Lightspeed Retail: eCommerce-Ready Point of Sale
As a an official Lightspeed Partner, we make it easy for physical stores to venture online with a one-stop POS/eCom platform designed to work seamlessly.
Lightspeed is a single brand that supports a complex global offering across multiple industries and regions via a robust product ecosystem.
What’s
Under the
Hood
If you’re looking for a expensive point of sale solution, then Lightspeed is NOT for you. If you’re looking for a cheap point of sale solution, Lightspeed is also not for you.
Lightspeed isn’t the cheapest option on the market, nor is it the most expensive. Instead, it strikes a mid-range value that combines affordability with a comprehensive suite of robust features. With Lightspeed, you’re investing in a solution that offers ease of setup, advanced reporting, and powerful tools.
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Lightspeed Commerce is a Montreal-based, public cloud-based software company specializing in point-of-sale (POS) and e-commerce systems for retailers, restaurants, and hospitality businesses. However, only the retail solution is available in Trinidad & Tobago.
In 2021 it acquired the e-commerce platform Ecwid, with the goal of helping merchants reach shoppers where they are, whether on social media or digital marketplaces.
Lightspeed Retail Point of Sale System
Lightspeed POS is a cloud-based retail management system designed to handle sales, inventory, customer data, and reporting—all from a single platform.
Unlike traditional POS systems, Lightspeed connects your day-to-day operations with real-time data, giving you better visibility and control over your business.
Forward Multimedia was first introduced to Lightspeed from a client looking for payment integration, back in 2019. The company was Super Technologies where we integrated WiPay.
Others then followed:
- iWorld Trinidad(FAC)
- Michael’s & Jody’s (FAC) at Gulf City Mall
- Cost Savers (Scotia eCom+)
- City Furniture which has 7 stores nationwide
Who It's Best For
Lightspeed is particularly well-suited for:
- Retail stores (clothing, electronics, specialty shops)
- Multi-location businesses
- Businesses managing large or complex inventories
- Businesses looking to integrate in-store and online sales
For growing businesses in Trinidad & Tobago, it offers a structured way to scale operations without losing control.
Key Features & Capabilities
The solution comprises:
- Lightspeed Retail POS (X-Series)
- Lightspeed eCom (E-Series)
Because merchants in Trinidad & Tobago may not always be ready for a complete solution in one go, they can opt to start with their physical store only via the Lightspeed Retail POS (X-Series), which is just the Point of Sale system, and when ready for their online store, add the Lightspeed eCom (E-Series), to make it one integrated platform.
Lightspeed now has a basic E-Commerce feature included with its smallest plan, good for testing the online store waters. Upgrading from Basic to next level Core plan, provides the full E-Commerce functionality (explained later down).
Please note that all merchants in T&T who signed up with Lightspeed prior to 2022 will currently have the Lightspeed POS (R-Series), and if using the additional E-Commerce option, it will be the eCom (C-Series). These merchants will eventually be migrated to the above X-Series, and E-Series per Lightspeed’s migration schedule. This means all new sign-ups henceforth will only be for the X and E. The Lightspeed eCom (E-Series) is described more below.
Lightspeed Retail POS (X-Series)
Lightspeed goes beyond basic sales processing. Key capabilities include:
- Inventory Management
- Track stock levels in real time, manage variants (sizes, colors), and automate reordering
- Sales Processing
- Fast, intuitive checkout experience for staff.
- Customer Management (CRM)
- Store customer profiles, purchase history, and preferences.
- Multi-Location Support
- Manage multiple branches from one centralized system.
- Employee Management
- Track staff performance and control access levels.
- Cloud-Based Access
- Access your business data from anywhere.
Ecwid- default E-Commerce platform
Lightspeed eCom (E-Series) is it’s own E-Commerce platform and was called Ecwid by Lightspeed for a period of time after the acquisition, before transitioning to their own naming convention as the ‘E-Series’. You may recall, Ecwid was an independent hosted E-Commerce platform similar to Shopify, and was acquired by Lightspeed in 2021.
