For many retailers, the point-of-sale (POS) system is the system of record—meaning it’s the main system you use to run your business. This can lead to inefficiencies when data doesn’t flow smoothly across systems, leaving you with an incomplete or inaccurate picture of your business. To solve this, you may find yourself manually reconciling inventory and sales at the end of each day.
POS integrations help make selling across multiple channels easier by sharing product, inventory, sales, and customer information between systems. If you want to run your entire business from one place, a point-of-sale system integration may be the ideal solution.
In this article, you’ll learn what POS integrations are, how they work, alternatives to consider, and tips for connecting your offline and online sales with Shopify.
What is a POS integration?
A POS integration links your point-of-sale system with another platform to exchange data between them. When these platforms integrate, they share products, pricing, inventory, sales, and other data, giving you a unified view of your business.
How POS integrations work
An integrated POS system connects different business tools and platforms so they can share data. This typically involves connecting your POS system with other business software like loyalty programs, inventory management systems, or ecommerce platforms.
How a POS integration works depends on the type of integration you use:
- Application programming interface (API): Most POS integrations work using an API, which acts as a bridge that lets two different software systems communicate and share data automatically. Think of it as a translator ensuring your POS and your accounting software understand each other.
- Middleware: Middleware sits between your POS and other software and translates or automates data flows between systems—no direct APIs or custom code are involved.
- POS apps: Some vendors (including Shopify) offer app marketplaces where you can install integrations that connect your POS to other platforms with just a few clicks. They’re easy to install, vendor-supported, and often come with documentation for quick setup.
While some integrations are built directly by POS vendors, many others come from third-party developers and may require a subscription.
15 essential POS integrations for your business
- Accounting software
- Inventory management
- Payment processing
- Ecommerce integration
- Email marketing
- Customer loyalty programs
- Product discounts and bundling
- Team scheduling
- Order fulfillment
- Returns and exchanges
- Reporting and analytics
- Receipt printing
- POS hardware
- Payroll
- Post-purchase feedback
Foundational integrations for all retailers
1. Accounting software
Syncing POS data with accounting software allows you to automate financial tasks like tracking sales, expenses, and taxes. This ensures accurate bookkeeping and simplifies the reconciliation process.
For example, a retailer might integrate their POS system with accounting software to generate detailed reports and make tax filing easier.
2. Inventory management
Inventory management integrations save time and improve accuracy by eliminating manual stock updates. They provide real-time tracking, automatic replenishment, and tighter control to prevent stockouts or excess inventory.
For example, a retailer might connect their POS with inventory software to track stock precisely, automate purchase orders, and optimize rotation.
Some inventory management POS integrations to try include:
“Since we were already using Shopify for our online store, setting up Shopify POS for our first retail location was straightforward,” says Mitou Nguyen, senior product manager of fulfillment and operations at Babylist.
“We were able to use our existing product catalog to set up our retail assortment quickly, and Stocky's direct integration with Shopify gave us the inventory management tools our retail staff needed to properly track our retail inventory without needing additional development resources.”
3. Payment processing
Taking payment from your customers is one of the most important parts of the checkout process. It needs to be as friction-free as possible—customers who can’t pay for their goods can’t leave with them.
POS systems like Shopify have native payment processing features that accept multiple in-store payment methods, such as:
- Cash
- Credit and debit cards
- Contactless cards
- Mobile wallets
- Buy now, pay later through Shop Pay Installments
Integrations for growth and marketing
4. Ecommerce integration
The best retail POS systems don’t just connect to your online store—they sync seamlessly, with built-in omnichannel selling and fulfillment features.
POS integration with ecommerce allows you to synchronize inventory, streamline order processing, and provide a seamless omnichannel shopping experience for customers. You can let shoppers buy and receive products in whatever way works best for them.
POS integrations also allow store staff to follow up with indecisive in-store shoppers by sending them email carts with products they considered. Think of it like an abandoned cart email—but for in-person shopping.
Plus, you can use ecommerce POS integrations to create more offerings and features on your site for online shoppers:
- Gift Card Hero enables the sale of gift cards.
