What is eCommerce POS integration?
A POS eCommerce integration is the software solution that would connect a physical store’s point-of-sale to other eCommerce applications. An interface of such nature will allow one to transfer data synchronously between these two systems, including products within inventory, customer information, and sales transactions.
The POS interfaces essentially bridge the brick-and-mortar storefronts and the online sales channels. Such interfaces provide a more cohesive and streamlined way through which the back-end business operations are handled, thereby increasing efficiency and uniformity of experience across all points of sale with decision-making done on basis of dependable, real-time data.
Why Do Businesses Need POS eCommerce Integration?
According to a Harvard Business Review study, shoppers will spend 13% more in physical stores if they have previously completed online research on the brand’s websites. It means that customers who interact across several channels are more likely to spend money in retail businesses. To match the increasin expectations of customers, it is vital to deliver a seamless buying trip from offline to online is vital. Here are some very common reasons that lead businesses toward POS ecommerce integration:
Inventory Management
A POS and eCommerce integration allows ecommerce businesses to better manage their inventory by synchronizing stock levels across online and offline sales channels. This helps to decrease discrepancies and stockouts and enhance inventory tracking.
Omnichannel Experience
Integrating a POS system with an ecommerce platform allows small businesses to provide a uniform customer experience across all sales channels. As a result, consumers can have a consistent purchasing experience, whether in-store or online, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Real-time Data
A POS integration delivers real-time information about sales, orders, and inventory levels. This enables organizations to make informed decisions, optimize order fulfillment, and track performance across numerous channels, resulting in increased growth and profitability.
CRM
A POS integration allows online shops to provide personalized marketing, targeted promotions, and efficient customer service by syncing consumer data and transaction history across channels. This allows organizations to better understand client profiles, create long-term connections, and promote repeat purchases.
Simplified Operations
A POS integration makes it easier to manage complex sales activities, including running several retail outlets, working with warehouses, and conducting international sales. Businesses can receive a comprehensive view of their operations, making it easier to manage resources and make strategic growth decisions, such as when to hire a third-party logistics provider.
No Manual Data Entry
Manual data entry, reconciliation, and synchronization are inherently error-prone and time-consuming. Another significant advantage of linking an eCommerce website with an EPOS system is the elimination of human data entry, such as: sync order information between in-store and online orders; manage all client, order, and product information in one location; no need to update information or reconcile data between channels. This connection saves you valuable time and effort, allowing you to focus on your business.
Customer Data & Insights
Integrating POS and eCommerce solutions allows you to concentrate all of your client data in one location. Customers demand a consistent experience and connection across all channels, so your business can build customer relationships through individualized promos and offers. Create personalized marketing proposals based on purchase history and implement multi-channel promotions (discounts, rewards cards, and loyalty programs).
Customer Experience
Integrated eCommerce POS systems address multiple company demands in real-time and improve customer satisfaction across all omnichannel touchpoints. They integrate your online store with your POS system, providing a seamless customer experience through multiple payment methods, online ordering, and integrated omnichannel marketing and loyalty programs.
Getting Started with POS eCommerce Integration
Getting Started with Ecommerce POS integration is a simple technique for traditional retail enterprises that also sell online. The goal is to seamlessly integrate the POS system with an OMS, WMS, or shipping platform, allowing for effective order and inventory management across several channels. By integrating your retail POS system with an OMS, WMS, or shipping platform, you can optimize your operations and deliver a consistent shopping experience for both in-store and online customers.
Choose A POS System
First and foremost, you’ll need POS software for your physical store, an ecommerce platform for your online store (such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce), and an OMS, WMS, or shipping platform to send your orders. Apps should be compatible and integrate with one another. Investigate ecommerce solutions that best meet your company’s demands and provide ecommerce integration capabilities.
Find An Ecommerce Integration Solution
Once your POS provider and ecommerce platform are in place, you’ll need an integration solution, such as Extensiv Integration Manager, to permit communication between the two systems. Integration solutions enable to automate the flow of information, maintaining data consistency and reducing errors.
Connect Your Systems
After deciding on the best ecommerce integration option, link your POS system to the OMS, WMS, or shipping platform. To build a secure connection between the systems, you may need to configure API keys or other authentication mechanisms.
Configure Your Workflow Settings
Next, you must create and configure data workflows between your systems. Define how and when data like order information, inventory levels, and shipment tracking should be synced between your POS software and the OMS, WMS, or shipping platform.
Test and Monitor
Before fully establishing the integration, test the data workflows to confirm they work properly. Continuously monitor the integration for errors or anomalies and make necessary adjustments.
