Lightspeed Commerce is a technology company that offers a cloud-based commerce platform targeted at merchants in retail, hospitality (restaurants/bars), and related industries. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Lightspeed Commerce president JD Saint-Martin to gain a better understanding of the company.
JD Saint-Martin’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Saint-Martin said:
“Prior to joining Lightspeed Commerce in 2019, I started my career in finance working in both Private Equity and Venture Capital at GE Capital and Teralys Capital, respectively. In 2013, my entrepreneurial spirit led me to co-found Chronogolf, a cloud-based management platform that enabled golf course operators to streamline their operations, improve customer experiences, and drive new revenue opportunities. My path eventually converged with Lightspeed when we partnered to integrate their POS technology into Chronogolf rather than build our own.”
“Lightspeed acquired Chronogolf in May 2019, and I’ve been with the company ever since. Embarking on my role as Managing Director of Lightspeed Golf, I’ve since held several leadership positions including Chief Revenue & Customer Officer before being named President in October 2022. Over the years, I’ve had the unique experience of seeing Lightspeed from the perspective of a founder, a partner and an executive, helping to scale the business globally across retail, golf, and hospitality sectors.”
“As President of Lightspeed, I oversee our global go-to-market strategy, directly supporting the teams that engage with our customers across hospitality, retail, and golf– three sectors that make up the core of our business. I collaborate directly with our regional leadership teams and heads of key business functions– including sales, marketing, and customer success– as well as our industry specialists within each vertical.”
“Together, we focus on shaping and executing strategies that enable our customers to better navigate today’s complex business landscape, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new growth opportunities through practical, technology-driven solutions.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Saint-Martin reflected:
“One standout moment in my career was leading the integration of Chronogolf into the Lightspeed ecosystem. It was a full-circle experience—taking a company I had built from the ground up and merging it with a larger, mission-driven organization to amplify our impact, broaden our reach, and accelerate technological innovation. The experience reaffirmed my belief in the power of collaboration and the importance of driving innovation at every level of a business. That journey came full circle when I saw our product featured in Times Square as Lightspeed went public on the TSX—an unforgettable milestone.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Saint-Martin explained:
“Lightspeed offers a unified commerce platform tailored to the distinct needs of retail, hospitality, and golf businesses worldwide, empowering them to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and drive sustainable growth.
- Retail: Our retail platform provides advanced POS and inventory management solutions, omnichannel selling capabilities, and robust analytics tools. From managing complex inventory across multiple locations to offering seamless eCommerce integrations and personalized customer experiences, Lightspeed Retail empowers independent retailers to operate efficiently and compete with larger enterprises.
- Hospitality: For restaurants, cafés, and hotels, Lightspeed Hospitality delivers an intuitive POS system that supports tableside ordering, Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), and integrated delivery solutions. Our platform also enables advanced reporting and workforce management tools, helping hospitality businesses optimize labor costs, improve service speed, and increase profitability.
- Golf: Lightspeed Golf offers a specialized management platform that empowers golf course operators to modernize every aspect of their business—from tee sheet management and online bookings to pro shop sales and food and beverage operations. It also includes powerful customer relationship tools to improve guest loyalty and streamline event management.
Across all verticals, Lightspeed integrates secure payments, flexible financing through Lightspeed Capital, and AI-driven tools that help businesses operate smarter and grow faster.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector recently, and how did you overcome them? Saint-Martin acknowledged:
“Independent retailers and restaurateurs have been contending with uncertain economic conditions– including inflation, supply chain disruptions, and concerns over ongoing global tariffs. These factors impact everything from consumer spending, through to inventory management. As Lightspeed founder and CEO Dax Dasilva notes, “Business flourishes with certainty,” further emphasizing the importance of stability for both investment and growth.”
“Lightspeed focuses on delivering practical, technology-driven solutions that help businesses focus on their customers, and less on the day-to-day operations. Our platform offers integrated tools for inventory management, sales analytics, and customer engagement, enabling merchants to streamline operations and make data-informed decisions. In addition, services like Lightspeed Capital provide accessible financing options, helping businesses invest in growth despite challenging economic conditions.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Saint-Martin noted:
“Lightspeed began as a point-of-sale (POS) provider, but today we offer a comprehensive commerce platform that empowers independent businesses. Employing a team of over 3,000 staff worldwide, today Lightspeed serves businesses across retail, hospitality, and golf sectors in more than 100 countries.”
“In retail, we’ve introduced AI-powered tools like our Generative AI Website Builder, enabling merchants to create professional, on-brand eCommerce sites from simple screenshots– eliminating the need for coding or third-party developers. Additionally, our Seasonality Forecasting feature helps retailers optimize inventory by predicting demand based on sales patterns and seasonal trends, reducing overstock and out-of-stock periods.”
“For hospitality businesses, we’ve launched Smart Items, an AI-driven solution that assists restaurateurs in building compelling menus quickly by generating product information, images, and translations. Our Benchmarks & Trends tool provides restaurateurs with insights into their performance compared to local competitors, aiding in strategic decision-making.”
