Shopify has just launched the 2023 Summer Editions, bringing a summary of the latest updates and improvements to its products. With over 100 new features, ranging from intuitive new functionalities to resources that optimize online store performance, this edition aims to improve user experience and boost business growth.
In this article, we've selected the most important new features for you to stay up-to-date. Keep reading to learn more about the improvements the 2023 Summer Editions brings to you.
1) New Shopify Bundles App
The Shopify Bundles app is perfect for brands of all sizes looking to increase average order value, improve product discovery, or organize their inventory with "buy together" offers. The app is now available for all brands and offers various bundle options, including multi-item and fixed bundles.
However, for more advanced needs like mixed bundles, Shopify recommends updated apps available in the App Store, or for Shopify Plus users, creating a custom bundle offer using Shopify Functions APIs. Also, great news: Shopify is increasing the variant limit to over 100.
2) Shopify Subscriptions App (early access)
The Shopify Subscriptions app is a practical solution for business owners, as it integrates directly into the Shopify admin, allowing them to create and manage subscription products in one place. With the new Shopify Subscriptions app, you can offer your customers free subscriptions to your products. They can also perform basic subscription actions (cancel, pause, update payment details) directly in their customer account. To get early access to Shopify Subscriptions, register your email here
Check out some of the app's features:
- Easily add a subscription widget to the product page with the theme customizer.
- Use Shopify notifications to remind your customers about payments.
- Customers can conveniently manage their subscriptions through their Shopify accounts, being able to skip or pause when necessary.
If you are looking for more advanced subscription features, we recommend that you check out the variety of specialized applications available in the Shopify App Store. There you will find dozens of third-party solutions, most of them using Shopify's native API. However, it is important to remember that most of these applications are paid.
3) Flexible sections in the Online Store Editor
It is now possible to create "Metaobjects" in addition to the traditional Pages and Blogs for stores. With the new feature, you can bring exclusive content models to life quickly and intuitively.
Metaobjects allow store owners to create structured design elements for their storefronts, such as quizzes, customer highlights, product highlights, and brand specifications, forming a content library. And the best part is that after creating the Metaobject templates, you just add them to the page, insert the SEO details, and publish. It's a super simple and efficient way to customize and organize store content. To learn more Click Here.
4) Shopify Magic and Sidekick (AI Features)
Shopify has launched new AI-powered features to optimize merchants' time. The highlight is "Shopify Magic", which uses AI to create text and images from natural language prompts. These features, powered by Shopify's data and OpenAI's ChatGPT APIs, also generate personalized content for banners, blog posts, and email campaigns in "Shopify Email".
Another functionality is "Shopify Inbox", which allows managing customer conversations more efficiently, with instant responses to frequently asked questions, thanks to AI automation. In addition, Shopify is developing "Sidekick", an AI commerce assistant that will be available to answer questions and perform administrative tasks on behalf of merchants. "Sidekick" is expected to be free and offered on all plans of the platform. Take advantage of these innovations and sign up for early access to the new features!
5) Shopify Flow now available on the Basic plan
Shopify Flow is an app that allows store owners to set up powerful automations. Like sending a welcome email or, for example, removing an out-of-stock product.
Previously, Shopify Flow was only available to Shopify Plus merchants, but the good news is that it has now been made available for other plans. Now, you can automate your tasks and simplify your store management for free on the Shopify Basic plan as well.
6) New B2B features driving growth
Stores can now serve their B2B customers without the need for third-party apps or custom coded solutions. Stores can choose to be B2B-dedicated or combine with DTC (Direct-to-Consumer), leveraging a powerful set of features, including:
- Volume pricing and quantity rules, available in early access for some stores.
- Content optimized for B2B customers, providing a personalized experience.
- Quick order lists to simplify bulk orders.
- Receiving B2B payments with PayPal.
- Secured credit cards, allowing the use of previously stored cards during checkout or when paying invoices.
For stores using the Plus Wholesale Channel, there is a guide available to easily migrate to B2B on Shopify. Read more about selling B2B on Shopify
7) New checkout features (Shopify Plus only)
Checkout continues to be a priority for Shopify. Shopify Checkout is the best in the world, and recent data from a global Big 3 consultancy confirms this. This study revealed that Shopify Checkout has a 15% higher conversion rate on average compared to other leading e-commerce platforms.
In this update, they introduced 17 new APIs for developers and a very promising product roadmap for Checkout Functions. Some smaller updates include address validation, custom fonts, subscription upsells, offering pre-orders, and an easier checkout editor, including broad visualization for developers. All these updates are available only for Shopify Plus stores.
8) Admin area improvements
Shopify has been updating the admin to make it increasingly intuitive and efficient. The changes include a refreshed visual design, single-column layout for the homepage, improvements to the bulk editor, quick search tags, such as the ability to send yourself a copy of a Shopify email that was sent to the customer, with just one click.
Data and content are clearer, and interactivity is more evident on the administrative panel. With updated fonts, icons, and higher information density, it's easier to view and manage your business data.
9) Shopify Collective (US only)
Shopify Marketplace Connect is an incredible tool that allows you to connect your Shopify store's product catalog to leading global marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. With this integration, you can manage your marketplace listings, inventory, and orders directly from your Shopify dashboard.
Additionally, you can define specific content, prices, and manage bulk inventory listings for each marketplace. It's a smart way to optimize your operations if you sell on multiple platforms.
10) Updates for Developers
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Address validation at checkout (Plus only): App developers can now suggest and correct buyer addresses with the shipping address update API.
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Shopify Functions updates (Plus only): Nine Function APIs have been made available, such as order customization, function versions and rollbacks, faster local development and debugging, app metafield support, and access to more cart information.
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Extension-only apps (Plus only): Custom apps that don't have embedded app pages no longer need a web app. Shopify will host the extension for you.
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Server-side validations in cart and checkout (Plus only): Developers can provide their own validation logic, such as verifying a customer's age or ID during checkout or specifying quantity limits in a flash sale.
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Unlimited Storefront API: The Storefront API will now support increases in buyer traffic or your biggest flash sales, with no rate limits applied to the number of requests that can be made.
In this edition, Shopify brought important updates, offering more tools and resources for merchants to expand and customize their operations. To check out all the incredible features presented in this edition, just click here.
If you want to take advantage of these new features and explore the full potential of the Shopify platform, come talk to us! We are here to help you maximize your business's potential. Contact us to learn more about how we can boost your brand and, together, achieve incredible results.