Shopify POS adds local delivery and stock counts: check staff permissions first

Update: 21 October 2026 — counting in admin

Shopify’s 20 October announcement expands on the admin workflow: teams can record quantities, track contributors and compare discrepancies within Shopify. The September POS requirements below describe the shop floor workflow; the current stock counts overview also documents counting in admin.

For a planned count, use a desktop browser and open Products → Inventory → Stock counts. Select one location, add individual inventory items and save. Resolve duplicate barcodes first. Shopify’s creation guide says bundles cannot be counted as bundles, and counts cannot be exported or duplicated.

There is a documentation conflict worth checking before allocating work: the announcement describes assigning counts to staff, but the creation guide says specific staff cannot be assigned. It instead describes access through inventory permissions, with an additional Perform inventory counts POS permission. POS counting requires a POS Pro location.

Several people can record quantities in the same count, with individual contributions identified. The review guide distinguishes two actions: Request review sends the count for checking; Complete count applies inventory changes immediately. Approval and direct completion cannot be undone through the count workflow.

Before a busy sale, our recommendation is to rehearse a small count and agree who requests review, who checks discrepancies and who authorises changes. Do not assume the software always enforces a separate approval step.

September POS release background

Shopify’s 28 September POS updates bring two operational tasks onto the shop floor: creating local-delivery orders at checkout and performing planned inventory stock counts. Both require POS Pro and Shopify POS version 11.16 or later, according to the release announcements.

The useful distinction is who can act and when the result takes effect. Local delivery creates a fulfilment commitment during the sale. A submitted stock count waits for review before inventory is adjusted.

Offer local delivery during the in-store sale

The local-delivery announcement says POS uses the delivery zones and rates already configured for the online store. When a customer’s address qualifies, staff can choose local delivery, confirm the phone number and add delivery instructions without asking the customer to place another order online.

There are limits: every physical item in that order must be delivered. Local delivery cannot be combined with shipping or pickup in the same order, and the destination must be in the same country as the fulfilment location. Gift cards and digital items can still be included.

Review the Create shipping and delivery orders and Fulfill shipping, pickup, and delivery orders permissions. Shopify specifically notes that staff now need the latter permission to fulfil local-delivery orders. Its delivery guide covers the workflow.

Count on the floor, approve in admin

With stock counts in POS, an authorised admin user plans the count, chooses its location and selects products. Store staff record quantities in POS by scanning or entering them manually, then submit the result for review.

Submission alone does not change inventory. Review and approval remain in Shopify admin, with a record of who counted and when. Shopify’s inventory documentation distinguishes this from Quick count, which staff can initiate directly. Performing a scheduled stock count requires the Perform inventory counts permission.

Our recommendation is to rehearse each workflow with a small, controlled example before a busy trading period. For delivery, check an eligible address and an address outside the zone. For counting, choose a manageable product group and make sure the reviewer knows when results will arrive.

These updates can reduce handoffs, but they do not remove them: a delivery still needs an owner, and a count still needs a review. Make those responsibilities explicit before staff start using the new options.