or Google Play Store. 

Search and install the app if you find it.

The device on which the app is installed will now become a physical store register. 

I recommend a tablet as it is easier to use.

XNUMX: Install the POS channel from the Shopify admin screen

Log in to your Shopify admin, click the "+" next to Sales Channels, and add "POS".

XNUMX: Register products to sell using Shopify POS

In your Shopify admin, add products to sell using Shopify POS. 

If it is a new product, you can add it from Product Management ⇒ "Add Product". 

For existing products, you can make them POS compatible by selecting "Available at Point of Sale" in "Add Field" ⇒ "Sales Channel".

XNUMX: Setting taxes and payment methods

From the Shopify admin screen, go to Settings > Taxes to set the tax rate. 

For payment methods, you can link in-store payments and POS data by setting a custom payment type in Shopify POS's "Home" ⇒ "Settings" ⇒ "Payment Settings" and linking it with an external payment service. can.

Advantages of implementing ShopifyPOS

Introducing the benefits of implementing ShopifyPOS.

You can manage online and offline information all at once.

With ShopifyPOS, all the information from your online store, Shopify, and your offline physical store are linked and aggregated, so you can centrally manage them. 

Therefore, if there are products that are sold both in stores and online stores, there is no need to take the trouble of counting the number of items in stock or sales, leading to more efficient operations. 

Additionally, since you can manage both online and offline information, you can analyze user needs and use it for product sales strategies and marketing.

Improving customer experience

ShopifyPOS also improves the customer experience. 

For example, you can scan a product QR code at a physical store, check detailed information, and then purchase at an online store. 

Some people like to check customer reviews before purchasing a product, so ShopifyPOS can meet a variety of needs.

 You can also send emails to users who have visited your physical store to encourage them to purchase from your online store.

 Stores that implement ShopifyPOS can increase sales opportunities, reduce opportunity losses, and improve the customer experience for users who visit their stores, which is a win-win situation.

Low hurdles to introduction

ShopifyPOS is basically free to use. 

If you go for the paid plan ``Pro'' version, it is relatively affordable at $89 per month and adds the ability to assign roles to each staff member and the ability to pick up items purchased from the online store at the store. 

Previously, POS systems had the impression that initial costs and monthly usage were high, but with ShopifyPOS, it is easy to implement.

Disadvantages and precautions of Shopify POS

We will introduce the disadvantages and precautions of Shopify POS.

Requires cooperation with external payment service

In a typical POS system, when supporting cashless payments such as credit cards, it is directly linked with a dedicated payment terminal such as a card reader. 

On the other hand, Shopify POS requires integration with an external payment service. 

You must perform operations on both the Shopify POS management screen and the payment service terminal to synchronize data. 

However, on the other hand, it can be said to be an advantage since it can support any payment service.

If you want to use more advanced features, you will have to pay.

If you only need basic features, the free plan is fine. 

However, if you want to take advantage of more advanced features such as staff management and omnichannel sales, you will need to use the paid plan, which costs $89 per month. 

However, even though it is a paid plan, it is not expensive compared to other POS systems. 

In fact, it is an excellent POS system even with a paid plan, as it is inexpensive and has a wide range of functions.

Should I implement Shopify POS?

If you run a physical store and want to focus on your e-commerce site, you should implement Shopify POS. 

As I mentioned earlier, Shopify POS allows you to centrally manage online and offline information, and although the hurdles to introduction are low, it is rich in functionality. 

Additionally, it is used by 170 million businesses around the world, so it can be said to be a highly reliable platform.