Talech vs. Shopify POS

Talech is a cloud solution with two separate interfaces - the browser-based back office, and the terminal display which is accessible on an iPad or similar tablet device.

Both are fairly easy to use. They’re not the most intuitive we’ve come across, but they’re by no means the worst.

The terminal follows a typical design, with a pop-up sidebar with tabs to areas for processing sales, checking past orders, running reports, and accessing customer details. The checkout page is equally straightforward, with visual product icons and options to split payments, add discounts and gift cards, use store credit, and more.

The back office, which is also accessible from the tablet display, features a horizontal banner menu with links to dedicated dashboards for analytics, inventory management, employee settings, customer accounts, and support.

The interface is perfectly suitable for users without any previous experience using a point-of-sale system. What’s more, Talech offers a number of onboarding and training packages.

"Easy to use many choices to choose from equipment-wise and their support is amazing well worth it."

"Makes it easy for customers to check out faster."

"Easy to navigate, fairly straightforward."

Both the register and back-office dashboards are simple and easy-to-use. The register interface, which is accessed via an app (compatible with Android and iOS mobile devices and tablets), follows a typical block format, with a checkout area and customizable grid menu for including discounts, popular add-on-items, recommended products, and so on.

Admin tasks, such as adding products and setting staff permissions, are done through the browser-based back-office. Like the register dashboard, the backend interface follows a standard layout and is very easy to navigate.

"My overall experience with the POS software has been extremely positive."

"Shopify POS is our main POS system for a large retail space. Easy to use and train all staff."

"Easy to set up and define products for sale at a physical store."

Talech offers a broad selection of features. With the possible exception of the integrations library, users will have all the functionality they need to run a smooth, customizable point-of-sale system, manage their employees, and keep track of sales and performance metrics. A mobile app, and multiple hardware solutions, are available.

Talech also offers several features that set it apart from other solutions, including customer self-order kiosks, “house accounts”, and 24/7 support. Most plans allow for an unlimited number of users and products.

Inventory management tools include variable-priced products, stock tracking, automated low-inventory alerts, barcode scanning, and supplier management.

In terms of sales and orders, the checkout terminal enables users to add discounts, split payments, exchange items, process gift cards, and email and text receipts. The analytics tools are equally comprehensive, with the option to download auto-generated reports and employee timesheets.

Finally, it is also possible to store customer details and track activity through the customer management dashboard.

Shopify POS has an extensive set of features. Small and medium retailers will find everything they need and more. All the essentials, including product management, integrations with third-party tools, payment processing, iPad and Android compatibility, barcode scanning, and analytics are included. Shopify also has some interesting additional functionality, such as “buy online, pick up in store” and “email carts” (to allow customers to browse in store and buy online) that aren’t offered by competitors.

The one downside is that some of the advanced features, which many retailers will nonetheless consider essential, are only available on the top-tier plan. These include staff permissions, minor stock adjustments (to account for damaged items, for example), and most automation features.

Talech doesn’t perform overly well when it comes to native integrations.

Most syncing options are made possible through OneSaaS, a third-party app that allows users to connect with platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and others. Using OneSaas, however, may incur extra costs depending on your plan. A handful of kitchen display screen (KDS) integrations is provided.

Talech is also compatible with most payment processors via gateways like USAePay, Ingenico, and Elavon.

For most retailers and other businesses, this integration kit will be sufficient. If, however, you want to build a fully-synced tech stack that connects with all your apps, then you will likely need to look elsewhere.

Shopify offers literally thousands of ecommerce integrations. Around fifty or so are designed exclusively for Shopify POS (the others integrate with the ecommerce platform directly).

Shopify Payments, which is the built-in payments processor for Shopify POS, is compatible with over one hundred third-party payment solutions, including Paypal, Skrill, Worldpay, and many others. The only downside, as already mentioned, is that Shopify charges an extra percentage for each sale when you opt for an alternative to its native processor.

The majority of integrations built exclusively for the POS system are related to either customer loyalty (Smile, Rewardify, Swell, etc.), marketing, or payroll and staff management.