As it requires the POS system, adding this full E-Commerce option requires an upgrade of subscription plan from the Basic plan which is POS only, to the Core plan which adds the E-Commerce store.
Hardware & Set-Up
POS Hardware for Lightspeed Retail
The standard POS hardware applies. Depending on your needs, you may use a mobile device like tablet, laptop etc., or station your POS on a counter.
It’s important to note, if using tablets, Lightspeed Retail POS is primarily optimized for Apple iPads and NOT Android tablets.
Typical hardware for any Point of Sale system are:
It is recommended to confirm the hardware requirements during your Lightspeed demo.
Integrations
One of Lightspeed’s biggest advantages is its ability to integrate with other systems.
Key integrations include:
- E-commerce platforms (like WooCommerce)
- Payment gateways
- Accounting software
- Marketing tools
Your online store and physical store can work together, sharing inventory and data.
If the default Ecwid shopping cart is too tame for you, extend the power of Lightspeed Retail by connecting with other business and productivity apps to help you grow and streamline your business. These become available from the Standard plan, and includes popular shopping carts like Woo Commerce, Shopify, Big Commerce. Other apps are accounting like Quickbooks Online, and customer engagement, like Mailchimp.
Woo Commerce integration
This is what makes this Lightspeed partnership so perfect. Forward Multimedia prefers the Woo Commerce platform, especially for large sites, because of its robustness and flexibility. When you upgrade from POS only (Lean plan) to Standard plan (which includes E-Commerce), Woo Commerce integration can easily be enabled by a click of a button.
This solves the perennial problem faced with other POS systems which were either very expensive to upgrade to a similar seamless option, or for which the programming workarounds were not optimal.
Shopify integration
For those of you who love Shopify, the integration is available, but of course requires a separate subscription to Shopify. Technically this may not be financially optimal as unless you’re going with the Shopify Basic plan of $29 USD per month, the general plan is $79 USD per month, while the upgrade from Basic to Core Lightspeed plan is an upcharge of $60 USD per month with a similar platform in Ecwid.
Pricing
Yes the big question, how much will it cost? The final cost is the total of the three (3) main components:
- Software- the monthly or annual subscription for Lightspeed
- Hardware- Desktop/Laptop/Tablet, scanners, printer, cash drawer etc.
- Installation and implementation
There’s not much you can do on the Lightspeed pricing as their software costs are fixed. But there is a lot of room on the hardware and implementation side. For example, you may use a desktop/laptop/tablet you already have as long as it meets the minimum requirements (and most will), and the hardware, once compatible, are available at any price point depending on your budget.
Lightspeed software- Month to Month
| Lightspeed Solutions | Monthly Cost (USD) | Monthly Cost (TTD) | Annual Cost (USD) | Annual Cost (TTD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point of Sale- X Series ONLY | $109 | $739 | $1,308 | $8,870 |
| POS + eCom- E Series | $179 | $1,214 | $2,148 | $14,565 |
Lightspeed software- Annually
| Lightspeed Solutions | Monthly Cost (USD) | Monthly Cost (TTD) | Annual Cost (USD) | Annual Cost (TTD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point of Sale- X Series ONLY | $89 | $604 | $1,068 | $7,242 |
| POS + eCom- E Series | $149 | $1,010 | $1,788 | $12,125 |
Point of Sale hardware
Point of Sale hardware available from our client and partner Super Technologies Limited. Note, Super Technologies uses the Lightspeed POS in all their 3 stores.
You are free to source hardware yourself via local suppliers or import yourself if it will be cheaper. Forward Multimedia is not in the POS hardware business; we do not provide hardware.
Sign-Up & Approval/Activation Process
Every new Lightspeed customer gets a free onboarding session with one of their product specialists. You can play with your new system, prepare a list of questions and let a product specialist walk you through the system. The onboarding process comprises:
Advantages & Considerations
Forward Multimedia does not provide installation and implementation. While this may be surprising, it’s primarily for the following reasons.
