In this article we talk you through all the latest features, updates, and developments that were rolled out at Shopify through August and September. Some are designed to help businesses on Shopify, some have their customers in mind, but all of them add to a better ecommerce experience for everyone. So what's the latest?
September 1st
Standard Shipping Now Available for Markets Pro
Carrier options have been extended to include standard international shipping via DHL Ecommerce. Merchants with Markets Pro can now access this service at label purchase.
USPS take parcels to a DHL hub before they are shipped cross-border. You'll need to take the DHL Ecommerce orders to a US post office to start the delivery process unless USPS already picks up from your warehouse.
Shopify recommends that if you use this service, you configure the new rate in your settings as this will let your customers see it at checkout so they can choose express or standard shipping.
September 6th
App Connection Method Available in Customer Events
Merchants now have the ability to see if each pixel is connected via the web or server side in the customer events section. (It will show for all apps that use the official web pixel api or server pixel api.)
September 11th
Multiple Domains Can Now Be Used on the Primary Market
This update means that merchants with Shopify Markets can now have multiple domain configurations that target different languages on the primary market.
As an example, Canada has 2 languages; English and French, so merchants might want to target English speakers on shop.ca and French speakers on fr.shop.ca - this can now be done with subfolders, domains or subdomains.
Shopify Flow - Search Flow Template Library Uses Natural Language
Previous iterations used an exact match functionality that meant searches often returned no results.
Now, the search function has been broadened so that it can deal with typos, additional languages and concepts like 'low stock' rather than exact phrases.
POS Go Launched in the UK and Ireland
POS (Point of Service) Go is a hand-held device with an integrated card reader, barcode scanner and Shopify software, enabling merchants to trade at pop ups and fairs etc.
September 13th
POS 'App Only' Staff - Email Address No Longer Required
This just makes it easier if certain staff don't have a company email address - it's no longer needed when adding or editing POS app only employees.
Automatic Free Shipping Discount
In the past, to utilise free shipping, merchants needed an app, script or discount codes - no more! Automatic free shipping can be offered to customers direct from the Shopify admin. This will help increase conversion as it's easier for customers to buy and get free shipping automatically, without having to input a code like they needed to in the past.
Access Apps Easily With Admin Actions
If you have apps installed on your Shopify store, you'll now be able to extend the Shopify admin with admin actions.
This enables apps integrate easily with the admin by creating modals tha can be used from resource pages. This will help to make your daily tasks more efficient with no more switching between different pages while in the Shopify admin.
September 14th
Set-Aside Sales Tax
Merchants using Balance can now save sales tax in a different balance which will help improve cashflow efficiency and means there won't be any nasty surprises when we get to tax filing season!
Improved Spam Detection in Shopify Inbox
New spam protection will stop unwanted messages hitting your inbox. You can still review them to make sure you want to mark them as such.
September 18th
More POS PIN Combinations Available
When logging into POS, PINs can now be 4, 5 or 6 digits. This can be updated by anyone with 'Manage Staff' permission.
Please make sure that you update your devices to take advantage of this, otherwise they'll only support 4 digits.
September 20th
Manage Gift Cards with New 'Gift Card ID' Column in Reports
This change makes it easier for merchants to see when gift cards were used, by which customer and for which order. This can be seen in the new 'Gift Card ID' column on reports.
Acquire New Wholesale Customers with Company Account requests
Using the Shopify Forms app, merchants are now able to let prospective B2B customers submit information for review. This cna be done by adding a customisable account request form on the store wherever the merchant chooses.
When a form is submitted, no manual entry is needed - it's automatically moved to a new company profile. Within this, merchants can approve customers, delete customers or follow up with them.
POS Go - Remote Logout Now Available
Merchants can now remotely log out of their devices and their statuses can be seen on the device list page.
To do this, access 'devices' under the Point of Sale channel in admin. then select the device you require and click on 'log out from store'.
September 22nd
Shopify Inbox Chat Widget Can Be Edited
It's now possible to amend the chat button on stores so they're aligned with the brand. Icons, text, and colours can be changed.
New Input Setting 'text_alignment' Released
This change in the theme editor outputs a new segmented control with alignment icons.
Enhanced Range and Select Input Settings
The theme editing settings experience has been updated. The range setting now includes an input box, so merchants can set values by typing or by using sliders. The select setting now has a dropdown list or a segmented control.
September 25th
Shopify Audiences v2.1 Lets You Find More Customers on Ad Platforms
A new version of Audiences has improved algorithms, a new dashmark for Benchmarks, and support for additional ad channels (TikTok, Snapchat and Criteo) to enable merchants to improve advertising performance (adding to the existing channels of Meta, Google and Pinterest).
Audiences helps Shopify Plus merchants grow their, erm, audiences, reduce customer acquisition cost by up to half, and improve return on ad spend.
September 26th
More Ways to Filter Products in Admin
This subtle but hepful change will allow filtering product lists in admin by a referenced influencer metaobject, a 'shop the look' metafield, or 'recommended product'metafield list.
September 27th
Product Bundles Support Available in Storefront API
If you're a merchant using Hydrogen or the Storefront API through the Headless Channel in the admin, you can now offer product bundles.
This will be really helpful in increasing AOV by making upsell easier, while improving the customer experience. Get started with the Shopify Bundles app, free on the Shopify App store.
So that's everything rolled out by Shopify in September - whether you're a retailer or a customer, it's another month packed with updates to improve your experience with the platform.
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