Keep in mind that Shopify’s native ecommerce tools sync with the POS system very closely, so you can access a range of apps, in categories such as accounting, inventory management, order fulfilment, analytics, customer support, third-party marketplaces, and more, through the central Shopify dashboard. The tight coupling of both systems means that you essentially have access to the entire Shopify integrations library through your POS.

One final point to keep in mind is that most integrations are with third-party apps and tools, so you will have to pay extra to use them.

Talech is among the more competitively-priced solutions that we’ve reviewed. This does come with a few caveats, however.

The “Starter” plan is $29/month and allows for five users and one hundred products. Features are significantly limited on this package and users don’t have access to advanced reporting, loyalty options, or integrations. The mid-tier “Standard” plan, which costs $69/month, will be necessary for most businesses. All but a handful of features are included in this package. The “Premium” subscription, which comes in at $99/month, provides access to all features, including inventory alerts, advanced checkout options (like split orders), and automatic gratuities.

All of this in mind, potential users should be aware of a few “hidden” costs. Additional devices cost an extra $29/month on all plans. On the “Starter” and “Standard” subscriptions, use of gift-cards is $19/month and you’ll have to pay $49/month for ecommerce features (although they are offered free of any extra charges in the “Premium” package). Integrations may also incur extra costs.

Finally, there is a dedicated enterprise option which runs on a custom pricing model.

We think that Shopify is hands-down one of the best solutions on the market when it comes to price. Smaller retailers will struggle to find a more inexpensive alternative with the same third-party compatibility, support package, and number of features.

Shopify POS is offered as part of its ecommerce packages, and three options are available - Basic Shopify at $29/month, Shopify at $79/month, and Advanced Shopify at $299/month. The advanced package allows for fifteen user accounts. An enterprise plan, called Shopify Plus, is also available and is offered on a custom pricing model.

Retailers also have the option to upgrade to the Shopify POS Pro plan, which will cost an extra $89/month per store. This allows for unlimited numbers of staff and registers.

Card processing fees also vary depending on the plan size. They start at 1.7% for in-person sales on the “Basic” package and go down to 1.5% on the Advanced one.

The only downside, and the reason we didn’t give Shopify a full 10/10 for “value for money” is because an extra 1% per sale (2% on the basic plan) is charged when using a third-party payment processor.

Talech scores highly for “help and support”, with a 24/7 phone and email service for all users. Additional training for new subscribers is also available, including a “Getting Started” package and help for restaurants when first uploading their menus.

Reviews of support from existing users are generally very good.

Overall, the help and support package provided by Shopify is very excellent. Users have access to 24/7 customer service via email, phone, and live chat. Extensive documentation, particularly in regards to onboarding, is provided. Notably, Shopify has taken the time to develop “migration” tools to enable retailers to transfer product and customer information from previous platforms.

Shopify also has one of the largest active communities on the web, to which you can pose questions that might not be appropriate for the customer service team.

On the negative side, Shopify doesn’t offer any one-on-one onboarding training for new customers. That said, due to the platform’s popularity, it’s easy to find independent Shopify experts if you need help getting set up.

Overall, we were very impressed with Talech. It’s a reliable, feature-rich solution that’s suitable for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re responsible for a one-person cafe or a chain of large retail outlets, you’ll find everything you need to run an efficient point-of-sale system.

The main issues to be aware of are the additional costs for extra devices, which may be a problem for restaurants in particular if they require multiple registers, and the limited integrations library. Remember to sign up for a free demo before purchasing a subscription.

Shopify is one of the web’s leading ecommerce solutions. And it’s easy to see why. It offers an extensive feature-set at an extremely competitive price-point.

Retailers should understand a few key points, however, when it comes to Shopify’s proprietary point-of-sale-system, Shopify POS.

First, it is not available as a standalone solution. If you already have an ecommerce store and are looking for a POS system that will integrate with it, you will need to opt for an alternative. Second, you will have to use Shopify’s in-house payment processor, Shopify Payments, if you don’t want to pay extra fees on top of those charged by the provider.

If you are looking for a complete POS and ecommerce solution, however, then Shopify POS is 100% worth considering. You can take advantage of a free trial, free hardware returns, and an excellent support package when getting set up.