Shopify Unite 2021: Why you benefit from Online Shop 2.0

Under the claim "Coding Commerce. Together", this year's Shopify Unite (https://unite.shopify.com/) took place on June 29, 2021. At Shopify's partner and developer conference, there was a lot of excitement, because probably the biggest structural change in the history of the store system was announced: the online store 2.0.

The innovations are far-reaching and affect developers, designers and merchants (Shopify and Shopify Plus customers) as well as end users. From now on, customizations of Shopify stores are easier, more flexible and more individual, without interfering with the source code. Shopify developers also get new, expanded options for coding and customizing apps and themes.

In this blog post, we summarize all the new features, show who will benefit from the changes and what we have planned for you in terms of Onlineshop 2.0.

Individual customization of all pages of a store with new block system

Two words that made quite a few developers and partners shine on June 29 were "sections everywhere". Until now, only the home page of a Shopify store could be customized with different blocks. With Onlineshop 2.0, this block system is extended to all pages of a store. This gives Shopify users new and uncomplicated ways to personalize their store without interfering with the code.

Product pages also benefit from this. Different templates can be created directly in the Customizer and blocks can be used specifically for certain products. Product pages receive further upgrades through the introduction of individual meta fields (more on this later in the blog post) and the changed integration of apps in themes. Shopify apps now no longer need to be laboriously customized in code, but also appear as blocks in the backend. After installation, these can be created and moved around on the pages of the store as desired.

Output of flexible store content with

Another possibility to design (product) pages is offered by the newly introduced individual meta fields. This is used to store and output special information that is not recorded by default. The definition of meta fields is done directly in the Shopify admin area and can be created for products, customers or orders, for example.

The data of the meta fields, such as maintenance notes, expiration dates or key figures are finally maintained in the objects themselves and integrated in the store via the Customizer. Metafields can be used to output not only texts, but also color values, time specifications, files (e.g. images) and more.

Configuration of the check-out through app integration

One area that could previously only be processed in a cumbersome manner is the check-out. The introduction of Onlineshop 2.0 puts an end to these limitations by allowing apps to be integrated directly. We were particularly pleased with this news, as we can now tackle a much-desired project: The integration of our TAX Exempt Manager. After adapting it for Onlineshop 2.0, you will no longer be able to use it only in the shopping cart, but directly in the check-out and simplify the shopping experience for your customers even more.

Upgrade store speed with new themes

All these named innovations require a reconstruction of the previous store structure and thus the Shopify themes. In the process, the theme structure was reduced, simplified and thus much more compact, which greatly increased the loading speed. With Shopify Unite taking place, a first new theme was released, which serves as a benchmark and gives a preview of further and new developments. "Dawn" becomes the new default theme, replacing "Debut", whose loading speeds it already surpasses by 35%.

Currently, "Dawn" is only available for newly created stores, but all existing themes and apps will be migrated to the online store 2.0 by the end of the year. The theme store itself will reopen for new themes on 7/15/2021. All existing online stores will then gradually receive the features announced in Shopify Unite. For "sections everywhere", however, a theme update is necessary, which may require additional programming.

Personalized buyer experiences, more payment options and improved email marketing

With the online store 2.0 come numerous innovations that enable retailers to create individual buyer experiences. For example, pricing can now be made dependent on certain factors, such as the location of the clientele. Payment options are also becoming more diverse. Shopify Payments Platform will allow third-party providers to set up interfaces. This gives merchants easy access to payment providers without having to connect them themselves, and allows them to tailor their payment options to the needs of their customers.

The design options of the Shopify email marketing tool have been rather plain so far. This is now to change as well. Shopify Email is integrated directly in the store and takes over all relevant store data, such as logo, product images and prices or discounts. With the extension, the familiar design blocks can also be used here. Merchants are thus given a way to personalize store emails and adapt them precisely to their own needs.

What awaits you: Latori and the online store 2.0

All innovations at a glance:

• Customize all pages of a store with new block system

• Output of flexible store content with meta fields

• Configuration of check-out through app integration

• Store speed upgrade with new themes

• New payment options through the Shopify Payments platform

• More conversions through expansion of the email marketing tool

Some of these functions are already available for use by all Shopify users. By the end of the year, all the remaining features should join them, launching Onlineshop 2.0. As a merchant of an existing store, you can rest assured: The changeover will happen automatically, without you having to pay attention to anything. Only if you want to use one of the new themes or update your old theme, you or your Shopify developer have to take action.

With the announcements on Shopify Unite, things have also changed for us as your Shopify partner. By making the development process easier and expanding to new areas like check-out, we can meet your individual needs even better.

We will continue to support you with advice and assistance even with the introduction of Onlineshop 2.0. If you have questions and want to be best prepared for all the new features, get in touch with us today.