Shopify has brought in a massive amount of updates as we commence here in January 2025 that could affect your online store’s functionality as well as customer experience. Understanding the powers of these updates can become an essential skill set for leveraging one of the many tools for making e-commerce a success and staying competitive in the market. This article will discuss some of the most critical updates that, as a Shopify merchant, you must definitely be aware of now and in the future.
Introduction to Shopify’s Winter Editions
Every six months, some new things come in Shopify’s Editions that developers and merchants take away some delight from. The most recent Winter Editions came out on December 11, 2024 and exhibit the recent achievements and changes. Although numerous updates have been enlarged and widely scoped, this article proceeds to examine the latest expansions following winter editions and any additional updates as applicable up to the month of January 2025.
Key Updates in December 2024
Before delving into the January updates, let’s recap a few significant functionalities introduced just before the new year:
1. Marketing Automation for Local Retail
Launching a New Model: Shopify now allows merchants to target online customers through a new marketing automation model that aims to invite nearby customers to visit retail locations. This strategic move is especially beneficial for retailers looking to bridge their online and physical presence.
2. Improved Checkout Customization
Checkout Customization Options: Starting December 24, 2024, Shopify Plus merchants can access new payment customization options for their checkout, customer accounts, and order summaries, with the promise of broader availability for other plans in the future.
3. Collective Inventory Visibility
Improved Inventory Control: Starting December 9, 2024, retailers using the Shopify Collective app can now view their suppliers’ online inventory levels, excluding point-of-sale (POS) inventory. This change improves transparency and helps make informed inventory management decisions.
4. Customer Account Changes
Terminology Update: Shopify has renamed “new customer accounts” to “customer accounts” and “classic customer accounts” to “legacy customer accounts,” signaling the phasing out of the legacy system.
Recent Updates in January 2025
Following the holiday season, Shopify has introduced several updates to enhance merchant capabilities and user experience.
5. Automate returns processing
Streamlined returns: Retailers can automate returns with updated policies in the Collective app, making it easier to manage returns without manual intervention. Last updated as of January 2025
After the holiday season, Shopify introduced several updates to improve merchant capabilities and user experience.
6. Broader reach for store campaigns
Risk-free advertising: Starting December 13, all eligible merchants can use Store campaigns, which allow you to advertise on Meta and Google, charging only for successful customer conversions. While currently limited to the US and Canada, this update provides an important growth channel for retailers.
7. Managing Taxes for Canada’s Tax Holiday
Automatic GST/HST Application: Starting December 14, Shopify is implementing an automatic exemption for eligible products under Canada’s GST/HST exemption program, which is in effect until February 15, 2025. Merchants must ensure that their products are classified correctly to benefit from this program.
8. Updating Commercial Invoices for International Shipping
Tax IDs for Specific Markets: Starting December 17, tax IDs will be automatically included on commercial invoices for international orders made through regulated marketplaces, which is important for compliance in certain countries, such as Brazil and China.
9. Improved Tax ID Entry During Checkout
New Requirements for Mexico: Starting January 1, 2025, merchants shipping to Mexico must collect tax IDs at checkout, as required by Mexican authorities for shipments under $2,500. This requires additional fields to be configured during checkout.
10. New Shipping Options for Canadian Merchants
Introducing Puralator: To underscore Shopify’s commitment to providing Canadian merchants with more shipping options, Shopify has added Puralator to its roster of carriers, joining Canada Post and UPS, allowing for more competitive pricing and faster service.
Conclusion
Shopify’s new updates are designed to help merchants improve customer engagement, streamline processes, and adapt to changing market demands. With the introduction of marketing automation, improved tax management, and expanded shipping options, Shopify merchants are poised for a successful 2025.
As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, staying up-to-date is essential to maintaining a competitive edge. By implementing these new features and optimizations, you can improve the functionality of your Shopify store and enhance the overall customer experience.
For Shopify store owners, it’s time to dive into these updates and implement them to drive your business forward. Don’t forget to sign up to receive regular updates and information about future Shopify developments!
If you’re ready to elevate your Shopify store’s performance and maximize your profits, don’t hesitate to act. Seek guidance from a Shopify developer to fine-tune your strategies and start seeing significant changes in your conversion rates today!
We are experts at Shopify and are dedicated to creating stores that drive more sales and traffic. Let us help you achieve unparalleled success in your e-commerce journey.
Contact us:
info@maquae.com
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