Lightspeed POS System Review and Pricing Guide:
Lightspeed is a fast and scalable online point-of-sale solution.
The program is targeted to a variety of retail firms including grocery stores, toy stores, pet shops, pharmacy outlets and much more. This program has a lot of features such as inventory management, customer tracking, and reporting.
The POS solution lives up to its name as a lot of people have praised its fast efficient. The software solution can help in managing sales, customers, vendors, inventory, and employees at multiple stores. You can manage everything from anywhere using your desktop, laptop or iPhone/iPad devices.
In this Lightspeed Retail POS Review, you will find all about the main features of the POS solution. You will also get to know about customer reviews and commonly asked questions regarding the solution related to cost, and suitability. After reading this comprehensive review, you will know whether the solution makes the cut or falls short of providing value for money.
Table of Contents:
Introduction Lightspeed Retail POS
Our Rating: 
[image source]
Lightspeed POS is a fast online point of sale solution targeted to retailers. The POS shows daily sales activities through the online portal.
I believe this is a one-of-a-kind online POS solution that is aligned with the needs of small business retailers including bar owners, pet shop owners, toy store, owners, and others. Most of the other POS solutions I have reviewed so far were targeted to hospitality industries including restaurants and hotels.
Lightspeed Retail POS is targeted at retailers and Lightspeed Restaurant POS is targeted at restaurants. The software has loads of features that set it apart from others such as employee reporting, inventory management, customer tracking, and robust reporting.
Recommended Reading => Best POS system for Small Businesses
You can use the POS solution to record sales, employee time, inventory, customer loyalty card, and payment processing. The detailed reporting feature of the software shows sales, inventory, and employee performance information in real time.
Fact Check
- Lightspeed is a leading Canadian based provider of POS for retail and hospitality companies serving worldwide.
- The company was established in 2005 and has received the first institutional investment of $30 million in 2012.
- Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, the company has received $347 million in funding from investors.
- The company is backed by a number of well-known investment firms including Accel Partners Silicon Valley Bank, iNovia Capital, CIBC, Investissement Quebec, and Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec.
VIDEO: Lightspeed Retail POS Overview
Best Features
Manage Sales
You can manage sales with Lightspeed POS using well laid out screens. The program features a touch screen interface that lets you instantly adds items. With a simple click of the mouse, you can view the past sales history.
Suggested Read => Top POS System for Any Business
Inventory Management
I found the inventory management feature of the software better than the others. The software allows you to add details of each inventory. It keeps track of all the inventory related data and presents the information in the form of a graph.
This POS supports many different types of inventories. The standard inventory items that are sold at the register can be entered in the purchase order. You can enter complete details of the inventory item that makes it easier to track and monitor the items.
Apart from the standard inventory items, you can also enter non-inventory items. These include products that you buy and don’t sell. You don’t need to track these items. Information about the non-inventory items can be used by the accounting staff to prepare accurate accounting statements.
A unique inventory management feature of the software is the Kit/Club item. This feature can be used to enter and record multiple items. This can be useful in situations such as giving a gift basket to loyal customers, etc.
You can also add items such as soup in Pours category. This category allows you to enter items in ounces. Lastly, the POS allows you to add items that are packaged differently such as six-pack, single, and case.
Marketing Management
Lightspeed POS contains lots of tools that let you effectively promote your offering to the customers. The loyalty reward programs reward frequent loyal buyers. You can use the customer’s mobile number or loyalty cards to reward high-value customers.
Using its robust marketing feature, you can maintain and sustain your business. The software allows you to merge Outlook data. You can transfer your customers based on specific filters. The data can be manipulated to prospect and follow leads and turned into loyal customers.
You can also merge the mails with a local mailing house. There is also an option to print labels and quotes.
A great feature that I like about the POS solution is the customer tracking report. The results of the report can be used by the sales and marketing staff. They can know about inactive customers, hot leads, top customers, and payment history of the customers.
Its powerful filtering option allows sales personnel to target customers based on specific patterns. They can know customers who purchase occasionally, frequent visitors, and the period between purchases.
Employee Management
The program has a robust employee management feature. The feature allows you to manage employee activities. You will be notified when an employee processes refunds, offers discounts or accepts product return. Moreover, you will know when an employee adjusts the inventory data.
With the nightly closeout report, you can view the daily sales reports on your smartphone. This will allow you to keep tabs on your business and take appropriate strategic actions.
Customer Management
You can manage customer information using the POS solution. The software allows you to enter the name, address, contact information, and other information regarding the customers. The information can be easily entered into the system with a few clicks.
Features Overview
- Retail sales and inventory management
- Barcode scanning
- iPad and iPhone support
- Retail customer management
- Data Analytics
Lightspeed POS Pricing
This POS has one payment plan for managing a single store. The subscription cost is $99 per month which supports up to 5 employee access, omnichannel support, cloud backup, and basic reporting.
Apart from the monthly payment, you also are charged 2.6% +10 ¢ for tapped, swiped, or inserted cards. The charges for manual card entry is 2.6% +30 ¢.
To test the features of the program, you can request a 14-day free trial.
You can also request a custom quote for using the POS solution for managing multiple stores. In addition, you can request a custom quote for access to more than 5 employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) What is Lightspeed Best for?
