Shopify Plus is of course an upgraded eCommerce platform, However, the article here provides more insightful information on the same.
Shopify Plus: Should Businesses Consider Switching to the Platform?
Shopify Plus elevates the capabilities, functionality, and customizability of the standard Shopify platform. While Shopify allows eCommerce brands to sell their products globally, Shopify Plus enhances this experience by providing unmatched ease of scalability. This is helpful for businesses as it enables your brand to grow beyond expectations. In essence, Shopify Plus is the pinnacle of eCommerce excellence. These services are easy to hire from a reliable Shopify development company, However, the prime question is whether to hire Shopify Plus services? Let’s find out the answer in the write-up here. But first let’s understand the points of difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus.
What is the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus?
When comparing both platforms, the pros and cons more or less are same. However, when analyzing individually, Shopify is as dynamic as Shopify Plus. However, their purpose of serving makes them makes them ideal for different platforms.
Shopify is a fantastic eCommerce platform for brands and agencies aiming to conquer the retail market. However, Shopify Plus offers a distinct edge for specific reasons. Therefore, the need and particular business requirement will help to find out which platform should be considered. Whether this platform is right for you depends on two main factors:
- The current stage of your business growth, and
- Your vision for how far you want to expand
Here are the pointers of difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus:
UPDATES: Shopify Plus merchants are the first to access new functionalities whenever Shopify announces updates. Features like Shopify Markets and multi-currency options were initially rolled out to Plus members. This allows them to benefit from seamless international selling and scaling their online stores globally. This early access also provides an opportunity to give valuable feedback to the platform.
COMMUNITY: Joining this platform grants access to an exclusive, invite-only group of fellow Plus merchants. This community serves as a valuable resource for networking, collaboration, and sharing strategies and experiences. The entrepreneurial journey can be long and solitary, but this private group acts as a guiding team fostering a sense of support.
SUPPORT: Shopify is renowned for its exceptional eCommerce support. The Shopify maintenance services make it ideal for businesses of all sizes. On the other hand, with Plus, you receive a “Merchant Success Manager” and a personal launch engineer to ensure you’re operational within 90 days or less. This priority support assists in times of need. It also helps you optimize your potential through industry trend analysis and predictions. This provides an edge and enhances your eCommerce experience.
The Exclusive Features of Shopify Plus
Creation of Additional Stores: You have the option to create up to nine additional stores alongside your main Shopify store, enabling you to manage a total of ten stores under a single plan. This feature is a game-changer for any eCommerce giant aiming to cater to diverse shopping preferences across different regions. Shopping habits can vary significantly from one country to another—what appeals to customers in the US might not resonate as well with shoppers in Europe. By replicating your existing store and tailoring it to a specific market, you can facilitate a seamless and controlled international expansion. This approach allows you to address regional preferences and boost your global reach effectively.
24/7 Support Available: Shopify Plus merchants have the added benefit of getting support 24/7 for any of their queries. The added benefit extends to having a dedicated manager in addition to having a support team. The team is there to manage and resolve client’s queries regarding the platform or queries that clients may have. This feature ensures that Shopify Plus merchants can ask to resolve their queries at any point in time with the assurance that their queries will be answered irrespective of the time zone.
Multi-currency: Stores need to have the capability of allowing native financial transactions to international clients. With Shopify Plus store, there is an opportunity that deploys Shopify’s multi-currency functionality on websites. Advanced Shopify package also allows similar feature to the users. This gives the international audience the required ease and confidence to not only shop but also to improve the conversion rates.
Transaction fees: As a standard aspect of any eCommerce business, Shopify charges transaction fees. However, if you’re a Shopify Plus merchant using Shopify Payments, you can choose to eliminate these fees. For enterprise-level businesses, this translates to significant cost savings, a rare feature in any industry.
Wholesale: Wholesale operations offer compelling advantages for eCommerce brand growth. As a streamlined process with higher order volumes and reduced administrative tasks, wholesale business help owners gain good margins. Wholesale businesses’ ability to sale direct-to-consumer ensures your store remains organized and optimized as per clients’ specifications. Added to that, customized invoicing allows for personalized interactions. This is helpful for fostering robust growth and enduring strong relationships with wholesalers.
Headless: While Shopify Plus isn’t essential for headless eCommerce, it does bring distinct advantages over standard Shopify plans. Implementing headless Shopify on Shopify Plus can significantly reduce page load times and give you full control over your checkout experience. Faster page loads directly translate to higher conversion rates during checkouts. It is as simple as a process as explained here. As your business scales beyond its initial stages, these optimizations become critical for maximizing performance and customer satisfaction.
Shopify Flow: This feature could be the game-changer for brand owners. It’s designed to take care of the routine tasks that can bog down your eCommerce operations, freeing up valuable time for you to focus on strategic growth rather than getting stuck in day-to-day minutiae. Shopify Flow leverages advanced backend automations to streamline your processes and enhance your customers’ shopping experiences. With more time on your hands, you can innovate, expand your team, and get control over operational details to propel your business forward.
Advanced reporting: Shopify Plus offers merchants an extensive array of customizable reports. These reports offer great insights into store’s performance, all without requiring extensive time investment. This includes leveraging an enhanced Shopify API for more tailored reporting capabilities. While you may appreciate the reporting options available on your current plan, the platform’s reporting provides expert insights crucial for rapidly business scaling. These insights empower you to make more profitable, data-driven decisions that drive success and growth.
Customized checkout: While Shopify’s default checkout process is known for its efficiency and simplicity, Shopify Plus merchants enjoy the freedom to completely customize their checkout pages. This customization can be done according to brand’s unique identity and customer preferences. This flexibility becomes particularly valuable as businesses reach higher levels of growth. This leads to significant boosts in customer retention and satisfaction.
How much does Shopify Plus Cost?
It’s challenging to find the exact cost as it varies widely depending on your specific store needs. However, Shopify Plus plans typically start at $2,000 per month.
If you’re thinking about moving to Shopify Plus, it’s advisable to choose the same aligned with the bespoke needs of your website. The idea here is to enhance the shopping experience. An off-the-shelf eCommerce solution often falls short when aiming for substantial results in the competitive retail landscape.
Shopify, in general is essential for brands with annual turnovers of at least £1 million. This investment, while substantial, yields significant returns through enhanced optimizations and upgrades. This is essential to keep your brand ahead in online shopping trends.
Should You Switch to Shopify Plus?
Shopify as one of the top picks for merchants serves to a vast user base of 500,000 merchants. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, caters to a more exclusive group of 2,500 users. Many brands are still not clear with the decision of whether this platform offers the right solution for their online retail challenges. However, the requirement of the business can help find if the solution is worth trying.
If you’re currently using Shopify and aiming to expand your operations further with help from a Shopify development company, the advantages outlined above could provide the necessary catalyst for accelerating the growth of your eCommerce brand.
