Everything you Need to Know About Shopify POS in Denmark
As you may have already noticed, not only European countries but almost the entire world's economies have dramatically changed after lockdowns. This change made people reconsider their shopping habits and basically made it necessary for them to buy their favorite products through online stores. With this in mind, and regarding the eCommerce market, revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2025) of 13.33%.
After seeing how the market and consumers' behavior started to change, most merchants decided to implement online sales channels in their retail locations. This made it possible for their businesses to stay afloat during those hard times and keep providing their customers with the best service possible. Online sales have also contributed to expanding the customer base of any retail store, given the flexibility and convenience they offer and how easily people can get their products.
Consequently, when everything went back to normal and brick and mortar businesses were able to open again, all these changes mentioned before brought even more workloads for retailers, making it way harder to keep on track with basic the tools they already had. Shopify point of sale (POS) is a solution specifically developed for big and small businesses in the retail industry, and all the functionalities that have been added throughout the years make it the perfect solution for retailers these times. For this reason, this article will show retailers all there is to know about using the POS system in Denmark.
Selling in person using the Shopify POS in Denmark
Given the fact that Denmark has a current population of 5.77 million people and 98% of them are active internet users (a very high percentage compared to the United Kingdom and most European countries), it has become a perfect strategy for modern business models to implement hybrid selling channels which include both in-store and online sales. Being that said, the Shopify point of sale system can help you to sell in person and improve everyone's experience at the same time.
Moreover, if you are ready to start operating in other new stores, the Shopify POS app allows you to manage multiple locations and sync each one of them with the same Shopify admin. Another way of taking advantage of the Shopify POS app's functionalities is using it to ensure every task is being handled the correct way. Thanks to the unique PIN assigned to each employee, it is possible for managers to have an overview of the activities their staff is performing and how well they complete them. You can also do your own research through the Shopify app store and see if any of the apps suits your business model.
Pricing & Subscriptions
Regardless of your Shopify subscription plan, you can try the POS PRO features thanks to the 14-day free trial. This way you'll see the best of the POS system before actually subscribing to it. Having that said, Shopify offers a different pricing structure for your main Shopify store and for the POS system. These costs are calculated in USD as the main currency regardless of the country your store is located. The POS app is included in every subscription plan a Shopify user may have, even the Basic Shopify plan.
As an eCommerce platform, the main subscription plans offered by Shopify, as current users may be aware, are Advanced, Shopify, and Basic. Here's a more detailed cost description (including the Shopify transaction fee):
On the other hand, the Shopify POS app has its own subscription prices. The plans are Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro. The differences between them are displayed in the following table:
The next thing you need to think about is whether or not to acquire POS Hardware from Shopify. Even though the only thing you need to actually start selling is a mobile device with the Shopify POS app installed, it will only let you process cash payment purchases. To provide your business with more flexibility, you'll need to buy a Shopify card reader so you can process both debit and credit card payments.
If you already own certain retail hardware from your previous shopping processing system, you can check if they're compatible with the Shopify POS. But if you're just starting, it is recommended to begin with a Shopify package like a hardware bundle with the essential tools a retail store needs.
Do I need to be connected to the Internet to use Shopify POS?
In order to sync with your Shopify admin, send receipts by email, and take card payments, Shopify POS needs an internet connection. It can be both from a WiFi network and cellular data. However, if you're unable to connect to the internet, or you're selling from a pop-up location without internet access, Shopify POS lets you use some limited functionalities. Here's a list of what tasks you cannot perform without an internet connection.
- Logging in: An internet connection is required to import your store's products when you or any of your staff members log in. In case you lose your connection after being logged in, then you can continue using the app as long as you don't log out.
- Syncing Shopify POS with your Shopify admin: Inventory changes can't be synced with your Shopify admin while you're offline. Nonetheless, when your connection to the internet is reestablished, your orders and inventory should be automatically synced. If this doesn't happen, you can also manually force the Shopify POS app to sync with your Shopify admin.
- Creating new products: You cannot add products and sync them with the Shopify admin if you don't have a stable internet connection.
- Processing card transactions: If you're unable to connect to the internet, the only payment method you'll be able to accept is cash, since card readers need an internet connection to process payments, as well as discount coupons.
- Shipping orders to customers: Without a stable connection, you won't be able to complete shipping requirements since the Shopify POS requires it to sync.
Shopify's Hardware Store
Unfortunately, there is no complete support for Shopify's own hardware in Denmark yet, which means you cannot enjoy the benefits of buying directly from their hardware store. However, Denmark has been added to the list of countries supported by the Wise Pad 3 (card reader), so Danes merchants are now able to include this device in their store's checkout setup. It is important to mention that there are also third-party sources for Shopify compatible hardware, some of them even offer a wide variety of bundles too, so you can buy the most convenient group of devices according to your business needs and requirements.
It is recommended to make sure the supplier is a reliable source, you can do this by searching for its reputation on a trustworthy reviews website and verifying its users' opinions. Some of the third-party hardware can be easily found in marketplaces or online stores, on the other hand, you can request card readers and such right into your bank.
Can you sell retail on Shopify?
