When we take a look at the core Shopify service, we see that it makes one of the best alternatives for small businesses or individuals to sell online. But, let us take the perspective of an enterprise that makes multi-million dollar sales every month, then, it a more customizable experience that they’d be on the lookout for.
That is exactly where the value of Shopify Plus comes to the fore.
It is noteworthy that the features and core dashboards of Shopify Plus bear an unmistakable resemblance to Shopify. But, what is different is the underlying code of your store, integrations, and access to new features. Shopify Plus, similarly, makes dedicated support options available as well.
Several top-notch eCommerce stores from across the world, including Nestle, Budweiser, and Kylie Jenner run on Shopify Plus.
In this article, we take a look at the key points of difference between Shopify vs Shopify Plus. This will help a business decide better what works for their store. Let’s take a look at the 13 new features or benefits that one gets from using Shopify Plus.
1. A dedicated account manager (Launch Engineer)
In the case of Shopify, it is merely via live chat, email, and phone that an end-user can access support. Whenever needed, one can hire Shopify Experts.
But, Shopify Plus makes dedicated and personalized support available for your store, and a Launch Engineer is assigned to your store, who is always there to help.
2. Access to Liquid and additional theme customizations
If you use Shopify’s standard plans, then, you can use the editor for customizing your Shopify theme. Switching over to an entirely different theme is still going to be difficult.
But the degrees of customization made available by Shopify Plus are priceless. This renders access for one to Liquid, which is Shopify’s theme language. The liquid will be available in your toolbag, wherein changes to the code render additional control.
3. Unlimited staff accounts
With the basic Shopify plan, only a limited number of staff accounts can be created. But using Shopify Plus lets you create an unlimited number of Shopify accounts. Herein, additional permission settings can also be implemented. So, more of your staff members can work over your store, and you exercise more control over their actions.
4. More control over the checkout
High spend customers are always on the radar of eCommerce store owners, and they call for premium attention. In the case of Shopify Plus, the checkout experience can be customized based on parameters such as shopping cart values. Payment options, customer fields, and shipping methods can also be customized. In the case of Shopify, the aforementioned is not easy.
5. Additional API integrations
Irrespective of the website that we take into the question, the implementation for facilitating integrations with third-party apps is APIs.
Shopify Plus lets merchants derive the maximum value from third-party apps. It makes advanced API resources, such as User and GiftCard available. While GiftCard is an alternate payment method, Users will let you add, edit, remove or retrieve information regarding staff accounts.
6. Exclusive apps
Over Shopify Plus Development, a few of the exclusive apps are available that are not available to Shopify users. Just as an instance, Wholesale Channel aids users with high volume B2B sales. Similarly, Launchpad delivers essence to planning and automating sales campaigns, product launches, and flash sales.
7. Integrations with existing platforms
A Shopify store can be connected to a large number of apps. Shopify’s API facilitates integrations with a range of platforms for Product information management (PIM), Inventory and order management (IMS and OMS), Enterprise resource planning (ERP), Customer relationship management (CRM), and Third-party logistics (3PL), etc.
8. Wholesale channels
As a business grows, the customers who shop in bulk increase. Wholesale channels facilitate wholesale sales through a separate, password-protected storefront based on your online store. The products already up for sale can herein be offered at wholesale prices.
By using Shopify Plus, merchants can manage their B2C and B2B businesses from a single portal. They can use the existing product integrations and data, track orders, and send invoices.
9. Merchant Success Program
With the Merchant Success Program run by Shopify Plus, a user derives the maximum value from the platform. Herein, a merchant will access aid with platforms, products, and third-party integrations. Training is also made available to let merchants reach their full potential. Shopify Plus team forwards 24/7 support and helps you with coming across approved Shopify Plus Partners.
10. Exclusive access to other resources
Beyond the Merchant Success Program, Shopify Plus users get exclusive access to a range of resources, including a Facebook community to share experiences with Shopify Plus users and Partners directory that yields access to agency, technology, and solution partners. Access to exclusive beta programs and Shopify Plus Academy for guidance on using the Shopify Plus platform are also available.
11. A unified dashboard to manage multiple stores
Shopify Plus now makes a new dashboard available for managing in entirety your stores, staff accounts, analytics, automation tools, and user permissions. This comes to be exceptionally useful when managing multiple stores or locations.
12. More in-depth analytics options
A detailed analytics dashboard is made available by Shopify to view stats such as sales, referrers or landing pages, top-selling products, returning customer rates, etc. A merchant can hence keep on top of all the detailed information regarding his store’s operation. Furthermore, Shopify Plus works with the top analytics companies to keep you on the same page with the latest trends in your store.
13. Higher prices that vary based on your sales
Core Shopify features flat plans, the pricing of which stays unaffected by a merchant’s sales numbers. But in the case of Shopify Plus, the prices for the pricing plans are around $2,000 per month (minimum) or 0.25% of sales volume per month (capped at $40,000), whichever is greater.
Conclusion : “The key reasons why a business may choose to go with Shopify Plus is that it renders additional flexibility, makes more options for support available and offers a higher degree of access to the underlying code of your store.
Core Shopify platform is the right alternative for most businesses, lest they make millions every month doing sales online. But when one goes for a Shopify Plus, one gets access to a host of free features.