Retailers face intense competition and growing customer expectations in today’s environment. Generic POS systems often fall short, unable to accommodate unique business models or provide the flexibility required for growth.
Retailers expect their POS to be more than just a cash register. A custom POS is a powerful tool for managing operations and enhancing customer relationships. Ahead, you’ll learn how to use Shopify’s tools to build a custom POS that solves your specific challenges and improves your retail operations.
Benefits of custom POS systems
A custom POS system offers a few advantages over one-size-fits-all solutions.
Tailored to your business
A custom POS system adapts to a retailer’s unique business model.
For instance, a bike shop could integrate repair tracking and rental management alongside sales. A specialty grocer might incorporate features for handling bulk sales, custom-cut meats, and local produce sourcing. These tailored systems streamline operations by combining multiple business aspects into one interface, improving efficiency and customer service.
As you grow, you can easily modify your POS system to accommodate new needs without requiring a complete overhaul.
Build better customer relationships
The POS has become more than a glorified cash register. Custom POS systems can help you better understand your customers’ needs and expectations. With a custom POS system, you can:
- Integrate loyalty programs with points tracking and reward redemption
- Build customer profiles that store preferences and purchase history
- Leverage segmentation tools for target marketing campaigns
- Provide a seamless experience across in-store and online purchases
With a custom POS system at your fingertips, you can offer tailored recommendations that make customers feel truly understood.
Improve inventory management
Always know what’s in stock, what’s selling fast, and what’s gathering dust on your shelves. A custom POS system helps you improve inventory management by offering real-time updates across all your channels. No more out-of-stock notifications and more automated reordering keeps your store stocked with what your customers want.
Build a custom POS system with Shopify POS
- POS UI extensions
- Apps integration
- Discounts and promotions
- Staff permissions
- Hardware configuration
- Receipt customization
- Reporting
POS UI extensions
Shopify’s POS UI extensions introduce a new level of customization for brick-and-mortar retailers. These tools let developers craft bespoke interfaces that integrate smoothly with Shopify’s existing POS framework, enhancing functionality and the user experience.
POS UI extensions leverage the flexibility of React, JavaScript, and TypeScript to create custom elements that blend effortlessly with Shopify’s native design. This means that whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, you have the power to create a completely customized POS software solution for your business.
But how do you get started with building these extensions? The process is surprisingly straightforward:
- Set up your development environment with Shopify CLI.
- Generate a POS UI extension using the CLI.
- Run your local extension in a development store.
- Preview and iterate on your design.
Shopify has made the design process even easier by offering a Figma UI kit. It includes components like tiles, date and time pickers, and input fields, all designed to match the look and feel of the Shopify POS interface. It’s like having a master designer by your side that makes sure your interface maintains the sleek, professional look that employees have come to expect.
You’ll find a rich variety of components at your disposal, such as:
- ActionItem: Provides a tappable surface on the specified extension target as an entry point to your extension
- Badge: Used to inform merchants of the status of an item or action
- Banner: Informs merchants about important changes or persistent conditions
- SearchBar: Allows merchants to enter search queries for objects throughout the Shopify POS app
- CameraScanner: Uses the device’s camera to scan and decode barcodes or QR codes
POS UI extensions help you create customized, context-sensitive experiences. Imagine a loyalty program extension that activates special offers when certain purchasing thresholds are met, or an inventory management extension that provides real-time stock alerts based on sales trends. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
👉 Explore the full list of components available to customize your Shopify POS UI.
Apps integration
One of Shopify POS’s strengths is its seamless integration with various apps. Think of it as expanding your POS capabilities to match your growing business needs.
Discover what’s possible with some of today’s most-downloaded UI extensions:
- In-store fulfillment: Improve efficiency for online order pickups (e.g., Zapiet)
- Staff management: Simplify team management with clock-in and clock-out functionality (e.g., EasyTeam)
- Variable pricing: Streamline checkout for custom-priced products (e.g., POS Variable Priced Products)
Need advanced inventory management or a robust loyalty program? There’s an app for that in the Shopify App Store. Browse the Shopify App Store to find the right UI extension and add it to your POS with just a few clicks.
📚 Read: 14 POS Integrations to Make Running a Retail Store a Breeze
Discounts and promotions
Shopify POS has transformed discount management by introducing Discount Functions. Launched in June 2024, this feature allows merchants to create custom, code-based discounts that work seamlessly across online and in-store channels.
With Discount Functions, you can now:
- Trigger discounts based on unique criteria like customer lifetime value
- Create complex offers like “Buy A, B, and (C or D), and get E free”
- Integrate discounts with loyalty programs or memberships
For example, you could set up a discount that activates when a customer’s purchase history reaches $500, or design a promotion that offers 20% off when a customer buys a specific product combination.
These functions are easily accessible through smart grid tiles, making them simple for your staff to apply. Whether you’re a boutique or a major retailer, Discount Functions empower you to craft sophisticated, targeted promotions that boost sales and build customer loyalty.
Staff permissions
Do you manage a growing team across different roles and locations? Create specific roles and permissions for each retail associate, granting access to exactly what they need and nothing more.
