Optimize Your Shopify POS Setup

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Creating Locations for the Point of Sale
   • Default Location
   • Creating a New Location
   • Assigning Inventory to a Location
3. Assigning Products to the Point of Sale
   • Product Availability on the Point of Sale
   • Configuring Inventory for the Retail Location
4. Creating Staff Accounts
   • Managing POS Roles
   • Creating Individual Staff Members
   • Assigning PINs for Access
5. Configuring the POS Tablet
   • Installing and Accessing the Shopify POS App
   • Assigning the Correct Location
6. Conclusion

Creating Locations for the Point of Sale

If you're looking to integrate your physical retail store with your online Shopify store, utilizing the Shopify point of sale (POS) is the ideal solution. In this guide, we will explore how to set up and make the most of the Shopify POS. We'll review creating locations, assigning products to the POS, and creating staff accounts.

Default Location

By default, your Shopify store will stock all products in the location named "Online Store." However, when using the POS, you'll need to maintain separate physical locations to track your sales accurately. To review your current locations, navigate to the "Locations" link on the POS sales channel.

Creating a New Location

To create a new location to represent the physical retail store where the POS will be used, navigate to the "Locations" menu under "Settings" in your Shopify admin. From here, click "Add Location" and provide the name and address information representing the physical location.

Shopify will support up to a thousand separate locations, and you can assign inventory amounts to each of them. Once you save the new location, it will appear alongside all your available locations.

Assigning Inventory to a Location

Now that we have a specific location for our retail store, we need to assign products to that location. This allows us to designate which items are available for sale at that physical location.

To configure inventory for the retail location of the POS, return to "Products" in your Shopify admin. First, manage where the item is published by using the checkboxes to assign the product's availability to the POS. This tells Shopify to make this item available to any of our POS locations.

Next, assign the inventory to our retail location. By clicking "Edit Locations," you can activate any of our new POS locations and assign quantity information. These amounts will display in your POS and dictate how many you can sell.

Your online store and POS locations can maintain separate amounts of your available inventory.

Assigning Products to the Point of Sale

Configuring product availability for the point of sale is the next step in casting up your POS. You can assign products to be available for purchase through the POS by using checkboxes located in the product management system. Then, we need to manage the inventory targeted for the POS.

Product Availability on the Point of Sale

The primary step in setting up product availability for the POS is enabling which products are available. Simply go to the product management menu and using the checkboxes located beside the product name, and enable the POS selling option. This tells Shopify to make this item available to the POS.

Configuring Inventory for the Retail Location

The next step is to assign inventory for the retail location targeted by the POS. Return to the product menu in Shopify's admin panel, find the product you want to assign, and click the "Edit Locations" button. Assign the POS inventory count for this particular retail location and save the changes. Suppose multiple locations sell a specific product, which remains OK. You need to assign inventory counts and make them available for the POS through the product management menu for those particular locations.

Creating Staff Accounts

Your Shopify point of sale setup isn't complete until your retail staff has access to the tablet. Take into account the following only limited privileges are required for minimal retail personnel usage, while further staff might be able to gain access to the Shopify admin backend.

Managing POS Roles

The first step in creating staff accounts is managing POS Roles. It enables you to determine permissions for each role. Shopify will provide some default roles, but you can edit or create your role to meet your requirements.

You may edit permission sets by clicking "Edit" beside them. Shopify offers varying options that you may configure for each role's needs.

Creating Individual Staff Members

Click on "Add Staff Member" to create new staff members after setting up your roles. Provide details of the new member's schedule and assign the following year's POS role. Every staff may have their own PIN to access the POS interface.

You may assign a custom four-digit PIN or have Shopify assign one directly.

Assigning PINs for Access

The PIN is assigned to an individual to access the POS interface via the in-store tablet. Save the user's details, and repeat the process for every member requiring access to the point of sale tablet.

You can edit the same information later by clicking the staff member's name from within the POS sales Channel.

Configuring the POS Tablet

The final step is configuring the POS tablet itself. Download and install the Shopify POS app on the iPad you plan on using within your store. Confirm your store credentials to log in, and enter the PIN you assigned to access the app.

Installing and Accessing the Shopify POS App

The Shopify POS application can be installed and utilized on as many iPads as required for your location. You'll see that we are immediately prompted to enter a PIN. Each staff member will have their own PIN to access the POS.

Assigning the Correct Location

To assign the correct location, click on "More" on the tablet. You can now view the active locations that we previously configured and assign this location to the retail store. This allows us to enable the available products and settings for that location.

By setting up the location, products, and staff correctly, your Shopify POS is good to go and ready to take orders.

Conclusion

Utilizing the Shopify point of sale in your physical retail store can be a game-changer. By assigning locations to your inventory, assigning products to different locations, creating staff accounts, and configuring the POS tablet, you'll be making the most of the Shopify POS.