A footwear retailer is transitioning to Shopify as their primary inventory and POS system after a failed implementation with another platform (Agiliron, which they strongly advise avoiding). They previously used high-end POS systems and Lightspeed but need solutions to address Shopify’s limitations.
Key challenges identified:
Omnichannel integration with Amazon, eBay, and Walmart—particularly needing the ability to create new ASINs on Amazon
Footwear-specific matrix reporting by size, color, and width
Robust purchase order creation and receiving workflows for high-volume shoe inventory
Continuing to use their existing credit card processor outside Shopify Payments
Recommended solutions provided:
Reporting: Better Reports for customizable matrix-style dashboards; EZ Exporter or Matrixify for spreadsheet-based views
Purchase orders: Stocky (included with Shopify POS Pro) or ByteStand’s standalone PO app with barcode scanning
Multi-channel sync: Codisto LINQ for ASIN creation capability (note: Codisto has consolidated their apps into one listing)
POS options: Either upgrade to Shopify POS Pro or continue with Lightspeed POS using the Shopify integration
Resolution: The original poster ultimately decided to use Linnworks as their main inventory system to avoid managing multiple potentially incompatible apps, while using Shopify for POS. A clarification was requested about Codisto’s app naming, confirming they’ve consolidated into a single Shopify marketplace listing.
Summarized with AI on October 28.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
I’m currently transitioning from using a dedicated inventory management system to making Shopify my primary inventory and POS solution.
Previously, I was using a high-end POS system, but about six years ago I switched to a more integrated inventory platform that pushed products to all my sales channels. During that time, I used Lightspeed POS primarily just for recording in-store sales.
In January, I switched to a new system that included POS functionality and promised a lot, but it ended up being a NIGHMAER—so now I’m going to use Shopify as my main inventory system. While Shopify works well for my website, it lacks many features I relied on from a traditional POS system.
Some of the key challenges I’m facing:
Omnichannel integration: I’m looking for a solid app to connect Shopify with Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. I’m considering Marketplace Connect, but so far it’s been slow and hard to set up. I like the layout of Sellbrite, but it doesn’t support creating new ASINs on Amazon. I’m wondering if using both might be a workaround.
Footwear-specific reporting: I need detailed reporting by size, color, and width (matrix view), which Shopify POS doesn’t currently offer natively.
Purchasing & receiving: I’m also looking for a robust solution for creating purchase orders and managing receiving. we get alot of shoes that need to be scanned in, i do not know if shopify can handel it
POS costs & features: I’m unsure about how well Shopify POS will perform long term, and I’ve noticed that credit card fees are higher compared to my current processor. Lightspeed offers lower rates, so I’m weighing the options.
Third-party card processors: I’m also wondering if I can continue using my current credit card processor outside of Shopify without disrupting my sales workflow.
I’ve also been in discussions with Linnworks, which looks not bad (still dont do everything i need) but heard online that they have frequent price increases, making me hesitant.
For anyone considering it: AVOID AVOID AVOID AGILIRON—NIGHTMAER.
So here are my main questions:
If I stick with Shopify POS, what apps or integrations can improve:
Reporting (especially for apparel/footwear matrix-style data)
Purchase order creation
Receiving processes
Can I use my current credit card processor separately from Shopify, and just record the sales manually or through another method?
If I decide not to use Shopify POS, what alternative POS systems would you recommend that integrate well with Shopify?
Does anyone have a recommendation for a multi-channel app that works with Shopify and can also create new ASINs on Amazon?
Here’s how you can shore up the gaps in Shopify’s native POS/inventory and get closer to the full “all-in-one” solution you had before:
1. Matrix-Style Reporting (Size, Color, Width)
App / Tool Key Features
Better Reports
Fully customizable dashboards and matrix-style pivot tables. You can slice by size, color, width—even combine with sales channel data.
EZ Exporter
Automate CSV/Google Sheets exports with your own matrix layouts.
Matrixify (formerly Excelify)
Import/export multi-dimensional inventory; build template spreadsheets to view your matrix in Excel or Google Sheets.
Recommendation: Start with Better Reports—it hooks directly into Shopify’s data model and will let you build exactly the size/color/width pivot you need, on-demand or on a schedule.
PO creation, email to vendors, receiving workflows, FIFO costing, barcode scanning.
Katana MRP
Lightweight manufacturing focus, but strong PO/receiving and barcode scanning.
Recommendation: If you can swing Shopify POS Pro, you’ll get Stocky at no extra license cost. Otherwise, ByteStand is a solid standalone for POs + scan-in receiving.
Recommendation:Codisto strikes the best balance: it’ll create new ASINs on Amazon, push inventory realtime to all channels, and stays “in Shopify” without a separate dashboard.
External Processors: Shopify only lets external gateways on Shopify POS if you’re on Shopify Advanced or Shopify Plus, and you’ll pay a 0.5–2% “gateway fee” on top.
Manual Recording Workaround: You could ring transactions through your existing processor outside Shopify, then use an app like Order Printer Pro or EZ Exporter to import a “manual order” CSV daily—but this breaks client experience (no receipts from Shopify) and reporting integrity.
Bottom Line: If credit-card fees are a show-stopper, you’ll either need to
Upgrade to Shopify Advanced/Plus and integrate your gateway directly (paying the gateway fee but keeping unified reporting), or
Use a third-party POS (see below) that lets you keep your existing processor and syncs back to Shopify by API.
5. Alternative POS Systems
POS System Shopify Integration Pros Cons
Lightspeed
Native (via app)
Your existing rates, rich retail features
Sync cadence can lag ~5–15 min
Vend (Revel)
Via Zapier or middleware
Strong retail workflows, offline mode
Extra middleware adds cost
Square for Retail
Third-party app
Can keep your Square rates
Sync only goes one way (sales → Shopify)
Clover
Via Connex for QuickBooks
Flexible hardware bundles
Setup + middleware costs
Recommendation: Stick with Lightspeed, since you know their fees and feature set—and use the official Lightspeed↔Shopify app. It will keep your in-store processor but push sales/inventory back to Shopify (with a short delay).
Quick Path Forward1. Install Better Reports and build your footwear matrix dashboards.
Enable Shopify POS Pro (to get Stocky) or add ByteStand if you want standalone POs + barcode-based receiving.
Swap Marketplace Connect for Codisto LINQ for Amazon ASIN creation and multi-channel sync.
Evaluate upgrading to Shopify Advanced/Plus if you want to keep your existing processor inside Shopify without gateway fees. Otherwise continue Lightspeed POS with the Shopify integration.
That combination will give you near-parity with your old “all-in-one” system, but with Shopify as your single source of truth. Please reach out to us via our website below if you need help in configuring any of those. Also, please like the answer if it was useful to you in anyways and mark it as a solution if it helped you.
Thank You for the detailed reply i really appreciated, i decided to use Linnworks as my main inventory system, using shopify as my inventory system i would not a lot of apps which may not work together and create many more issues , and for POS i probably will use Shopify
One more question i see you listed Codisto LINQ and Also Marketplace connect as 2 separate apps
i was under the impression that Codisto is Marketplace Connect , and i was tyring to lookup Codisto LINQ on shopify marketplace , but could not find it , can you please clarify if its a separate app and if yes where can i locate it