- Ordersify creates urgency by showing how many units are left and letting shoppers subscribe to low-stock and restock alerts.
- Shopify Discounts lets you incentivize shoppers with buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) deals, percentage discounts, and coupon codes valid across channels.
5. Email marketing
POS integration with email marketing platforms enables retailers to connect with customers more effectively. The integrated software can segment customers based on purchase history, send targeted promotional campaigns, and nurture customer relationships to drive repeat sales.
A beauty salon could send personalized follow-up emails after appointments, offering product recommendations or special discounts, for example.
Some email marketing POS integrations to try on Shopify include:
💡Tip: Shopify creates a unified customer profile each time someone shares their email address with you. Use native segmentation tools to group customers by shared traits, then deliver personalized campaigns.
“We identified the segment in Shopify, created a discount, communicated with them in a way that was very personalized, and we saw about 30% of those people convert,” says Alex Dashefsky, cofounder of Airsign.
6. Customer loyalty programs
Integrating POS with customer loyalty programs allows you to reward repeat purchases, encourage brand advocacy, and gather valuable customer data for personalized marketing initiatives. Customers can redeem points for discounts or free products, fostering loyalty and boosting customer lifetime value (CLV).
Customer loyalty program POS integrations to check out on Shopify include:
British bakery chain Lola’s Cupcakes, for example, uses the Smile POS software integration to operate Lola’s Love Club on Shopify. Because this data is unified within Shopify’s unified commerce platform, the brand can reward purchases made online or in-store.
Since migrating to Shopify, Lola’s Love Club has welcomed over 10,000 new members to its loyalty program— while cutting its total cost of ownership by more than 50%.
“Shopify is very versatile,” says Lola’s managing director Asher Budwig. “You can design whatever you want with Shopify. It’s a very flexible platform that allows you to achieve what you like, and that’s what we need at Lola’s for our future.”
7. Product discounts and bundling
Discount and bundling integrations make it easy for retailers to run promotions that boost sales, clear excess inventory, and drive engagement.
For example, a supermarket could integrate its POS system with discount and bundling software to run BOGO deals on perishable items nearing their expiration date, cutting food waste while increasing sales.
Look into the following product discount and bundling POS integrations for your store:
Integrations for operational efficiency
8. Team scheduling
Team scheduling software helps retailers in several ways. You can use these POS integrations to optimize staffing levels based on sales trends and peak hours, ensuring efficient labor management.
A retail store might connect its POS with scheduling software to align shifts with expected sales volumes, avoiding overstaffing during slow periods.
Check out the following labor management software integrations for Shopify POS:
9. Order fulfillment
Integrating POS with order fulfillment systems streamlines the entire process, from order receipt to delivery, so orders are processed accurately and on time across online and offline channels.
A coffee retailer with both dine-in and delivery services might use POS–fulfillment integration to manage delivery and in-house orders side by side.
If you’re looking for an order fulfillment POS integration, consider the following:
“The Shopify POS app allows customers to try and buy in our showrooms by generating an order in the Shopify Plus store that is processed the same way as our online purchases—it easily integrates into one system,” says Sebastian Feuss, company lead at Wildling. “Shopify POS enabled us to reach different customer groups without huge investments in new technologies.”
10. Returns and exchanges
Integrating POS with a returns management system like Narvar streamlines operations, keeping refund policies consistent and making returns easier for customers.
You can use these integrations to process returns in-store or online, issue refunds or store credits, and update inventory levels automatically.
💡Tip: Because Shopify brings POS and ecommerce together on one platform, you get a single source of truth for all order data. That makes it easier to offer omnichannel experiences. Online customers can browse, shop, return, and exchange items in-store (and vice versa).
11. Reporting and analytics
POS integrations unlock richer data, giving you insights into sales performance, customer behavior, and inventory trends to support smarter decisions and business growth.
For example, a bookstore could integrate its POS system with analytics software to track bestselling titles, analyze customer demographics, and optimize marketing strategies based on sales data.