Shopify automatically syncs all your account's data (such as inventory, products, etc) with your POS app. It also provides an easy-to-use interface that allows you to start selling online and at your brick-and-mortar store simultaneously. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that, as mentioned before, if you don't have the proper hardware devices, the payment methods you can accept when selling directly from it will be limited, and in case of not having any additional hardware, you'll only be able to accept cash payments.
What countries is Shopify POS available in?
You can use Shopify as an eCommerce platform in any country you want, however, Shopify POS is still in need of some work on its reach limitations. Shopify Payments usage is also limited to a certain list of countries. So, if you're currently running your business in any of the following countries, then you are eligible to use Shopify Payments:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Germany
- Hong Kong SAR
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- United States (Shopify Payments is available to US territories except for Puerto Rico).
If your business is based in a country not listed above, you also have the option to implement some third-party payment provider.
Does Shopify POS only work with Shopify payments?
Depending on the hardware devices you have in your store, the payment methods may vary. Cash payments will always be available, but if you integrate a card reader into your POS system, you'll be able to process debit and credit card purchases. Denmark has recently become part of the countries supported by Shopify Payments, which adds a layer of trust and convenience to the shopping experience and in-person sales by offering some of the most popular payment methods in the market. However, this is not the only payment gateway supported by Shopify POS in Denmark so you'll have many of them to choose from.
Another important point to highlight is that not only Danes but almost any type of customer will consider and prioritize your brand if you offer flexibility on the payment methods. If they have access to their preferred payment method, the sale will be basically completed, however, not being able to pay the way they prefer might make them lose interest in buying.
In addition, if any of your locations offer purchases with pick-up in-store or delivery modalities, having a wide variety of payment methods is key to convincing them into buying your products. Retailers also have the option to accept both Apple pay and Google pay, they just need to fulfill some requirements.
For Apple Pay: to enable the Apple Pay button for your store, you must be using one of the following credit card payment providers: Shopify Payments, Stripe, First Data Payeezy, Authorize.net, CyberSource, Braintree.
For Google Pay: all you need to enable Google Pay for your store is to be using Shopify Payments.
Best Payment Providers for Shopify POS in Denmark
In order to accept payment methods such as online banking, credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, cash cards, and more, you will have to hire a payment provider that allows you to implement the most convenient payment solutions while also suiting both your store's needs and budget. Here are the top 3 payment providers supported by Shopify POS in Denmark.
Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments, the company's very own payment gateway, is one of the most convenient payment providers for your Shopify store. It was specifically developed to be added to your Shopify POS app experience and let you accept payments of any kind. With highly competitive pricing, Shopify Payments works hard to secure your customers' sensitive data along with seamless integration with all aspects of your eCommerce store.
There are also several ways for customers to pay online without using a credit card thanks to Shopify Payments, such as Shop Pay, Facebook Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. You might also want to accept alternative methods of payment like cryptocurrency.
Pros: It's included in every Shopify Plan, all credit cards are charged the same rate based on your plan (starting at 1.5% for in-person transactions), there are no hardware rental or hidden fees, 24/7 customer service in case of any problem, 2-day payout.
Cons: Not supported in every country, strong regulations for the activities allowed to use the service.
Strongly recommended for Shopify store owners who can take advantage of the low commissions and prices for already being part of the Shopify community.
2Checkout
This is one of the leading payment providers for businesses that sell physical goods or digital products online. While it is impressive in terms of its global payment options and subscription billing capabilities, its payment processing rates can be expensive compared to domestic rates (3.5% plus 35 cents per successful sale and up). As 2Checkout has a striking resemblance to PayPal, when someone buys something from your site, you can expect 2Checkout to appear on their credit card statement.
Pros: No monthly fees, 24/7 customer support, supports for a wide variety of countries and currencies, advanced fraud protection.
Cons: Expensive processing rates.
PayPal Express Checkout
What makes it different from regular PayPal is the checkout flow. In Paypal Standard, your customers complete their check out, and right after that, they will be directed to the Paypal website. On the other hand, Paypal Express allows your customers to go to the Paypal website first to approve the purchase and then go back to your website to complete the order. You can boost sales with PayPal Express Checkout by letting your customers pay with credit cards or their personal PayPal accounts. At checkout, the customer is redirected to PayPal to complete payment information.
Pros: Payment flexibility, no monthly fees, 24/7 customer support, supports for a wide variety of countries and currencies, advanced fraud protection.
Cons: Expensive processing rates and fixed fees.
Top Shopify features for retailers
As a retail store owner, there are some specific Shopify features that will make your life and daily routines a lot easier and quicker thanks to the automation of some tasks and how much useful information the platform can gather for you. Here you have some of the features that will enhance your experience.
In-context product analytics
Shopify has recently added the option to view how key inventory metrics are performing in your company. This allows you to make better supply chain decisions based on accurate data collected from your own Shopify purchases history. By using the new metrics such as sell-through rate and days of inventory remaining, you can monitor your best-selling products and avoid risks from overstocking and understocking. The data collected for in-context metrics comes with detailed reports for sell-through rate, days of inventory remaining, and inventory value by ABC.