- Being cloud-based, there is no software to install and configure at your premises
- Hardware set-up (scanner, cash drawer, printers) are easy DIY
- Lightspeed provides free onboarding session
- Lightspeed has comprehensive support documentation
Traditional on-premises installation require in-person implementation and onboarding, but by nature of cloud-based and easy to use with plenty of free help and support directly from Lightspeed, businesses can easily save thousands of dollars by doing it themselves.
Local Competitors
There are variety of competing point of sale systems in the local marketplace; some are cloud-based and some are on-premise, i.e. installed on a local computer. There is also no single dominating system as all have their features and followers. The popular ones are:
- Microsoft RMS
- Cash Register Express
- NCR Counterpoint
- Odoo
- Loyverse
Advantages & Considerations
Forward Multimedia does not provide installation and implementation. While this may be surprising, it’s primarily for the following reasons.
- Being cloud-based, there is no software to install and configure at your premises
- Hardware set-up (scanner, cash drawer, printers) are easy DIY
- Lightspeed provides free onboarding session
- Lightspeed has comprehensive support documentation
Traditional on-premises installation require in-person implementation and onboarding, but by nature of cloud-based and easy to use with plenty of free help and support directly from Lightspeed, businesses can easily save thousands of dollars by doing it themselves.
Support
For issues with Lightspeed Retail, you can contact them using their website’s built in chat feature where they will ask you to provide some information so they can assist you with your problem.
Summary & Recommendation
Traditionally, POS software is installed on the premises on your local computer or network in your back office. But the overall trend is towards Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) where you pay a monthly subscription. Traditional standalone software is bought at a one-time cost. As a service, it’s cloud-based so accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Eventually, all major software will be cloud-based SaaS, leaving the smaller and lesser brands to market ‘Legacy’ software to those who prefer stick with the traditional way. Both have their pros and cons.
Forward Multimedia’s goal is not to pick a side or convince you, we’re offering what we think is an optimal solution if you’re thinking about long-term online business.
Frequently Asked Questions `{`FAQ`}`
No. Lightspeed Point of Sale is only available via the cloud by subscription only. There is no software to install on your local computer at your physical store’s premises.
Yes. Lightspeed Point of Sale requires an active internet connection to work. It is advisable to have back-up internet access via alternative provider, MiFi, or you may use your phone’s data plan. However, such interruptions in Trinidad & Tobago are rare, and you may also keep manual records in the event of internet interruption and update when restored.
You need at least the following:
- Barcode scanner- either handheld or desktop
- Computing device- either desktop, laptop or tablet
- Receipt printer- either thermal printer (for mini receipts), or regular printer for full page receipts
You do not necessarily need a label printer as most products already have barcodes on their labels. Alternatively, a regular printer can print labels as well.
Yes. There is no obligation to purchase hardware from us. You are free to source hardware from other suppliers in Trinidad & Tobago, or even import yourself if it will be cheaper. We understand that businesses try their best to save on expenses.
Yes. Depending on your current POS software, it may be possible to migrate your data without having to start over from scratch. You can let us know what POS you are using so we may assess beforehand.
Most hardware (barcode scanners, label & receipt printers) are compatible with Lightspeed POS, so it’s possible to only do a software switch without having to buy new hardware.
Lightspeed POS is suitable for any retail business small or large, like mini-marts/convenience stores, clothes stores, gift shops, electronics, health & beauty, home decor, jewelry, toys, pets, sporting good, bars, restaurants.
There is also Lightspeed Restaurant, especially for, as you would guess, restaurants which allows you to customize your system for your unique workflows, starting with your menus, screens and floor plans. It boasts fewer steps for your staff to learn, and a better experience for guests.
No. Being cloud-based, there is no software to install at your premises like traditional POS systems. You simply sign-in online and the software is ready to use. Hardware set-up is surprisingly simple and easy to do on your own, which is why Forward Multimedia does not offer such a service.
Yes. Lightspeed POS is easy to connect and configure. Save the additional expense by dismissing the notion that set-up is a complicated process. Lightspeed provides free onboarding for new customers via online sessions and has 24/7 support plus a wealth educational resources and ongoing support.
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