A Shopify migration with checkout and hardware is more than putting a new webshop online. You're also moving the physical shop floor to a different system — checkouts, scanners, receipt printers, payment terminals — while the shop still needs to keep running. That calls for a different approach than a purely online migration.
Why online and in-store belong together
If your webshop and checkout operate separately, you'll soon run into stock discrepancies, duplicate product entries, or customers spotting something online that's already sold in-store. Shopify combined with Shopify POS solves this by running both channels on the same data: one stock, one customer base, one overview. For shops selling both in-store and online, this is often the main reason to make the switch.
What makes a migration with hardware different
In a purely online migration, you move data and design. Once checkouts and hardware come into play, builder responsibility is added to the mix: which devices are compatible, how is everything installed on-site, and how do you make sure staff can get to work right away without having to close the shop? This is exactly the kind of project Jonas Smets, independent developer and designer in Borgerhout, is explicitly open to. For De Wereld van Smaken — a school's World Market — he carried out just such a Shopify migration, including Shopify POS.
Understand first, then build
Before a single checkout is connected, it helps to get a clear picture of how the shop currently operates: how many checkout points are there, what hardware is already in place, who uses it, and what absolutely needs to carry over from the old system? These questions determine whether existing equipment can be reused or new hardware is needed. A well-prepared migration leaves fewer surprises on installation day itself.
What about background work like shipping or repairs?
Shops that sell both online and in-store often have extra needs beyond the checkout: aligning shipping rates with a webshop, or a way to track repairs through the checkout system. For this, Jonas built his own apps such as the Sendcloud Connector for shipping rates and the Repair Manager for repairs via Shopify POS. These aren't off-the-shelf packages you simply switch on, but solutions tailored to a specific way of working — the kind of custom work that's useful once the foundation of the migration is in place.
What this means in practice
A full Shopify migration with POS and hardware is typically a bigger project: multiple systems, physical installation, and a transition that needs to run carefully so the shop keeps functioning. There's no fixed process or standard price for this — it depends on the number of checkout points, the existing hardware, and what's needed online. What is certain is that the approach starts with carefully listening to how the shop currently works, and only then choosing the solution that fits.
Have a shop that's ready for a new system, or wondering whether your existing hardware can come along? Discuss your situation via /#contact — that'll quickly clarify what's actually needed.
Frequently asked questions
Questions & answers.
Can a Shopify migration with checkout and hardware happen during opening hours?
That depends on the shop and the number of checkout points. In practice this is agreed upon in advance, often outside the busiest times, so the checkout doesn't go down while customers are waiting.
Will my existing checkout hardware work with Shopify POS?
Not always — some devices are specifically tied to the old system. This is assessed case by case; sometimes existing hardware can stay, sometimes new equipment is needed.
How much does a Shopify migration with POS and hardware cost?
There's no fixed amount for this, since it depends on the size of the shop, the number of checkout points, and what's already in place. That only becomes clear after a conversation about the specific situation.
Will my product data be preserved during the migration?
Products, stock and customer data are carefully transferred, but every system has its own quirks. That's why what's exactly in the old system is reviewed first, before the migration starts.
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