Ryan Mitchell
Managing Director
The Benefits of Shopify Online Store 2.0 for Merchants
(Source: Shopify)
We’ve touched on the Shopify Online Store 2.0 announcement and what it means in part one of our four-part Shopify series, but why should you choose Online Store 2.0? In part two, we discuss how eCommerce businesses and merchants alike can benefit from the new, updated Online Store opportunities.
The Online Store 2.0 announcement from Shopify Unite is an investment in performance for merchants and tools for Shopify developers. Online Store 2.0 helps the people who make Shopify possible, which means better commerce worldwide.
In today’s digital landscape, websites are only as good as the content they provide for visitors, which is where a good CMS (Content Management System) comes in. With the Online Store 2.0, there’s a specific focus on the content side – making it even more ideal for merchants.
What the Shopify Online Store 2.0 Means for Merchants
With the announcement of Online Store 2.0, Shopify explains the new set of developer tools they are introducing – to create a unique experience for merchants. The new release includes upgraded theme architecture, flexible content options, theme editor enhancements and more.
But what exactly does the Shopify Online Store 2.0 mean for merchants and eCommerce business owners?
We’ve crafted a list of the benefits of Shopify Online Store 2.0 for merchants:
- More Section Versatility
- Increased Content Flexibility
- Metafield Improvements
- New Checkout Extensions
- Additional Payment Platforms
More Section Versatility
In hand with upgraded theme architecture, Online Store 2.0 also brings section versatility. Before Online Store 2.0, merchants were limited in their ability to use sections, with only being able to use sections on the homepage. But, the new upgrade means merchants can add sections to all pages – unlocking new potential and endless personalisation options in every aspect of a store.
How Sections Work in the Shopify Online Store 2.0
Changes to section settings are achieved by a new approach to how the storefront renders templates. No matter the page type, merchants or Shopify developers can render pages using a JSON template file. With the template file, sections of the page are listed, and the settings data relevant to the section is stored.
Merchants can now have different products, collections and any other pages all within the same Shopify store. Multiple template files can map to different:
- Products
- Collection pages
- Custom pages
- Blog posts
Increased Content Flexibility
Beyond how Online Store 2.0 makes Shopify more straightforward for Shopify developers (which we discuss in part three of this Shopify series), it also benefits merchants significantly. For example, hardcoding meta fields into themes and relying on APIs to make product page changes isn’t required, which is why merchants can take control.
How Increased Content Flexibility Benefits Shopify Merchants
More flexibility means more customisation for merchants. Shopify developers can gain access to new developer tools. New developer tools benefit merchants as they can now experience new custom options and a more straightforward and easy to manage content system.
Metafield Improvements
Updates to the theme editor enable merchants to add metafields and properties, which beforehand was a job for the Shopify developer as APIs and code was required. But not with Online Store 2.0.
How Metafield Improvements Help Shopify Merchants
Merchants can add the exact content they want to their product pages – whether it be introducing a clothing size chart or meal ingredient list, the aim is to better the UX (User Experience).
New Checkout Extensions
New checkout extensions enable merchants to build custom checkout experiences. Online Store 2.0 brings a set of extension points, APIs and UI (User Interface) components to the checkout extension build.
How Checkout Extensions Can Help Merchants’ Businesses
With checkout extension APIs, customisation can be built into merchants’ apps, allowing them to access and change checkout line items, discount codes, metafields and more. New extension points enable merchants to build different experiences for each part of the checkout process.
The first checkout extension of the Online Store 2.0 to launch is the post-purchase app extension. This extension means post-purchase experiences can be built within the Shopify Checkout and also enables merchants to:
- Build directly on and within the Shopify Checkout – allowing merchants to focus on a greater post-purchase experience.
- Integrate fully with Shopify – as the app will be compatible with features and API updates made to the Shopify platform.
- Grow merchant businesses – helping merchants to achieve business objections through upselling, promotional offers and more.
Additional Payment Options
New payment methods appear around the world faster than Shopify can keep up with. As a result, Shopify developers can build payments solutions, and merchants can integrate them into their stores. The new payments platform replaces Shopify’s legacy integration points – enabling payment gateways to be created as Shopify apps.
On the other hand, the new app refunds and charge overview page is viewable in the Partner Dashboard – making it easier to view charges and manage billing and payouts. Beyond just PayPal, new payment methods are added, like local bank and wire transfers.
How Additional Payment Options Benefits Merchants
Payment partners can now offer greater merchant experiences through leveraging app extensions and built-in merchant experiences for a customised flow. Merchants can now better understand billing and payouts and use new payment methods on their Shopify store.
What Shopify Online Store 2.0 Means for Developers
Following on from the Shopify Online Store 2.0 announcement, the new update provides many benefits for merchants. An increase in section options, content flexibility, payment methods and overall improvements paves the way for customisation for merchants – helping them to focus on every part of the user experience.
There’s more to Online Store 2.0 than just the benefits for merchants, including new and improved developer tools and more. Coming next in our Shopify blog series is all about Shopify developers, specifically what Online Store 2.0 means for developers with an overview of their new features and more.
Get in touch with us if you want to learn more about Online Store 2.0 and how it can benefit merchants, or if you start the process of a new Shopify website, build and experience the benefits yourself.