The announcement of Intuit‘s discontinuation of the QuickBooks Point of Sale (POS) system on October 3, 2023 has left many businesses pursuing alternatives to maintain their retail operations. While Intuit has partnered with Shopify to offer a quick solution, some companies may prefer to go a different route.
Why is Intuit Discontinuing the QuickBooks POS?
- As the e-commerce sector grows, businesses are shifting from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to online platforms. The trend has resulted in declining demand for traditional POS systems, pushing companies like Intuit to reassess their product offerings.
- Competitive alternatives offer innovative, feature-rich solutions. Maintaining and updating a POS system to keep up with the competition requires significant investment, which may have contributed to Intuit’s decision to discontinue QuickBooks POS.
- Intuit has gradually shifted toward cloud-based solutions like QuickBooks Online, allowing the company to concentrate its resources on enhancing its core offerings and staying competitive in the rapidly evolving financial software landscape.
With the discontinuation of QuickBooks Desktop Point-of-Sale software, it’s important to note that several connected services will also be terminated on October 3, 2023, which all play a vital role in the functionality and convenience offered by the QuickBooks POS system. The affected services include:
- QuickBooks Point of Sale Payments
- QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service
- Mobile Sync
- Store Exchange
- E-commerce integration with Webgility
- Support Plans, including Live Support (phone, email, chat)
- Vendor Lookup Service
Concerns Switching from QuickBooks POS to Shopify
While the partnership between Intuit and Shopify offers an appealing solution for many businesses following the discontinuation of QuickBooks POS, there are several reasons why some customers may be hesitant to switch. These concerns may include the following:
- Limited Brick-and-Mortar Focus: Shopify is primarily an e-commerce platform, and although it does offer point-of-sale solutions, its primary focus is on online sales. There may be better solutions than the shift to Shopify for primarily brick-and-mortar businesses or those that value a more traditional POS system. These businesses may prefer a dedicated POS provider that emphasizes in-person sales and has more extensive experience supporting physical store operations.
- Additional Costs: Transitioning to Shopify may incur additional costs for businesses, especially if they need to upgrade their hardware or subscribe to a higher-tier pricing plan to access certain features. Businesses may also need to invest in staff training to familiarize employees with the new system. Some businesses may find these costs prohibitive or prefer to explore more affordable alternatives.
- Learning Curve: Switching from QuickBooks POS to Shopify may present a learning curve for business owners and employees. Familiarizing oneself with a new platform, its interface, and its features can take time and may lead to temporary disruptions in operations. Businesses that are averse to change or need more time and resources to invest in learning a new system may be hesitant to adopt Shopify.
- Customization Limitations: Although Shopify offers a wide range of customization options and integrations, some businesses may find that the platform does not fully address their specific needs. For instance, businesses with highly specialized inventory management or reporting requirements may find that Shopify’s out-of-the-box solutions do not meet their expectations. In such cases, businesses may prefer to explore alternative POS solutions that cater more closely to their unique needs.
- Existing E-commerce Platform: Businesses with an established e-commerce platform other than Shopify may not want to switch to Shopify for their POS solution. Migrating their online store to Shopify might involve significant work, time, and resources and may not be worth the effort if their existing platform already meets their needs. In this scenario, businesses may explore alternative POS solutions that integrate seamlessly with their current e-commerce platform.
Quickbooks POS Alternatives
If you’re looking for a Quickbooks POS replacement, we would like you to consider Total Merchant Services. Total Merchant Services offers a range of point-of-sale solutions for businesses looking for other options to Shopify. With a focus on simplicity, affordability, and customization, Total Merchant Services caters to the needs of all types of businesses. Here are some notable features and benefits of choosing TMS:
- Total Merchant Services provides a variety of POS systems, including mobile, tablet, e-commerce, self-serve kiosks, and countertop solutions, allowing businesses to choose a solution that best suits their needs and budget.
- Total Merchant Services offers POS placement credits for currently processing merchants who elect to use a two-price model to offset processing overhead.
- Total Merchant Services offers integration with QuickBooks, enabling businesses to sync their financial data and maintain a streamlined accounting process. This feature ensures that QuickBooks users can continue using their preferred accounting software without disruptions.
- Total Merchant Services offers secure and reliable payment processing services, accepting various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets. Our competitive rates and transparent pricing help businesses reduce costs and optimize revenue.
- Total Merchant Services POS systems can be customized with various add-ons and integrations to meet the specific needs of a business. Our POS solution can be scaled with growth through additional hardware and software options.
- Total Merchant Services provides dedicated customer support, ensuring businesses receive assistance when needed. Our support team can help with setup, troubleshooting, and any other issues that may arise.
With the rising concern of the QuickBooks POS discontinuation, businesses seeking a reliable option should consider Total Merchant Services as a strong alternative. Unlike Shopify, which primarily focuses on e-commerce, Total Merchant Services offers a versatile range of POS solutions tailored to brick-and-mortar and online stores. With seamless QuickBooks integration, secure payment processing, and a commitment to customization and scalability, Total Merchant Services can address the unique needs of diverse businesses while also providing dedicated customer support, troubleshooting, and ongoing system management. Businesses can confidently navigate the change from QuickBooks POS and maintain a seamless customer experience while benefiting from a cost-effective and adaptable POS solution that grows alongside their evolving needs.
Contact our team today to discuss how Total Merchant Services can help you transition from the QuickBooks POS system to a solution that fits your needs moving forward. Call, email, or request a quote, and a member of our team will be in touch. We know your time is valuable, and we appreciate you giving our team a chance to win your business.