Tracking sales in Shopify POS

A tracking session is a period of time during which transactions are processed in your store. You use a tracking session to balance your cash drawer on a regular basis and hold staff accountable for the money they've handled.

Payment tracking from the Shopify POS app

The Register screen lets you create and review tracking sessions for your store. You can monitor your daily cash transactions and adjustments made by staff.

After you start a tracking session, you can also monitor sales by other payment types, such as credit cards.

Activate tracking sessions

To track sales by cash and other payment types activate a tracking session.

Steps

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Settings > Payment types.
  2. Tap Cash.
  3. Tap the toggle button to activate or deactivate Track cash.

Start a new tracking session

You can start a Shopify POS tracking session in either of two ways:

  • Manually, if you want to specify the initial cash starting amount for the tracking session.
  • Automatically, if you want Shopify to use the expected amount in the cash drawer as the starting amount for the tracking session.

Starting a tracking session manually

If you start a new tracking session manually, then you can enter a value for your starting amount. The cash starting amount is the amount of money initially provided in the cash register so that staff can make change for cash payments.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Register.
  2. Tap Start tracking session. The Start tracking session dialog opens.
  3. Enter the starting amount.
  4. Optional: Enter a note.
  5. Tap Confirm. The tracking session stays open until you manually close it.

Starting a tracking session automatically

If you've ended a tracking session and you don't start another before processing the next order, then Shopify starts a new tracking session automatically.

The calculated cash balance at the end of the previous tracking session is used as the starting amount. If this is the first tracking session for your store, then the starting amount is set to 0.

View tracking session details

The information varies slightly depending on whether you're viewing an open or a closed tracking session.

The following information is always displayed:

  • the date of the tracking session
  • the total sales for that session
  • the name of the staff who started the session
  • the starting amount
  • any adjustments that staff have made to the sum of the cash in the drawer (for example, if they've used some of their own money to make change).

If the tracking session is closed, the following information displays:

  • the name of the staff who ended the session
  • the cash counted at the end of the session (as long as you entered it when you ended the session)
  • the amount of cash in the drawer that was expected when the session was ended
  • the amount left in the cash drawer after you performed the final balance of the cash drawer (usually done when you remove the day's takings)
  • a breakdown of payments by type

View the open tracking session

You might need to view the details of an open tracking session.

Steps

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Register.
  2. Tap the View open session.

View the history of a closed tracking session

You might need to view the details of a closed tracking session.

Steps

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Register.
  2. Tap the Session history.
  3. Tap the tracking session you want to view.
  4. Optional: Tap View payment types to view a breakdown of payment types used in the session.
  5. Optional: Tap Print page to print payment type information.

Adjust the starting amount

A register starting amount adjustment involves the addition or removal of cash. It might be necessary if, for example:

  • staff can't make the right change with the cash in the drawer
  • the cash in the drawer has exceeded your preferred limit (some companies impose a limit to prevent theft or a miscalculation at closing)
  • staff needs to temporarily remove cash from the drawer.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Register.
  2. Tap View open session.
  3. Tap either Add or Remove, depending on the type of transaction that you want to make.
  4. Enter the amount added or removed.
  5. Enter a note, if necessary.
  6. Tap Confirm.

Adjustments to a register are displayed in the cash activity section on the sessions details page.

View tracking sessions from your Shopify admin

You can view tracking sessions in the Shopify admin by location or compare tracking sessions across all locations. You can filter tracking sessions by date range and export reports. Staff members must have the Point of Sale View payment tracking session history and View payment tracking sessions in the POS channel permissions activated to view cash tracking information.

Review the following table to learn more about payment tracking details that you can view:

Payment tracking details
DetailDescription
Discrepancy summaryAn overview of expected amounts and what was actually counted for all sessions that occurred at the selected location within the time range. A discrepancy occurs when there is a difference between the expected and counted amounts.
  • The Discrepancy at start displays the amount that was reported at the end of the last session and the amount counted at the beginning of the session.
  • The Discrepancy at end displays the expected amount in the cash drawer by adding the amount counted at the start and the cash payments that were received throughout a session and compares them to the amount counted when ending a session.
Cash activityAn overview of the cash payments for all sessions that occurred at the selected location within the time range.
  • The Gross payments amount displays the total amount of cash payments processed.
  • The Refunds amount displays the total amount of refunds processed. The refund amount is subtracted from the gross payments amount to get the Net payments amount.
  • Session listDisplays the sessions that occurred at the selected location within the time range. Each row is a single session and displays the session start and end time, Register ID, Open or Closed status, and total discrepancy that is associated with the session. By clicking the column headers, you can sort the session list by session start, session end, or total discrepancy.

    View tracking sessions by location

    You can view tracking sessions by location.

    Steps:

    Desktop
    1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels.

    2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Point of Sale.

    3. Click Open sales channel.

    4. Click Locations, and then click a location that you want to view the session details for.

    5. In the Cash tracking summary section, click View details.

    6. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown and choose the desired Starting and Ending dates.

    Mobile
    1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
    2. In the Sales channels section, tap Point of Sale.
    3. Select Cash tracking and then in the locations dropdown menu, select the location you want to view cash tracking details for.
    4. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown, and then select the desired Starting and Ending dates.

    Compare tracking sessions across all locations

    You can compare tracking sessions across all locations.

    Steps:

    Desktop
    1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels.

    2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Point of Sale.

    3. Click Open sales channel.

    4. Select Cash tracking.

    5. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown and choose the Starting and Ending dates.

