Updated on November 22, 2021
Originally founded under a different entity in 2008, ShopKeep by Lightspeed has evolved into a cloud-based point-of-sale system for small-scale restaurants and several other retailers. Due to its ease of use and cost-effectiveness, the system has been gaining popularity among businesses across various industries. Only in Canada and the United States alone, the software is used by over 23,000 businesses and a majority of those include bars, restaurants, coffee, and retail shops.
What Does the System Do?
ShopKeep works by supporting a high volume of transactions in a retail environment. It performs and assists the following procedures:
- Providing detailed inventory
- Providing sales reports
- Integrating online ordering
Moreover, many food businesses prefer it for its streamlined interface.
What Businesses Does It Work Best For?
This point of sale system is recommended for the following businesses:
Food trucks: Food trucks can benefit from the system through its strong payment processing features and robust mobility.
Shops switching to an online system: Many shops have to maintain registers to keep a check on their cash inflow. However thanks to the variety of features on this advanced POS system, they can perform the same functions without having to maintain a pile of registers.
Food-based retailers: One of the best things about ShopKeep is that it’s not limited to restaurants and cafes. Other food-based businesses such as wineries and grocery stores, etc. can also make use of features such as bar-coding for example. Overall, it’s a perfect fit for hybrid businesses.
Businesses that require mobility: Another notable feature of this software is that, unlike several other systems, you do not need to spend a hefty amount on installation. Instead, you can use this cloud POS system on your smartphones, which doesn’t require specialist installation.
Restaurants that provide quick service: Most quick-service restaurants require a reliable iPad POS system and ShopKeep is one of the highest-rated options in this regard. It also works well for seasonal quick-service restaurants due to its “dormant mode” that allows registering combo orders.
Pricing
ShopKeep point-of-sale service does not require any contracts. It has a hassle-free monthly subscription with a pay-as-you-go nature. The monthly packages are priced in the following categories:
Basic
This one is priced between $49 and $69 per month and includes the following facilities:
- Credit card reader
- ShopKeep mobile application
- As many transactions as needed
- Single register license
- Payments via text messages
- Payments without contact
- 24/7 customer support
- Consistent sales reports
- Inventory and customer management
Essential
The essential package for the ShopKeep point-of-sale system is priced between $79 and $99 per month with the following services included:
- Catering to online orders
- Managing an eCommerce store
- Sending invoices
- Tracking mobile sales
- Gift cards
- Email marketing
- Employee permissions, etc
Advanced
This package includes features from essential and basic packages and more. It’s priced between $179 and $199 per month with the following included:
- Unlimited inventory
- Sales reports
- Social media management
- Unlimited licenses for registration at any location
- Receipt printer and a credit card reader
- iPad stand
- Customer support and loyalty program
However, there’s also a free plan for those processing a limited amount of money with the ShopKeep point-of-sale system. The plan will provide you with one employee, one register, and access to the application but to a limited extent.
While the free plan is feasible for small retailers with limited processing per month, it does not have features present in paid packages such as live customer support and unlimited transactions, etc.
What Are the Hardware Requirements?
If you’re a retailer looking to get the ShopKeep by Lightspeed POS system, you may require an updated iPad, preferably better than the 6th generation. For Android, however, the system works best on tablets with 5.0 Lollipop Android System or above.
When it comes to peripherals, it’s best to stick to the models and brands supported by the company because peripheral compatibility can be very specific. You can also enjoy the perks of large bundles that include a kitchen printer among everything else for your restaurant or retail businesses.
Pros and Cons
Even though some people are quick to point out minor flaws in some elements of the ShopKeep point-of-sale system, it is rated high in terms of overall satisfaction. Here are some additional pros of using the software:
Pros
- It’s easy to use: Even if you have untrained staff, it won’t take them long to comprehend how the system works, which is something most POS software do not offer.
- Excellent customer service: Many users claim to be happy with the amount of customer support provided by the company.
- The pricing is reasonable: The service is pretty economical considering the number of features it has to offer.
Cons
While a major chunk of reviews for the ShopKeep software are positive, some retailers have also expressed concerns requiring attention. Here are some of them:
- Bugs: Some customers report having issues with the inventory management provided by the software and some also complain of unreliable hardware.
- Customer Service: Some retailers have reported a decline in the quality of customer service especially after the purchase and installation are done.
- Updates make the system slow: Some customers experience a slower system whenever there’s a new update in the system.
- Cost: The cost factor with the iOS version has not been ideal for some users as they claimed that the initial hardware was quite heavy on the pocket
The Bottom Line
In a nutshell, ShopKeep by Lightspeed is a must-have for small and medium-sized food businesses across the country. Despite a few negative reviews, it’s a full-featured and reasonably priced option with a lot to offer, especially if you’re looking for a new point-of-sale system for your business.
