Identify customers at checkout with QR codes

Retail & Point of Sale
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Topic summary

A user inquires about implementing customer identification via QR codes or barcodes at checkout in Shopify POS Pro, similar to Square’s functionality. The goal is to automatically add customers to the cart when they scan an ID card or digital wallet.

Technical Solutions Discussed:

  • Custom tiles with CameraScanner component can enable this functionality
  • Socket barcode scanners are limited to adding products, not customer identification via QR codes
  • Custom tiles require POS UI Extensions, typically created by partners using Shopify CLI

Third-Party Solution:

  • An app called “Barcodify - Customer Selector” is recommended as a ready-made solution
  • Supports issuing customer barcodes, mobile wallet passes, or using existing customer barcodes
  • Compatible with SocketScan for quick customer lookup and cart addition
  • Offers a free trial

The discussion remains open regarding whether merchants can create private apps with custom tiles independently.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hello everyone, was wondering if the below functionality is available via Shopify POS Pro?

I would like to give QR codes or barcodes to each of our customers, so they can present an ID card or perhaps digital wallet and when scanned, customer is automatically added to the cart.

Thanks heaps!

https://squareup.com/help/au/en/article/7387-identify-customers-at-your-counter-with-qr-codes

2

Hi @jamesmctaggart ,

Yes this is possible with Shopify POS.

Using a custom tile and CameraScanner component one can create this functionality.

https://shopify.dev/docs/api/pos-ui-extensions/2024-10/components/camerascanner

3

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the information. We have the socket barcode scanners, could this be done through that?

Also, how can i access custom tile to create this?

4

Hi James,

Socket scanner is specifically to add products to cart, so it would have to be a QR code.

Custom tiles are added by apps that have a POS UI Extension. Partners can create them using shopify CLI, not sure if merchants can do that with a private app.

5

Hello,

In case you’re still looking for a solution, I built Barcodify - Customer Selector exactly for this use case. With the app you can issue customer barcodes and mobile wallet passes or use your own customer barcodes. Scan barcodes with your SocketScan to quickly find and add customers to Shopify POS cart. The app is free to try out!