    Mobile
    1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
    2. In the Sales channels section, tap Point of Sale.
    3. Select Cash tracking. The locations dropdown menu defaults to All locations.
    4. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown, and then select the desired Starting and Ending dates.

    Closing a tracking session

    You can close your tracking session directly from your Shopify POS or close the session remotely from your Shopify admin.

    To balance your cash drawer accurately, consider ending your tracking sessions at regular intervals, such as at the end of each day or at the end of a staff member's shift. When you end a tracking session, the following information is added to the session history:

    • the cash counted at the end of the payment session
    • the expected value of the cash in the drawer, which is calculated based on all the cash transactions that occurred during the session, and takes into account the initial starting amount and any adjustments made during the open shift
    • the cash left for the float after you performed the final balance of the cash drawer (usually done when you remove the day's takings)
    • a breakdown of payments by type

    The amount of cash in the cash drawer and the expected balance should be the same.

    Close a tracking session from your Shopify POS

    You can close a tracking session directly from your Shopify POS device.

    Steps:

    1. From Shopify POS, tap > Register.
    2. Tap View open session.
    3. Tap End tracking session.
    4. Enter the amount of cash in the cash drawer, and tap Next.
    5. Review the totals on the Cash summary page and tap Next. If your totals on the Cash summary page don't match, then you can adjust the amount counted by tapping Back.
    6. Select an amount to leave in the cash drawer and tap Next.
    7. Confirm how much cash you want to remove from the register, and tap Confirm.
    8. Review the tracking session summary.
    9. Optional: Tap Print. This prints only the cash details for this tracking session. If you want to print a summary that has all payment types, then you need to go to the session's history.
    10. Tap Done.

    Close a tracking session remotely from your Shopify admin

    If you’re unable to close a tracking session on the device, then you can close a session from the Point of Sale sales channel in your Shopify admin. If a transaction is in progress and you close a tracking session, then a new session is automatically opened when the transaction is completed.

    After you close a session, you can't reopen or edit it. The session's activity history is updated to include the remote closing of the session and the changes that you made to the amount in the cash drawer.

    Steps:

    Desktop
    1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels.

    2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Point of Sale.

    3. Click Open sales channel.

    4. Click Locations, and then click a location that you want to close a tracking session for.

    5. In the Cash tracking summary section, click View details.

    6. Click the session you want to close, and then click Close session.

    7. In the Cash counted field, enter the amount of cash counted in the cash drawer. If you're not sure, then keep the default amount.

    8. In the Confirm expected cash balance section, select or enter the amount of cash that's left in the cash drawer. The default amount is 0 USD.

    9. To confirm the counted discrepancy, select Confirm cash counted discrepancy.

    10. Click Close session.

    Mobile
    1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
    2. In the Sales channels section, tap Point of Sale.
    3. Select Cash tracking.
    4. In the section with the list of locations, select the location you want to close a tracking session for.
    5. In the section with the list of tracking sessions, select the tracking session you want to close.
    6. Select Close session.

    Export a tracking session from your Shopify admin

    You can export tracking session details into a CSV file. If your session is still open, then you can export only the Session activity report. Other reports are available for export when you close your session.

    tracking sessions reports
    ReportDescription
    Session activityA detailed session activity report that's sent to your email.
    Discrepancy summaryA simplified report that highlights total discrepancy.
    Cash activityA simplified report that highlights cash activity.
    Register summaryA breakdown of all register activity that includes session activity and cash activity.

    Export a tracking session by location

    You can export tracking sessions for a specific location.

    Steps:

    Desktop
    1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels.

    2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Point of Sale.

    3. Click Open sales channel.

    4. Click Locations, and then click a location that you want to export session details for.

    5. In the Cash tracking summary section, click View details.

    6. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown, and then select either a pre-set Date range or the desired Starting and Ending dates.

    7. Click Export.

    8. Select the session details that you want to export.

    9. Click Export.

    Mobile
    1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
    2. In the Sales channels section, tap Point of Sale.
    3. Select Cash tracking. Select a location from the locations drop down.
    4. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown, and then select either a pre-set Date range or the desired Starting and Ending dates.
    5. Select Export.
    6. Select the session details that you want to export.
    7. Select Export.

    Export a tracking session for multiple locations

    You can export tracking sessions for all or multiple specified locations.

    Steps:

    Desktop
    1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels.

    2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Point of Sale.

    3. Click Open sales channel.

    4. Select Cash tracking. The location dropdown menu defaults to All Locations.

    5. Optional: to export cash tracking for specific locations, in the list of locations section, select the checkboxes next to the locations you want to export a tracking session for.

    6. Click Export.

    7. Select the session details that you want to export.

    8. Optional: if you want to export a Sessions list, then select either All locations or the Selected number of locations.

    9. Click Export.

    Mobile
    1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
    2. In the Sales channels section, tap Point of Sale.
    3. Select Cash tracking. The locations dropdown defaults to All locations.
    4. Optional: To filter the cash tracking details for a specific timeframe, select the date range dropdown, and then select either a pre-set Date range or the desired Starting and Ending dates.
    5. Optional: to export cash tracking for specific locations, in the list of loctions section, select the checkboxes next to the locations you want to export a tracking session for.
    6. Select Export.
    7. Select the session details that you want to export.
    8. Optional: if you want to export a Sessions list, then select either All locations or the Selected number of locations.
    9. Click Export.
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