“In the golf sector, Lightspeed Golf offers a specialized management platform that modernizes operations– from tee sheet management and online bookings to pro shop sales and food and beverage operations. It also includes customer relationship tools to enhance guest loyalty and streamline event management.”
“Across all verticals, we’ve integrated Lightspeed Payments for seamless transactions and Lightspeed Capital to provide accessible financing solutions. Our platform continues to evolve with AI-driven tools and data insights, empowering businesses to make smarter decisions and achieve more with less.”
“These transformations underscore our ongoing mission at Lightspeed: to be the backbone of independent businesses, equipping them with the technology they need to thrive in an increasingly complex market.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Saint-Martin cited:
“Lightspeed’s journey has been defined by rapid growth and a relentless commitment to empowering independent businesses. Going public in 2019 was a pivotal moment, providing the resources and visibility needed to accelerate our global expansion and product innovation. Since then, we’ve achieved significant milestones that have shaped Lightspeed into the unified commerce leader it is today. Through a series of strategic acquisitions—including Chronogolf, which marked our entry into the golf industry, ShopKeep and Vend, which expanded our retail footprint in North America and the Asia-Pacific region, and Upserve and Gastrofix, which strengthened our hospitality offering– we’ve deepened our capabilities and broadened our reach. In addition, the acquisitions of Ecwid and NuORDER have enhanced our eCommerce and B2B offerings, enabling merchants to build omnichannel strategies and better manage supplier relationships.”
“In our more recent fiscal year, we exceeded $1 billion in annual recurring revenue for the first time in company history and delivered $53.7 million in Adjusted EBITDA (up from $1.3 million in the previous year).”
“Alongside these milestones, we’ve continued to invest heavily in technology innovation, launching integrated payments, Lightspeed Capital, and AI-powered tools that help our customers grow efficiently and compete more effectively in an increasingly complex market. Together, these achievements underscore our mission to be the technology backbone for independent businesses worldwide.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Saint-Martin about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“Absolutely. Lightspeed’s technology has empowered thousands of independent businesses around the world to modernize their operations and drive meaningful growth.”
“In Canada, Bromont Golf Club in Quebec turned to Lightspeed Golf to streamline everything from tee-time bookings to pro shop sales. By adopting our platform, they were able to centralize operations, improve customer service, and grow revenue during a time when efficiency was more critical than ever.”
“In the U.S., Rocket Fizz, a fast-growing candy franchise, needed a retail solution that could scale as they expanded across the country. With Lightspeed Retail, they cut franchisee onboarding time from five days to just four hours, enabling faster store openings and more consistent operations across their locations.”
“And in Australia, Gauge, a multi-location restaurant group, leveraged Lightspeed Restaurant to unify their POS system across venues. This not only simplified training and scheduling for the company but also empowered staff to seamlessly move between locations– improving team productivity and service consistency.”
“These are just a few examples of how Lightspeed helps independent businesses thrive in an increasingly complex world.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Saint-Martin affirmed:
“At Lightspeed, we help businesses scale and grow by providing powerful, easy-to-use technology that streamlines operations, enhances customer experiences, and drives sustainable growth. Our unified commerce platform brings together everything businesses need– across retail, hospitality, and golf—under one roof.”
“With a global footprint and deep expertise across multiple industries, we’re uniquely positioned to help businesses at every stage of their growth journey compete and thrive in an increasingly complex market.”
Integrating AI For Supporting Small Businesses
How is Lightspeed incorporating AI to support small businesses? Saint-Martin emphasized:
“Lightspeed is committed to delivering practical AI solutions that directly benefit our customers. A prime example is our recently launched Generative AI Website Builder, which enables retailers to create fully integrated, professional online stores by simply providing a screenshot or description– eliminating the need for manual coding or third-party developers. This tool streamlines website creation, saving time and resources while ensuring a strong brand presence online.”
“Additionally, we’re exploring AI applications in inventory management, pricing strategies, and actionable insights to help business owners make smarter decisions faster. Our goal is to empower small businesses to achieve more with less by leveraging AI-driven tools that enhance efficiency and drive growth.”
Helping Businesses Navigate Economic Uncertainty
What role does Lightspeed play in helping businesses navigate economic uncertainty? Saint-Martin concluded:
“Businesses today have faced a number of unpredictable challenges marked by shifting global trade policies, shifting supply chains, changes in consumer behaviours, and increased operational costs. These uncertainties put pressure on margins and make it harder for businesses to plan for long-term growth. Lightspeed helps businesses navigate this complexity by providing the technology and tools they need to improve operational efficiency, optimize inventory and supplier management, and make data-driven decisions that protect profitability.”
“Through integrated solutions like Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed Capital, and advanced analytics, we empower businesses to adapt quickly to changing economic conditions, manage costs more effectively, and stay competitive– regardless of external market pressures. In this environment, being agile and informed is key, and Lightspeed is committed to helping businesses chart a clearer path forward.”