Shopify POS users should check out the following report and analytics integrations:
Women’s jewelry brand PDPAOLA leverages this type of POS integration to fuel their growth. “We use Shopify on a daily basis to monitor sales and key performance indicators, both in-store and online,” explains Miquel Cardona, chief business development officer. “The user-friendly way that this information is presented is so important, and it makes it easy to see what is working.”
12. Receipt printing
POS integration with receipt printing solutions lets retailers add branding, promotions, and personalized messages to receipts—enhancing the customer experience and promoting brand loyalty.
A retailer could use a POS–printer integration to add discount codes to receipts, encouraging repeat business.
If you’re in need of a receipt printing POS integration, check out the following options:
💡Tip: Shopify lets you print paper receipts with compatible hardware. Alternatively, ask for the customer’s email address to send a digital receipt at checkout. This saves paper and builds your email list for retargeting.
13. POS hardware
In many cases, you need to integrate POS software with compatible hardware devices. This might include:
- Barcode scanners and printers
- Card readers—both fixed and mobile
- Cash registers and drawers
- Receipt printers
- Device stands
Retailers often connect POS systems with hardware to support both staffed and self-checkout, speeding up transactions, cutting wait times, and improving the overall customer experience.
Specialized integrations
14. Payroll
Integrating POS with payroll software automates employee wage calculations based on sales data, reducing manual errors and saving time during payroll processing.
For example, a restaurant chain could integrate its POS system with payroll software to calculate wages, including tips and bonuses, directly from sales data.
For Shopify POS, Easyteam supports all types of payroll and includes features for sales performance and commissions. Gusto is another great option, offering comprehensive human resources (HR) software alongside payroll.
15. Post-purchase feedback
POS integration with post-purchase feedback platforms helps you collect reviews, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the shopping experience.
This type of integration also supports automated post-purchase emails. Send review requests to customers after delivery to capture insights that improve service quality and product offerings.
Check out these post-purchase feedback POS integrations:
“Customer support has improved because now that everything's integrated in the same system, we can see orders so much faster,” says Tyler Medina, head of marketing at Backyard Butchers, on the brand’s migration to Shopify POS. “We can pull customer data so much faster, so our response times have shortened.”
POS integration vs. unified commerce: Which is right for you?
While POS integrations can connect different systems, relying on patchy middleware and third-party tools can inflate costs and create technical debt that hurts operational efficiency.
“Our previous commerce tools for online and our POS system were not fully integrated," explains Sofie Kuehnen, head of global retail operations at PAIGE. "We didn't have a seamless customer experience from an order perspective, and our team was working really hard to try to create the image of that experience."
A unified commerce platform like Shopify offers a fundamentally different approach. Your online store and POS system are built to work as one. It provides a single platform to manage your entire business from day one, where all your data—from both online and physical stores—flows to one system of record and updates in real time.
From a single dashboard, you can:
- Add and manage products
- Set consistent pricing across channels
- Fulfill orders from any location
- Track inventory across all sales channels
- Access complete customer purchase history
- Customize your setup through apps and integrations
This unified approach eliminates the complexity of managing multiple integrations, reduces technology costs, prevents data silos, and provides the flexibility to adapt as your business grows.
But don’t just take our word for it—data from a leading independent research firm found retailers using Shopify POS experience:
- Up to 37% better total cost of ownership (TCO)
- 20% faster implementation time
- Up to 8.9% uplift in gross merchandise value
Key challenges of POS integrations (and how to solve them)
POS integrations add extra functionality to your point-of-sale system, but the setup and management process come with specific potential challenges:
- Data-mapping issues: When inventory, customer, or order data doesn’t sync correctly or in real time, it can lead to overselling and inaccurate reporting. Regularly audit synced data for inconsistencies, choose integrations with well-documented APIs, and upgrade to platforms with real-time syncing.
- Lack of vendor support: The initial POS integration setup can be complex—and many retailers don’t have the technical expertise in-house. Opt for POS integration companies that offer hands-on onboarding, integration specialists, and documentation to make setup smooth and train your team effectively.
- Security and compliance risks: Poorly secured integrations can expose sensitive data, putting you at risk of violating data laws and losing customer trust. Use role-based permissions, encrypted data transfers, and perform regular POS security audits to keep your data secure.