Customer profiles
You can use the customer profiles feature in your favor by collecting their past purchases data and until you've obtained the necessary information to start popping up on their notifications with reminders, back-in-stock notifications, special promotions, etc. This is a very common strategy applied by thousands of businesses nowadays. It may help you encourage that little Spanish urge to be shopping and checking out promotions every now and then.
Smart inventory
With this feature, you'll have the ability to make inventory decisions with confidence thanks to the smart recommendations from Stocky by Shopify (App not available for Shopify Lite plan). You'll also be able to request transfers across locations, easily keep track of incoming and outgoing products, ensure the inventory in your store matches the one in the system by using a barcode scanner, perform inventory counts and receive incoming orders, make low stock and detailed inventory reports. Unfortunately, these features are only available for the Shopify pro plan
Shopify POS: tips & tricks
There are some general practices merchants are implementing nowadays to improve the POS experience in their retail businesses. Some of them you might not know about, while others you may have heard of. In any case, doing some research is worth the effort if you want to get the most from your POS system, so here's a list of some things you should mind to improve your service and experience.
Providing an omnichannel experience
Given how online sales channels noticeably increased their popularity in Denmark during the isolation and how unpredictable these pandemic times are, it is recommended to keep a hybrid model of sales. Having a physical store and online sales advantages prepares retail stores for any unexpected situation.
Another benefit of merging all channels with each other is to create a seamless customer experience and make it easier for users to switch between your business' platforms depending on their needs. Making the experience as effortless as possible creates a smoother process for both customers and employees at the time of check out, and if your store is a physical and online Shopify store hybrid, this feature will benefit both modalities at the same time.
Implementing loyalty programs
One of the most common strategies to increase sales and customer engagement is rewarding your loyal buyers with discount codes, referral programs, exclusive content/promo codes, etc. You can earn your audience's contact details by offering them some content of interest or maybe more targeted offers in exchange for email subscriptions. This is essential if you wish to add customers to your email list and improve your marketing strategy. You can also use loyalty apps as a guide to starting with this approach.
Creating personalized marketing campaigns
Since the POS system gathers all of your customers' past purchases information, you can easily use it for a very specific targeted marketing campaign based on accurate analytics from your actual client base. This can be combined with the notifications previously mentioned to make it even more powerful and engaging.
Keeping your POS system regularly updated
Shopify POS app is constantly being reviewed in order to look for bugs and add new functionalities so every now and then a new version of the POS app is released. It's recommended to enable automatic updates or to regularly check for any new updates. Additionally, Shopify's social media accounts are frequently uploading content that teaches new functionalities.
Notifying customers when their in-store favorites are available
Getting to know your customers' profiles and favorite items gives you the necessary information to start popping up on their notifications with reminders, back-in-stock notifications, special promotions, etc. This is a very common strategy applied by thousands of businesses nowadays.
Customize your Smart Grid
Once you have some apps installed, you'll get more opportunities to customize your smart grid. The dashboard lets you add new tiles, and by clicking this button the interface will show a series of options you can choose depending on the needs of your staff/store.
You'll be able to add a new action, app shortcut, collection, discount, link, and product to the new tile you clicked on. If you have any app installed, this is the way to create
Best Reviewed apps for Shopify POS
Shopify's app store has a wide variety of options that can provide you with all the extra tools needed to improve both your business' personnel and customer experience. Here you have 4 of the Shopify app store community's most acclaimed apps.
EasyTeam
This is one of the leading apps for store and staff management tasks. EasyTeam integrates an intuitive interface along with exportable timesheets to facilitate payroll tasks, staff time tracking, sales commissions calculation, staff scheduling, and more. All these features combine together to make both managers' and employees' routines smoother, quicker, and more accurate by adding tiles of specific tasks to the main POS menu/dashboard. With an average rating of 4.9 stars, its current users have assured its legitimacy. You can try this feature for yourself at no cost thanks to the free plan available.
LoyaltyLion
With a 4.4 stars average ranking based on the opinion of 391 of its current users, this app has proven how beneficial it can be to enhancing sales. It offers loyalty points for purchases, sign-ups, subscriptions, birthdays, reviews, and social media interactions. This is a convenient way to reward customers for their appreciation and at the same time, encourage engagement and interaction with the brand. In addition, this app offers a free plan for new users to try its features.
Sufio
Everyone knows how important yet time-consuming is the creation of invoices. This app is here to automate the creation and sending of professional invoices and documents. It's also capable of designing custom workflows that are tailored to your business needs. These invoices are validated by certified accountants ensuring your documents meet worldwide regulations for both B2C and B2B. You can try all these benefits with the 14-day free trial offered by Sufio.
Stocky
Given how much time inventory management tasks can take from you and your team members, the implementation of apps like Stocky might be truly beneficial for your business. After all, who doesn't want to finish tasks quickly without lowering the work's quality?
This app can give you better visibility into what products you should order and when based on product performance and seasonality. It allows you to track what you’ve received and what’s leaving your store with each purchase without the need to create spreadsheets or use multiple systems. In addition, it lets you know when stock runs low so you can create purchase orders or transfer items from your locations.
