Shopify’s May 4, 2020 launch bundled online and store operations into one point-of-sale system: orders, products, payments and inventory could be managed across channels. For a merchant, that changes more than checkout. A store could offer pickup or local delivery, move stock between locations or online, and take payment in-store or curbside. Shopify also described a customizable shortcut grid and app integrations, including appointment scheduling and door-counting tools. Those features make the platform’s value depend on coordination: fewer separate systems may simplify selling, but they also make a merchant’s workflow more reliant on Shopify’s tools and integrations. The launch was global, while the terms separated the basic POS—then included with all Shopify plans—from POS Pro, an advanced retail tier. Shopify announced that Pro would be free through October 31, 2020, then cost $89 monthly per location. Those were launch-period terms, not current offers. The release described capabilities, not measured performance. Whether the bundle widened practical choice would depend on implementation costs, integration quality and how readily merchants could move their operations elsewhere. [shared-6ab7b2861cdb3f4a693873d852edc674870ef4fdece4b87edb9725a55e93eebb]
Technology
Shopify bundles store and online sales in a rebuilt POS
Shopify’s May 2020 POS launch connected store and online operations, while its advanced tier carried a per-location price after a temporary free period.
Published by Glen Wire
An editorial point of view: Theo Arden