New Shopify POS Merges In-Store And Online Sales

Shopify

Shopify is launching a “rebuilt and reimagined” omnichannel point-of-sale setup pitched to the COVID-19 era, calling it a POS that brings “in-person and online sales together in one place,” according to an announcement on Monday (May 4).

“Retailers need help right now. Shopify is doing everything we can to help retailers adapt to current challenges and come back stronger,” said Ian Black, director of retail at Shopify. “We are releasing our new Shopify POS to give retailers — especially small, local businesses — every possible advantage.”

Key features of the new Shopify POS include simplified omnichannel management that integrates online and off-line orders, products and payments; the ability for staff to provide checkout anywhere in the store or curbside; and reopening options like the ability to sell merchandise at alternate locations and calculation of shipping rates at checkout.

The company said that as of March 13, about when the coronavirus crisis hit the U.S., only a fraction of its brick-and-mortar users (2 percent) were using some form of local delivery or buy online, pickup in-store service. By April 24, that had risen to 26 percent.

Shopify said retailers who had connected their online and in-store sales with Shopify POS boosted revenues by 30 percent, year over year, showing the strength of an omnichannel approach.

“Retailers deserve a point-of-sale that helps them shift their sales from in-store to online, easily offer curbside pickup and local delivery, and be ready for growth when in-store customers start to return,” said Black.

The eCommerce logistics platform said Shopify POS is included with all Shopify plans. In addition, the Shopify POS Pro is specifically geared to brick-and-mortar retailers. The company said Shopify POS Pro will be free until Oct. 31, and after that date it will cost $89 per month for each retail location.

Shopify offers a software-as-a-subscription service that lets its customers create websites with a shopping cart setup for selling and shipping products.

Shopify introduced a new app last Thursday (April 28) called Shop. The app offers personalized recommendations and helps people find and shop with local businesses.