Testing Your POS System: How to Run a Test Transaction

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting up Payment Settings
3. Running a Test Transaction
4. Adding Products to the Cart
5. Adding a Customer to the Order
6. Choosing a Payment Method
7. Sending an Email Receipt
8. Adding an Order Note
9. Completing the Transaction
10. Viewing and Managing Orders
11. Closing the Register

Introduction

Congratulations on setting up your POS! Now it's time to test your system and ensure everything is working smoothly. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of running a test transaction, adding products to the cart, choosing a payment method, and completing the transaction. We will also cover how to view and manage your orders and close the register when you're done. Let's get started!

1. Setting up Payment Settings

Before you can run a test transaction, it's crucial to review and update your payment settings in the POS. From the home screen, tap the menu icon to access the settings. Here, you can see the payment types that are accepted in your store. To enable a payment type, tap the payment icon and toggle on the acceptance of cash payments or any other payment types you want to accept.

Pros

• Allows you to customize your payment options based on your store's preferences
• Gives your customers the flexibility to pay with their preferred method
• Enables you to track and manage different payment types easily

Cons

• Requires manual configuration for each payment method

2. Running a Test Transaction

Now that your payment settings are configured, it's time to run a test transaction. Start by starting a new cash tracking session. Tap the menu icon and then tap Register. From there, select Start tracking session and enter the starting cash amount in your register. Once confirmed, you're ready to process a sale.

3. Adding Products to the Cart

To initiate a sale, you need to add products to the cart. Tap the menu icon and then tap Products to access your product list. Use the search bar to find a specific item or tap on any product to open it. If the product has multiple variants, make sure to select a variant that is in stock at the current location. Once you have selected the product, tap Add to cart.

4. Adding a Customer to the Order

To associate a customer with the order, tap More actions and then tap Add customer. In this case, since it's a test transaction, we will create a new test profile. Enter the customer's first and last name along with your personal email address. This is important as we will be testing an email receipt in this transaction. Save the customer's details, and they will be added to the cart.

5. Choosing a Payment Method

At this stage, you need to choose a payment method for the transaction. For the test, select "Cash" and accept the exact change. You can review the total amount owing at the top of the screen to ensure accuracy. Additionally, select the option for an email receipt and confirm that your personal email address is entered as the recipient. Tap "Send" to proceed.

6. Sending an Email Receipt

To provide the customer with an email receipt, tap "Add order note" and mention that this was a test transaction for your records. Save the note and tap "Done" to complete the transaction. Open the email account you used for the test transaction, and you should see the email receipt that a customer would receive after making a purchase.

7. Adding an Order Note

Back in the POS app, tap the menu icon and then go to Orders. The test order you just processed should be at the top of the list. If you can't find it, ensure that the POS is selected under Sale Type and the current location is checked under Sale Location. Tap the order to view the receipt, process returns or exchanges, and access customer details. You can also read the order note you added earlier.

8. Completing the Transaction

To finalize the test transaction, you need to close the register. Start by tapping the menu icon and then tap Register. Next, go to "View open session" to access the current cash tracking session. Take note of the expected cash balance, which includes the starting cash and the cash accepted from the test transaction. Tap "End tracking session" and enter the total amount from the previous step. Add a note stating that it is a test transaction and save it. Proceed by entering the amount to leave in the drawer for the next cash tracking session. Since this is a test transaction, enter the expected cash balance noted earlier and confirm. Finally, tap "Done" to finish the process.

9. Viewing and Managing Orders

If you have any questions related to order management, you can access the Orders section in the POS app. Here, you can see a list of orders, including the test order you just processed. By selecting an order, you can view the receipt, process returns or exchanges, access customer details, and read any order notes. The Orders section is a handy tool for managing and keeping track of your sales transactions.

10. Closing the Register

Closing the register is necessary when you are finished selling for the day or need to open a new register. To close the register, tap the menu icon and then tap Register. Open the current cash tracking session by selecting "View open session." Take note of the expected cash balance, which includes the starting cash and the cash from the test transaction. Tap "End tracking session" and enter the total amount from the previous step. Add a note stating that it was a test transaction and save it. Next, enter the amount to leave in the drawer for the next cash tracking session. Enter the expected cash balance and confirm. Finally, tap "Done" to complete the process.

FAQ

Q: Can I customize the payment types accepted in my store? A: Yes, you can customize the payment types accepted in your store through the payment settings in the POS. Simply toggle on the acceptance of the desired payment types.

Q: Do I need to close the register after every transaction? A: No, closing the register is only necessary when you're finished selling for the day or need to open a new register. You can continue using the same register for multiple transactions without closing it.

Q: How can I view and manage my orders in the POS? A: To view and manage orders in the POS, tap the menu icon and then go to Orders. Here, you can see a list of orders and access features such as viewing receipts, processing returns or exchanges, and accessing customer details.

Q: Can I send email receipts to customers? A: Yes, you can send email receipts to customers by selecting the option for an email receipt during the checkout process. Make sure to enter the customer's correct email address to ensure they receive the receipt.

Q: How do I add a customer to the order? A: To add a customer to the order, tap More actions and then tap Add customer. You can either select an existing customer or create a new customer profile specifically for the transaction.

Q: How can I test my POS system? A: To test your POS system, follow the steps outlined in this tutorial to run a test transaction using the cash payment method. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the process and ensure that your system is functioning correctly.

Q: Can I manage different payment types easily? A: Yes, you can manage different payment types easily through the payment settings in the POS. By toggling on the acceptance of specific payment types, you can customize and track different payment methods effectively.

Q: What should I do if I encounter any issues during a test transaction? A: If you encounter any issues during a test transaction, refer to the help documentation provided by Shopify. The documentation covers a wide range of topics, including cash tracking and troubleshooting common problems.

Q: How can I remove a test order from my Shopify admin and POS? A: To remove a test order from your Shopify admin and POS, follow the instructions provided in the video linked in this article. It will guide you through the necessary steps to remove the test order successfully.

Q: Where can I find more information about using POS? A: For more information about using POS, visit help.shopify.com/questions. This resource provides in-depth answers to commonly asked questions and offers comprehensive guidance on using the POS system effectively.