Overview
Some Lightspeed X-series plans include a basic, "native" Shopify integration. With this "native" integration available, many retailers have questions about why they should use Mortar.
Mortar really unifies Lightspeed X and Shopify. Here are some of the functions that are only available in Mortar:
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.
Alert! You can install and onboard the Mortar app while using another integration. Before activating Mortar, simply uninstall the Lightspeed X "native" Shopify integration.
In Lightspeed Retail (X-Series) go to:
Setup > Apps
Scroll to the bottom to find the Shopify app
Press the Disconnect Shopify button
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.
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, reducing the need for data management.
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 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.
Learn more: How product info is mapped to Shopify
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 (Vendor Source) |
Product Tags | Tags | Tags |
Product Images | One per product | All Images |
Variant SKU | SKU | SKU, UPC, EAN (SKU Source) |
Variant Barcode |
| UPC |
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 or "instock" tag |
Variant Charge tax on this variant | Taxable | All products default to taxed when created. Does not update. |
Variant Weight |
| Weight |
Variant Images |
| Associated |
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 power 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
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. The "native" integration does not support refunds.
Mortar creates a unique sale for each fulfillment so your sales are recognized properly in each location. 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 Return Magic, Narvar, and Loop Returns.
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.
Also supported is linking multiple POS accounts to one Shopify site.
Learn more: Syncing with multiple Shopify sites
Additional Links