Answer: Lightspeed Point Of Sale System is best for brick-and-mortar and online retailers. The POS solution is ideal for both single location and multiple location retailers and franchise owners.
This program specifically targets the needs of small business retailers including convenience store owners, bars, pet store owners, and grocery store owners.
- Best for Business
- Small Business Owners
- Convenience store owners
- Bars & drink retailers
- Restaurant owners
- Retail shops inc. pet store owners, grocery store owners, toy shops, etc.
Q #2) What Online Browsers are Supported?
Answer: Lightspeed retail POS supports all popular browsers. This is one of the strong points of the POS solution. You are not limited to Chrome and Internet Explorer to use the program. The software supports Apple Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
Q #3) What Hardware Items are supported?
Answer: Lightspeed system supports iOS and Windows compatible hardware. You can use the program with iOS supported hardware such as Star TSP 100 receipt printer, Socket Mobile series iOS scanners, DeJavoo Z1, and Z6 card reader.
Windows hardware compatible devices include Start TSP 100 series, Citizen, Epson, Bixolon receipt printer, DeJavoo Z6 card reader, and Bematech pole display.
Q #4) Where can I Download the Lightspeed POS App?
Answer: You can download the Lightspeed app in your iPad and iPhone. The application is available online from the Apple App Store. Just enter the keyword “Lightspeed Online Point of Sale” and you will see the website displayed on your screen.
Q #5) Can the Data be Accessed from Home?
Answer: If you are on the go, Lightspeed POS is the best option. You can view sales reports from your mobile device using your smartphone anywhere at any time. Any device with an internet connection can be used to access the sales and other information on the POS server.
You can access the data by opening your browser, entering the required information, and you will be connected.
Q #6) Will I be able to use the App during Internet Downtime?
Answer: Yes, you can use the Lightspeed system during internet downtime. However, you need to install a free add-on called Lightspeed Emergency Mode. The add-on allows you to continue using the software even when there is no internet connection.
Once the connectivity issue is resolved, the information is synced with the online server so that you always have access to the latest sales related information.
Q #7) Are POS Data Backed up?
Answer: Yes, this POS backs up the data regularly. The data is backed up in an automated and secure data center. This will give you peace of mind in knowing that your data is always secured.
Q #8) Do I have to Upgrade the Software?
Answer: No, you will automatically receive the latest security and features update. The updates won’t require you to pay for anything. This is a part of the monthly payment plan.
Q #9) Does the Software Handle Sales Tax?
Answer: Yes, Lightspeed POS can handle tax rates for each item. The tax rates can be flat or based on the percentage of sales.
Q #10) What do Customers like about Lightspeed Point Of Sale?
Answer: Most of the customers like its excellent responsive customer service. The customer service personnel returns all the calls with almost no zero times. The customers have praised that the customer support staffs respond to calls even during the weekends and holidays.
Q #11) What do Customers Complain about Lightspeed System?
Answer: Customers were generally happy with Lighting POS. However, some customers have complained about connectivity issues. This is a minor problem that could be resolved through customer sales support.
Another minor complaint is regarding the inventory transfer feature. Some discrepancies were experienced during the transfer of inventory from one store to another. But again, the problem can be resolved by contacting the technical support staff.
Alternatives to Lightspeed Retail POS
#1) Shopify POS
Ideal for: Small and medium-sized online businesses.
Features: Sales and inventory management, mobile Integration, customer payment and checkouts, marketing management, Integration to accounting software, custom orders and gift cards.
Trial Demo: Yes
Price:
- Basic Shopify: $29 per month
- Shopify: $79 per month
- Advanced Shopify: $299 per month
Website: Shopify POS
#2) Amber POS
Ideal for: Small sized retail stores
Features: Sales and inventory management, vendor management, payment processing, multi-store retail operations, gift cards, customer management, analytics, e-commerce integration, employee management, etc.
Trial Demo: Yes
Price: As little as $149 per month.
Website: Amber POS
#3) Retail Man
Ideal for: Small business
Features: Bar code scanning, credit card processing, sales and inventory management, quotes, credit processing, receipt printing, cash flow monitoring, email marketing, multistore support, etc.
Trial Demo: Yes
Price: $349 per license
Website: Retail Man
#4) Smartwerks
Ideal for: Large and small businesses. Gift, Hobby, Nutrition Shops, Furniture Stores, Appliance Stores, etc.
Features: Sales and inventory management, customer database, time clock, reward programs, quotes, reporting, single store support, etc.
Trial Demo: Yes
Price:
- Light
- Initial
- $500
- Monthly $75 per month
- Pro
- Initial
- $500
- Monthly $1200 per month
- Premiere
- Initial
- $1750
- Monthly $130 per month
Website: Smartwerks
Conclusion
I found a lot of features in Lightspeed Retail POS that will appeal to retailers. The program supports the usual features found in other POS such as credit card processing, barcode scanning, customer loyalty program and discount management, and refund management.
Plus there are a lot of other interesting features that are not found in other POS solutions including email marketing, customer information history, label printing, and target email mailing lists.
Yet another highlight of the software includes integration with an e-commerce web store. For an added cost, you can manage your online store using Lightspeed POS.
Lightspeed Restaurant POS offers ample features for restaurant owners.
Other notable highlights of this cloud-based POS program includes employee performance tracking, commission management, inventory, and daily closing reports. You can also view the graphical reports to get an overview of the sales performance.