Top Features in an Integrated eCommerce POS System
Consider these key features when you are looking for POS eCommerce integration:
Inventory Synchronization
The integration keeps your inventory levels correct and up-to-date across all channels. This allows you to minimize stockouts and overselling while providing a consistent customer shopping experience.
Order Management
Orders from your POS system or any online sales channel are instantly sent to your OMS, WMS, or shipping platform for timely processing and fulfillment. Streamlining order management saves time and reduces the possibility of errors in order processing.
Tracking Information
Integration Manager updates shipment tracking information across all systems to enable this capability. This enables you to provide timely and precise delivery updates to your clients, improving their buying experience.
Multichannel Management
Integration Manager consolidates orders, inventory, and tracking information from several sales channels, allowing you to manage your ecommerce operations from a single, centralized location. This simplification lets you focus on expanding your business and meeting consumer expectations.
Scalability and Flexibility
An integration manager is expected to grow along with your company as you expand your various products and sales outlets. Integration of your POS system to other ecommerce systems gives you quick response controls to operational changes based on changing needs of customers and markets.
How Does POS eCommerce Integration Work?
Using POS with other ecommerce systems enables a smoother running of orders, inventory management, and customer data across various platforms. Here is the step-by-step process on how POS integrates with other ecommerce systems:
Sales Order Download
Integration Manager gathers critical sales order data from the POS system, such as order ID, customer information, product details, pricing, payment information, shipping method, order status, and any custom fields, to ensure effective processing and fulfillment across ecommerce platforms.
Sales Order Upload
The Integration Manager transfers the sales order data to the order destination, which could be an OMS, WMS, or shipping platform. This phase provides accuracy and real-time synchronization across all systems, which saves time and streamlines the order fulfillment process.
Shipment Tracking & Inventory Level Download
After an order is processed, dispatched, and inventory levels are altered, the order destination returns the shipment tracking information and updated inventory levels to Integration Manager. However, it is vital to note that this feature is only supported by a few platforms.
Shipment Tracking & Inventory Level Upload
Integration Manager synchronizes shipment tracking information and inventory levels with the order source, such as a POS system, ecommerce platform, or marketplace, keeping all platforms updated on the order’s status. Similar to the preceding stage, this is only supported by some systems.
The Cost for POS eCommerce Integration
The cost of eCommerce POS integration is mostly defined by your solution and service provider (free, subscription, or one-time fee). The fees will vary depending on whether you choose a standalone or eCommerce-integrated POS. POS and eCommerce integration cost varies due to multiple factors like:
POS System and Features
Less complex systems cost less and systems with advanced features like CRM will cost more.
eCommerce Platform
WooCommerce and Magento may cost lower as they are open-source platforms. Shopify and BigCommerce usually have have subscription-based planning and costs more.
Integration Method
Hiring an integration partner or developer incur additional cost.
Customization
Standard integration cost less as compared to custom integration.
Ongoing Costs
Some eCommerce platforms and POS systems have subscription billing and can cost more. Additionally, maintenance and updates add on to the original cost.
Conclusion
POS eCommerce integration provides significant benefits by automating procedures and synchronizing data between two channels. It reduces manual labor, delivers detailed reports and analysis to help you make data-driven decisions, and improves the client experience, consequently generating revenue.
However, before selecting an integration solution, consider your specific requirements. You can also lower total integration expenses by selecting natively integrated systems between POS and eCommerce. As a result, they will be guaranteed alternatives with smooth integration and a dependable system in the long term.
If you want to connect your eCommerce website to your offline stores, our POS eCommerce integration can help you sync data between them in real-time. You can schedule a free consultation with us at Folio3, and we’ll work together to create a solution that works for your business.
FAQs
Why businesses use POS software?
POS software serves as a bridge between your online and offline sales. This enables it to interface with an e-commerce operation as well as correspond with inventory management, buying management, accounting, customer support, among other services. You will be guaranteed all-time accurate, real-time data sync with advanced point-of-sale systems for fast and easy-informed decisions.
Can data be transferred from old POS system to a new one?
Yes. You can move your data from the previous POS to the new one. One crucial issue is determining which information to move to your new POS. Inventory, orders, customers, and purchasing are the most significant types of POS data.
Can POS be integrated with an ERP?
Yes, you can combine your POS with ERP. A POS and ERP interface keeps all of your business data correct and up to date. It reduces human mistake from manual data entry throughout your organization while also eliminating delays in such changes.
What is the difference between eCOmemrce and POS transaction?
eCommerce transactions involve buying and selling products or services online using computers, mobile phones, or other telecommunications devices and equipment. POS transactions occur when clients pay for goods or services at a cash register or online.
