Shopify is the go-to ecommerce platform for many businesses for various reasons, but a huge one is just how easy it is for shoppers to add products to their cart and hit the “checkout” button. Its point-of-sale (POS) system is so simple to set up that even the newest entrepreneurs on the block can master it — and they do!
But, when you start selling offline — whether at a holiday booth, a brick-and-mortar store, or a pop-up — managing your POS system can get just a tad more complicated. Now, you need to consider requirements related to physical hardware (like a register or credit card reader) and how everything will integrate with your marketing and sales channels.
Luckily, we’re here to demystify everything revolving around bridging offline and online selling and all the pesky acronyms that can get confusing. (If you haven’t already, check out this quick guide on ROPO, or “research online, purchase offline.”) Now let’s get started!
✅ Determine your hardware requirements
Credit card reader
Barcode scanner
Cash drawer
Receipt printer
Register monitor
Connected devices (e.g., a tablet or phone)
✅ Identify your software feature requirements
Payment processing
Cash
Magstripe credit cards
Chip cards
Contactless payments
Mobile payments
✅ Inventory management
✅ Unified POS reporting
✅ Receipts and invoices
✅ Tipping support
✅ Secure customer data storage
✅ Customer loyalty programs
✅ Custom staff permissions
✅ Customizable checkout
✅ Easy return and exchange processing
✅ Cross-channel customer profile syncing
✅ Narrow down options based on your budget, factoring in:
Payment processing costs
Monthly processing fees
Equipment costs
Software fees
Thankfully, there’s no need to be stressed: Shopify offers a robust POS system that unifies everything related to your offline and online sales — customer profiles, marketing, rewards, fulfillment, and inventory. If you already have a Shopify store, all you need to do is download the Shopify POS app, purchase any necessary hardware, and set up different payment methods. It’s easier than it sounds; check it out here!
Last updated on January 7th, 2022.