- Platform costs: Some POS vendors charge additional fees for each integration, which can quickly add up. This is lessened when your POS system has core components out of the box. Retailers using Shopify’s unified commerce platform, for example, report 34% lower data migration and transition costs on average.
Benefits of using a POS integration
Limit manual data entry for operational efficiency
When your POS and ecommerce solutions are natively built on the same unified platform, inventory quantities automatically update whenever you make a sale online or in person. This saves you time on manual counts and reconciliations while reducing errors.
Shopify merchant tokyobike has tapped into these benefits by integrating Shopify POS with their ecommerce site and other business tools.
“There were things we wanted to do that we couldn’t, mostly around how we wanted to blend online and store experiences, show in-store stock availability online and offer order fulfillment like in-store pickup,” explains Juliana Di Simone, tokyobike’s partner and director.
“The interaction between physical and digital should feel like a natural part of your customer experience. To do that, you need your systems to speak the same language. That’s why we use Shopify POS.”
Prevent stockouts and overselling
Integrating systems reduces the risk of overselling inventory online you no longer have. If you’re out of the size or color an in-store shopper wants, you can use integration features like ship-to-customer to close sales in-store and ship purchases to customers from your warehouse or another store location that has the item in stock.
More comprehensive reporting
If you’re an omnichannel retailer, the last thing you want is data that’s siloed by the sales channel. You’ll spend countless hours in spreadsheets just to track the real-time data you need.
POS integrations and data analysis give you a unified view of performance, letting you see the big picture or drill down: track inventory by store, measure revenue per channel, and spot which products are selling—or sitting.
Offer better shopping experiences
Modern consumers expect a convenient shopping experience that lets them use any mix of online and in-store shopping. While bridging another POS system with your Shopify online store via an integration can work, it’s not ideal if you want to offer the best customer experience.
Shopify shines with its flexible approach, offering most core commerce functions out of the box while supporting a vast ecosystem of third-party apps that seamlessly integrate. This design ensures smooth data flow between systems, preventing communication gaps and delivering a unified experience for both businesses and their customers.
Increase repeat purchases
When all sales are unified, you can learn more about your customers, their shopping habits, and their preferences without exporting transaction data from two different systems.
Use that data to create impactful retention marketing campaigns. With quick access to customers’ order history, you can offer more personalized service when they shop in-store and easily create tailored email campaigns that increase repeat purchases and boost lifetime value.
POS integrations FAQ
What does integrated POS mean?
Integrated POS, or point of sale, refers to the connection between a retailer’s POS system and other software or hardware solutions. It allows these tools to share data, streamlining processes such as inventory management, sales tracking, and customer relationships.
What is a POS connection?
A POS connection is the link between a point-of-sale system and other software, devices, or platforms. This connection transfers data between the POS and external tools, facilitating inventory synchronization, financial reporting, and loyalty programs.
Why do we integrate POS?
- Spend less time on manual processes
- Prevent stockouts and overselling
- More comprehensive reporting
- Prevent manual error
- Offer flexible fulfillment options
- Increase repeat purchases
Can I integrate my POS with Shopify?
Shopify’s POS integrations allow retailers to connect third-party apps with their POS system, including accounting, staff scheduling, loyalty, marketing, and payment-processing apps.
What POS works best with Shopify?
Shopify POS works best with Shopify because it's built natively on the Shopify platform, so you can unlock unified commerce benefits right away. If you’re an ecommerce business expanding into in-person sales, Shopify POS combines inventory, orders, and customer data with your online channel.
How do I choose the right POS integration for my business?
- List your requirements
- Check compatibility
- Research vendors
- Analyze costs
- Make an implementation plan
- Train your retail team
- Roll out the new integration
What are the common challenges when integrating POS systems?
Security concerns, lack of real-time data synchronization, and lack of vendor support are the biggest challenges retailers face with POS integration. A unified commerce platform like Shopify solves these problems by providing core commerce functions out of the box.
What's the difference between a POS integration and a unified platform like Shopify?
Traditional POS integrations require API, apps, or middleware to connect systems. Shopify’s unified commerce platform, however, comes with core components built in—no middleware required.
