Shopify puts stock counts and local delivery inside POS Pro

Shopify is putting two back-office jobs closer to the shop floor: counting stock and arranging a local delivery for somebody standing at the counter. The useful part is not simply that staff can do more on the till. It is that counting stock need not give them the power to change the business’s inventory figures.

The company announced both additions on 28 September. They require Shopify POS Pro and POS version 11.16 or later. These are paid-tier features, rather than a free upgrade for every shop using Shopify.

For an owner already paying for Pro, our recommendation is to check the permissions and try a small, supervised stock count before the next full stocktake. For a shop on the basic POS offering, start with the price and the work you actually need done. Two new buttons are not, by themselves, a business case for another subscription.

Count first, approve afterwards

With the new stock-count workflow, a manager creates a cycle or full count in Shopify Admin, selects the location and items, and schedules the work. Staff then scan barcodes or enter quantities in POS. Their submission goes back for review; approval is what applies the inventory adjustments.

That separation matters. An illustrative use would be asking a shop-floor assistant to count one product range while the owner checks discrepancies later. It is a suggested trial, not a claim that we have tested Shopify’s implementation or measured a time saving.

Shopify’s support documentation distinguishes this from Quick count, which staff can start themselves. Scheduled counts need the Perform inventory counts permission, while creating and reviewing them uses separate Admin permissions. They also need a network connection.

There is a practical wrinkle for busy stores: if a product’s inventory changes during the count, Shopify marks it outdated and it can no longer be counted in that session. Other products can still be counted. Choose a manageable first batch, and make sure the person reviewing it understands why an item might not be finished.

Delivery starts at the counter

The second update lets staff create a local-delivery order during an in-store checkout, using the online store’s existing delivery zones and rates. Local delivery must already be configured for the location.

The permission names deserve a look before staff need them. Creation now uses Create shipping and delivery orders. Fulfilment uses Fulfill shipping, pickup, and delivery orders; Shopify says local delivery previously did not require that permission.

This is not a mix-and-match fulfilment option: all physical items must go by local delivery, rather than combining delivery with shipping or pickup in the same order. Delivery also has to remain within the location’s country.

Shopify’s order-management instructions cover the next steps: collecting delivery details, preparing the order and marking it delivered. Our operational suggestion is to nominate who does each part. Taking payment at the counter should not leave the parcel waiting for somebody who never knew it was their job.

Check the commitment behind the monthly number

As checked on 30 September, Shopify’s Australian pricing page advertises A$129 a month for each POS Pro location, in addition to the Shopify base plan. It displays Basic at A$56 a month on monthly billing.

Shopify also advertises an annual POS Pro offer at A$97 per month per location, paid monthly over a 12-month term. Its offer page excludes businesses already using POS Pro. Early cancellation leaves the remaining monthly fees payable, so the lower monthly number is not a month-to-month deal.

The main pricing page’s FAQ confusingly describes A$129 as billed yearly, despite the live selector showing separate monthly and yearly rates. Confirm the applicable offer, term and total in your account or quote before adding locations.

Compare the whole arrangement, including your payment costs, rather than one feature fee. Our Square and Stripe fee comparison explains why the transaction side deserves its own calculation. For more changes to everyday business tools, see Software & systems.

Checklist

• Check the till. Confirm the location has POS Pro and runs Shopify POS 11.16 or later.
• Separate counting from approval. Have the owner check staff inventory permissions before scheduling a small trial count.
• Review delivery access. Check the configured zones, rates and updated creation and fulfilment permissions with the shop manager.
• Confirm the subscription term. Before adding Pro, obtain the Australian price and billing commitment for each location alongside the base plan.