Those of you using a different POS than Shopify POS Pro, what are you using?
I’ve come to the realization that our process requires an alternative. We sell a LOT of custom and special order items, some of them embroidered or otherwise decorated in-house, and we need to be able to track custom orders, special orders, pre-orders on a line-item basis. We also need to generate purchase orders and reports based on line-item statuses.
We’re only one location so we’re not huge but this is costing us hundreds of man hours and we’re willing to pay for a more robust POS. Any recommendations?
(Along with that is that Stocky, which we use, doesn’t handle multiple receiving vouchers against a single PO. With recent updates, it’s also more difficult to adjust item costs and quantities while receiving when they differ from the original cost and quantity ordered.)
I’ve gone through your situation carefully and completely understand why Shopify POS Pro isn’t the right fit for your business. Since you’re handling a high volume of custom and special order items—including embroidered and decorated products—you need a POS that offers better tracking for custom orders, pre-orders, and purchase orders at the line-item level. Plus, Stocky’s limitations on multiple receiving vouchers and cost adjustments are creating inefficiencies that cost you valuable time.
Best Shopify POS Alternatives for Your Needs
Here are some more robust POS systems that could work better for your workflow:
1. Square for Retail- Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses needing a flexible, all-in-one system.
Why it fits your needs:
Advanced inventory management with custom order tracking.
Built-in purchase order creation & status tracking.
Flexible reporting features for sales and inventory.- Potential downside: Limited deep customization compared to ERP solutions.
2. Lightspeed Retail- Best for: Businesses needing detailed inventory tracking and custom order management.
Why it fits your needs:
Tracks special orders and custom orders at the line-item level.
Creates and tracks purchase orders (POs) with multiple receiving vouchers.
Strong reporting capabilities, especially for COGS and margin tracking.- Potential downside: Higher learning curve and pricing.
3. Vend (by Lightspeed)- Best for:Retailers who need strong purchase order management.
Why it fits your needs:
Ability to create & track special orders and pre-orders.
PO management with multiple receiving vouchers.
Good reporting on inventory and item status.- Potential downside: Not as seamless with Shopify as native Shopify POS.
4. Erply POS- Best for:Businesses that need advanced inventory management and reporting.
Why it fits your needs:
Tracks pre-orders, custom orders, and special orders.
Allows partial receiving of POs, which Stocky struggles with.
Strong reporting and analytics.- Potential downside: More complex setup and pricing.
Possible Workarounds If You Stay on Shopify POS
If you don’t want to switch completely, you can improve your workflow by integrating apps like:
Katana MRP (for tracking custom orders, production, and inventory)
TradeGecko/QuickBooks Commerce (for better purchase order handling)
Stocky Alternatives like Skubana (for better PO and inventory tracking)
Let me know if you need help choosing the best fit for your workflow!
If you need any other assistance, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to support you. Best regards, Daisy.
You might want to check out ConnectPOS as an alternative to Shopify POS Pro. It’s great for tracking custom, special, and pre-orders on a line-item basis, generating purchase orders and reports, and handling multi-receiving vouchers per PO—a big plus over Stocky. It also lets you adjust costs and quantities during receiving.
It’s available on the Shopify Marketplace with a free trial and support, so you might want to give it a try!