A point of sale, or POS, is a system used to process transactions and accept payments in person.

With Shopify POS, retail businesses get all the tools they need to manage daily operations, accept payments anywhere, and build relationships to create customer loyalty. But the benefits of Shopify go beyond your retail store. With a powerful ecommerce solution also included, Shopify unifies in-store and online sales to bridge the gaps between your website, social media, and POS system. This allows you to sync inventory everywhere you sell and offer seamless shopping options for customers like local pickup, local delivery, ship-to-home, and email carts.

There are different types of POS systems—the one that’s right for you will depend on your business needs. You can build any type of POS system with Shopify POS.

Countertop POS systems are best for permanent brick-and-mortar stores. A countertop system includes the software to check out customers and the hardware to take payments, and it can typically be found on sales counters. This enables retailers to create a smooth checkout experience where all the accessories for bagging products are easily accessible.

Mobile POS systems are better for businesses selling at events like pop-ups, markets, and trade shows. A mobile POS system allows retailers to process transactions wherever their customer is. These systems typically combine POS software and hardware into a single handheld device. Many brick-and-mortar businesses, however, are also starting to use mobile checkouts in their stores as a way to better serve their customers.

Mutlichannel POS systems allow retailers to sell in store and online and take advantage of omnichannel selling to convert more shoppers. For example, with a multichannel POS system, customers can buy online and pick up their purchase in your store—or they can buy in store and have the purchase shipped to their home. Today’s shoppers expect omnichannel shopping so multichannel POS systems are powerful tools.

Examples of POS systems can be found in almost every retail store. They are typically made up of a tablet or computer to run POS software, a payment terminal to take credit and debit payments, and a cash drawer to accept cash payments and make change. They may also include accessories such as receipt printers and barcode scanners.

Shopify’s point of sale is flexible enough to support a variety of businesses at any stage of growth. The retailers that find the most value from Shopify POS are those that sell products both in person and online. Connecting in-store and online sales helps you keep inventory, payments, and customers in sync so you can simplify everyday tasks and offer better shopping experiences.

Shopify is a complete platform for running a business. No matter where you sell, in person or online, Shopify is your command center for managing products and orders, accepting payments, and building relationships with customers. Having a unified back office gives you the ability to sell from a retail store, a pop-up, a website, on social media channels, or online marketplaces, while keeping everything connected. This means you can offer flexible shopping options like buy online, pick up in store or buy in-store, ship-to-home.

Shopify POS connects to that powerful back office for in-person sales, ensuring that inventory, payments, and customer data are fully synced as you make sales from your retail store. Linking in-store and online sales with Shopify helps you simplify inventory tasks, have more control over cash flow, and re-engage in-store visitors with online marketing. The intuitive and mobile POS app also makes it easy to fly through checkout and assist customers anywhere, on the sales floor or on the go.

There are two important factors that make mobile app development so expensive:

1. Technology: Different technologies come with different price tags. Almost all technologies are free however, the developers of those technologies are paid in different baskets.
2. Talent: The price tag will also depend upon how good and experienced the team is working on your app.

You can use Shopify POS in nearly every country in the world. However, to get the full benefits of Shopify POS we recommend using Shopify Payments and integrated Shopify POS hardware, both of which are available only in select regions. To learn if Shopify Payments and Shopify POS hardware is available where you are, check out the supported countries and regions on the Shopify Help Center.

What you need to start selling with Shopify POS depends on how you’ll be selling. You can start with Tap to Pay on iPhone, POS Go, or a card reader paired with a tablet or smartphone running the Shopify POS app.

Hardware options for Shopify POS:

Tap to Pay on iPhone allows you to accept contactless payments anywhere with only your iPhone—no hardware required. Learn more about Tap to Pay on iPhone

POS Go is the all-in-one point of sale device that brings together hardware and software—no Shopify POS app required. Learn more about POS Go

Shopify card readers allow you to accept payments and can be paired with a tablet or smartphone running the Shopify POS app.

Once you’ve selected your hardware, you can build out your POS to meet your store’s needs by connecting compatible hardware accessories like barcode scanners, printers, and cash drawers.

Yes, you can use your own tablet, smartphone, and existing hardware with Shopify POS.

However, for a fully integrated experience, we recommend using Shopify hardware and software together. Using Shopify’s first-party payment hardware allows you to accept tap and chip payments with quick payouts and consistent rates from Shopify Payments.

For hardware accessories like barcode scanners or receipt printers, you can check to see if your existing hardware is compatible with POS.

POS hardware is the device or devices used in the processing of in-person customer payments. It includes POS terminals, card readers, cash drawers, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and more. These devices come together to create the system used in store to process transactions. Not every retailer will need every piece of hardware and how they combine the hardware devices will vary based on their needs.

When choosing which POS hardware is right for your business, consider what types of payments you want to accept, how you want to design the checkout experience, and what POS software you’re using in store.

Typically, businesses install the Shopify POS app onto a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. Your POS device can also be synced with a variety of hardware, such as barcode scanners and card readers, for more efficient workflows.

Yes, you can install the Shopify POS app on as many smartphones and tablets as you want per store location.

You can easily accept payments with a card reader connected to your smartphone or tablet, and send digital invoices to your customer’s email address. Take credit, debit, cash, cheques, and physical or digital gift cards as a payment method.

A POS system for inventory is a software that helps businesses manage and track their inventory levels, sales, and order management. It is used by retailers, restaurants, and other businesses that sell products or services to customers. A POS system for inventory typically includes features such as barcode scanning, inventory tracking, sales reporting, purchase order management, and vendor management. By using a POS system for inventory, businesses can optimize their inventory levels, reduce waste, and streamline their operations.

Yes, POS (Point of Sale) systems can manage inventory. POS systems track sales and inventory levels in real-time, allowing businesses to monitor their stock levels and make informed purchasing decisions. They can automate inventory management by generating alerts when stock levels fall below a certain point, creating purchase orders, and updating inventory records automatically when a sale is made. By providing real-time data on inventory levels, POS systems help businesses avoid stockouts, reduce inventory costs, and improve their overall efficiency.

Yes, POS (Point of Sale) systems can keep track of inventory in real-time. This feature allows businesses to accurately monitor their stock levels, track sales data and identify popular items. This can help to improve inventory management and ensure that businesses have the products they need to meet customer demand. Some POS systems also have advanced inventory management features, such as automatic reordering and tracking of product returns, which can further streamline business operations.

1. Traditional POS: A stationary system that requires a computer terminal, cash register, and peripheral equipment like a barcode scanner and card reader.
2. Mobile POS: A handheld device like a smartphone or tablet that can accept payments and process transactions on the go.
3. Self-service kiosk POS: A system that allows customers to place their own orders, make payments, and complete transactions without the need for staff assistance.
4. Online POS: A system that enables customers to complete purchases and payments through an online store or e-commerce platform.