As shoppers return in-store, POS tech becomes essential for retailers

In an increasingly digital-first landscape, it’s easy to assume most people are buying their essentials — and non-essentials — with a single click. Yet, recent research shows that nearly 60 percent of Torontonians plan to shop in-store over the next six months for everything from sneakers to home goods. The data points to a retail renaissance for physical storefronts in these post-pandemic times. And with foot traffic returning to traditional shopping hubs, the pressure on retailers to adapt has intensified, making a robust, integrated point of sale (POS) system more crucial than ever.

“The brick and mortar experience is one that continues to have a strong impact on retail and consumer shopping,” says John Shapiro, chief product and technology officer of Montreal-founded tech company Lightspeed.

“Consumers want to be able to see, touch, and experience the products they’re shopping for.”

But today’s shoppers also expect a seamless transition between physical and digital experiences.

That’s where Lightspeed comes in.

The company launched in 2005 with a vision to empower retailers. Today, they’re a market leader in retail tech, offering an all-in-one POS and payments solution with a track record of helping businesses scale and thrive.

Lightspeed’s cloud-based platform goes beyond basic transactions, offering tools that unify inventory, sales, and customer data across multiple channels and stores. This integration allows retailers to create a cohesive experience for customers, whether they’re browsing online or visiting in person. By equipping retailers with mobile POS capabilities, store associates can provide personalized service anywhere on the shop floor, armed with real-time inventory information and tailored product recommendations.

“(We) stand out in the retail space by offering a premium, unified commerce platform designed for sophisticated needs,” Shapiro says. “Lightspeed’s solution offers the performance, flexibility, and insights needed to thrive.”

In the fast-evolving world of retail, staying ahead means being adaptable and harnessing the power of data. Lightspeed’s system gives businesses that competitive edge, using advanced analytics to track inventory trends and predict demand with pinpoint accuracy. This means smarter restocking, happier customers, and shelves that never run out of those hot-selling items.

For retailers like Rheo Thompson Candies, Lightspeed has been a game-changer. The Ontario-based family business known for their artisanal chocolates and nostalgic confections used to operate using a manual cash register paired with a digital payment processor — a setup that’s fine for small businesses. But as they expanded, daily operations grew increasingly complex. Without inventory management or a customer relationship management system (CRM), crucial data was stored in paper files and they could only generate basic bookkeeping reports. This made it difficult to monitor trends and forecast future needs. So, they searched for a more effective solution.

They found that Lightspeed offered everything they needed to streamline their operations and drive growth. Since switching to the platform, Rheo Thompson estimates they’re saving 105 minutes per week in labour costs just with their end-of-day processes. Collecting and analyzing report data has proven crucial for their expansion, as they now leverage sales reports to inform their production projections. This lets their candymakers concentrate on crafting delicious treats rather than crunching numbers.

Simply put, having a fully integrated POS and payments platform has translated to more sales. With their customer records now organized, Rheo Thompson can target specific segments with greater precision. They’ve seen 40 percent growth among their fundraising clients alone, due to their ability to communicate with that group segment more effectively.

The post-pandemic consumer wants convenience without sacrificing the experiential benefits of in-store shopping — a trend Shapiro believes is here to stay.

“We see an increased demand for personalized shopping experiences, and a seamless omni-channel shopping experience for consumers,” he says. “This, along with the integration of AI and automation into retail operations are what will continue to be the main points of focus for retailers to find future success.”

Lightspeed’s forward-thinking platform rises to the challenge, connecting physical storefronts with online sales in one cohesive ecosystem. In a world that’s hyper-digital, yet hungry for face-to-face experiences, it ensures retailers remain agile, efficient, and ready to thrive in this new era of retail.

Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with Lightspeed. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.