For instance, Sarah, your trusted floor supervisor, might have a “master key” that allows her to apply discounts, manage orders across all locations, and even approve certain actions for junior staff. Meanwhile, Alex, a new cashier, might have a more limited “key” that lets him ring up sales and view product information, but requires Sarah’s approval for returns or large discounts.
You can also create:
- Custom POS roles for different job functions
- Granular controls over actions like discount application and inventory management
- Location-specific permissions for multi-store operations
- Manager approval settings for sensitive tasks
As your business grows from a single store to a chain, these permissions grow with you. They ensure that whether you’re managing a team of five or 500, everyone has the right tools to do their job efficiently and securely.
Hardware configuration
Shopify POS offers a versatile, plug-and-play hardware ecosystem that adapts to your unique retail environment. Whether you’re selling behind a counter, roaming the sales floor, or setting up at an event, there’s a hardware solution to fit your needs.
Key components include:
- Countertop Kit: A sleek countertop device with a customer-facing display
- Tap & Chip Card Reader: A versatile reader for various payment methods
- Tap to Pay on iPhone: A software solution for contactless payments
You can complement these devices with accessories like cash drawers, barcode scanners, and receipt printers to create a complete, customized POS system. The beauty of Shopify’s hardware is its flexibility. Start with what you need now and easily add or change components as your business grows.
Receipt customization
Shopify POS takes receipt customization to the next level with its powerful Liquid code editor. This feature allows you to tailor your printed receipts to match your brand and provide customers with a unique checkout experience.
With the Liquid editor, you can:
- Customize receipt templates for different types (e.g., sales, gift cards, and returns)
- Edit specific sections like headers and footers
- Use dynamic content with Liquid variables (e.g., shop.name, and order.total_price)
- Apply filters to format currency or translate text
For example, you could add a personalized message based on the purchase amount:
{% if order.total_price > $10,000}
Thank you for your generous purchase! Enjoy 10% off your next visit.
{% else %}
We appreciate your business. Come back soon!
{% endif %}
While this advanced customization requires some HTML, CSS, and Liquid knowledge, it offers flexibility in your receipt design. From adding QR codes for loyalty programs to displaying seasonal messages, the possibilities are endless.
Reporting
Shopify POS offers native reporting capabilities, but accessing detailed reports programmatically requires some savvy use of APIs. You can use the Shopify admin API—either REST or GraphQL—to gather and analyze your sales data, and create custom reports.
For example, to calculate total sales for a specific date range:
- Query the Orders endpoint with date filters.
- Sum up the total_price field from each order.
- Account for refunds and adjustments.
For those seeking a more turnkey solution, third-party reporting apps in the Shopify App Store can provide prebuilt reports and analytics dashboards. These can be especially useful for merchants who need quick insights without diving into API development.
Customize your POS with Shopify APIs
Using Shopify’s POS UI extensions is the most straightforward way to customize your POS experience.
Shopify’s APIs aren’t meant to replace UI Extensions but complement them in specific scenarios. For example, you might need to keep data in sync between the POS and external systems or have custom business logic that goes beyond UI modifications.
Some APIs that are available to further customize your POS include:
- Cart API: Manages and interacts with POS cart contents
- Customer API: Provides access to current customer data
- Product API: Retrieves information about current products
- Order API: Accesses data about current orders
- Scanner API: Enables integration with scanning devices
- Navigation API: Allows custom navigation between POS screens
👉 See the full list of available Shopify APIs for Shopify POS.
Costs and implementation considerations
If you’re going to build your own custom POS system with Shopify, you’ll want to weigh the implementation costs. Here’s what you need to know:
- Shopify POS Pro plan: $89 per month billed annually for each location. The Pro plan is required for advanced customization features.
- Hardware costs: Vary based on needs (e.g., the Countertop Kit is $459). Consider additional hardware like barcode scanners and cash drawers.
- Development costs: Vary depending on your in-house development capabilities.
- App integration costs: Many third-party apps have monthly subscription fees, which can range from $10 to $200 per month per app.
- Training costs: Consider how long it will take to train your staff on your new POS UI.
A basic customization can take between two and four weeks to complete. Your team will need knowledge of React or JavaScript/TypeScript, and be familiar with Shopify’s API and developer ecosystem.
Custom POS system FAQ
How can I build custom workflows into my POS?
Shopify’s POS UI extensions are an excellent tool for building custom workflows into your POS. These extensions let you easily add custom features to Shopify’s POS system, creating new functions that work smoothly alongside the built-in POS tools.
How much does a custom POS system cost?
Custom POS systems can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to as much as $100,000, depending on their complexity, level of customization, and integration requirements.
What is a custom POS system?
A custom POS system is a point-of-sale solution tailored to a business’ needs and processes. It often includes specialized features, integrations, and workflows unavailable in off-the-shelf POS systems.
How can I get my own POS?
To get your own POS, you can either purchase a ready-made system from a POS vendor or create a custom solution. The choice depends on your needs, budget, and the level of customization required.
