Overview
Some Lightspeed X-series plans include a basic, "native" Shopify integration. With this "native" integration to Shopify available, many retailers have questions about why they should use Mortar.
The short answers is that Mortar integrates Lightspeed X and Shopify in a much deeper way. But the details are important. Here are some of the features that are only available using Mortar:
Watch a quick Mortar demo
Watch a demo of Mortar with Lightspeed X-series
Switching to Mortar
Switching from the Lightspeed X "native" Shopify integration to Mortar is easy and can be done with no disruptions. Once you switch, your integration with Shopify gains flexibility and functionality.
How to switch to Mortar
You can install the Mortar app from the Shopify app store while using another integration. Just perform the Mortar setup steps, and before activating Mortar, uninstall the Lightspeed X "native" Shopify integration.
To uninstall the "native" Shopify integration for Lightspeed Retail (X-Series):
In Shopify, go to Settings > Apps and Sales Channels
Find the Lightspeed Retail (X-series) app in the list of apps
Click the More Actions menu to the right (...) and select Uninstall
Confirm uninstall
Products
With Mortar, you can create complete products in Shopify, including all product details and images. In addition, Mortar gives you the power to manage products using tags. You can add, delete, archive, or update the active status in Shopify right from inside Lightspeed X-series.
How Mortar helps
The Lightspeed X "native" integration requires that both the product SKU and the product handle match to Shopify for orders and products to sync successfully.
Mortar matches by SKU, UPC, or EAN, simplifying product management dramatically.
Product Feature | Lightspeed X "native" | Mortar |
Add Lightspeed X Products to Shopify | Update the "Publish Online" setting on each product | Add the "add" tag to the grid or item |
Add all Lightspeed X Products to Shopify | Manually trigger publish from Settings (recommended only once) | Enable "Add all products with invneotry from POS" setting, which works continuously |
Add Shopify Products to Lightspeed X | Manually trigger a download to Lightspeed X from Settings (recommended only once) |
|
Update product details to Shopify | Always overwrites limited product details | Automatic update of only specific configured product details |
Product Information
Mortar includes the complete product details when adding a new product to Shopify. Lightspeed X "native" only includes a few attributes.
Shopify Product Attribute | Lightspeed X "native" | Mortar |
Product Title | Name | Name |
Product Description | Description | Description |
Product Type | Product Category | Product Category |
Product Vendor | Brand | Brand or Vendor (Vendor Source) |
Product Tags | Tags | Tags |
Product Images | One per product | All Images |
Variant SKU | SKU | SKU, UPC, EAN (SKU Source) |
Variant Barcode |
| SKU, UPC, EAN (Barcode Source) |
Variant Option Names | Variant Option Names | Variant Option Names |
Variant Option Values | Variant Option Values | Variant Option Values |
Variant Compare at Price |
| Price (default) or any PriceBook |
Variant Price | Price | Price (default) or any PriceBook |
Variant: Continue selling when out of stock |
| Inventoried=False or "instock" tag |
Variant Charge tax on this variant | Taxable | All products default to taxed when created. |
Variant Weight |
| Weight |
Variant Images |
| Any associated images |
Product updates by plan
Grow and Scale plans allow you to control which product details update so that you can tailor your workflow and manage certain product information on Shopify as desired.
Mortar Plan | Product Updates |
Connect | Inventory Only |
Grow | Configurable |
Scale | Configurable |
Powerful Shopify Extensions called Mortar actions
Mortar includes powerful Shopify extensions that allow you to view a corresponding product, customer, or order in Lightspeed X with one click or resync product details or inventory on demand.
Locations and Fulfillment
The Lightspeed X "native" Shopify integration syncs inventory to multiple Shopify locations but only downloads orders to one Lightspeed X location.
Mortar offers full inventory and fulfillment support for Shopify locations so that you can take advantage of split fulfillments. A unique sale is created for each fulfillment so your sales are recognized properly in each location and fulfilled properly.
Lightspeed X "native" | Mortar |
Creates a single Sale and adjusts inventory in each location | Creates a Sale for each fulfillment, impacting inventory in each location |
Orders & Refunds
The Lightspeed X "native" Shopify integration only downloads orders to one Lightspeed X location and then adjusts inventory in other locations based on how Shopify routed the order. This can result in inventory discrepancies that are difficult to troubleshoot or correct. Additionally, the "native" integration does not support refunds which will result in discrepancies.
By contract, Mortar creates a unique sale for each fulfillment so your sales are recognized properly in each location and inventory is reliably updated. Invoices are integrated to Shipstation automatically, dramatically cutting fulfillment time and making it easier to ship orders to your customers.
Learn more: Shopify orders in Lightspeed Retail (X-series)
Order Feature | Lightspeed X "native" | Mortar |
Order distribution | Shopify Routing | Shopify Routing or complex order routing with quantity splitting |
Order creation | One sale per assigned/routed location | |
Integrated to Shipstation |
| Yes |
Fulfill in Shopify and Lightspeed X from Shipstation |
| Yes |
Refunds
Mortar supports both canceled Shopify orders and partial refunds for restocking or dollars. Restocked refunds return inventory; not-for-restock refunds will create tickets using the Shopify Refund product.
Learn more: Shopify refunds in Lightspeed Retail (X-series)
The Lightspeed X "native" Shopify integration does not support refunds.
Mortar also supports Shopify return and exchange apps like Loop, Return Magic, and Narvar.
Refund Feature | Lightspeed X "native" | Mortar |
Restocked Refunds |
| A return is created in the restocked location with the Shopify Order Number. |
Not-for-restock Refunds |
| A return is created using the Shopify Refund product in the original location. |
Order edits
Mortar supports Shopify order edits for complete flexibility between platforms. Edited orders create transactions in Lightspeed X for complete visibility and trackability.
Learn more: Shopify order edits
Multiple Shopify sites or POS
Mortar supports integrating Lightspeed X-series with multiple Shopify sites. You can control which products are published to each site using site-specific tags.
Additionally, linking multiple POS accounts to a single Shopify site is supported.
Learn more: Syncing with multiple Shopify sites
Additional Links