Shopify Winter Updates 2023

Shopify has just launched a host of juicy updates to its ecosystem with the release of Shopify Editions: Winter 2023. Whether you're a customer looking for a smoother and more seamless shopping experience, or a merchant looking to take your online store to the next level - there’s a little something for everyone. As there are over 100 updates mentioned, I thought it might be nice to list some of our favourites below:

For customers, one standout feature is the soon to be available One-page checkout, which streamlines the checkout process. When this launches, it will make it faster for customers to complete their purchases and reduce friction through some nice looking UX, which should lead to higher conversion rates and higher returning customer rates. For Plus merchants, this will come with additional Drag-and-drop checkout customisation, making it far simpler to manage.

For merchants, the new AI-generated storefront content feature will be a breath of fresh air. By embracing technologies such as OpenAI, Shopify has taken some of the most time-consuming and repetitive aspects of store management and automated them, freeing up valuable time for merchants to focus on growing their business. Alongside better built-in improved search and recommendations, customers are also able to more quickly find exactly what they're looking for, benefiting from improved search relevance powered by data across Shopify, whether they have a search history with that store or not.

The ability to create reusable, custom content using metaobjects is another exciting addition for merchants. Whether it's a shoppable gallery, product highlights, cart upsells, or something else entirely, merchants will be able to draft, edit, translate, and reference their meta objects directly within the online store editor, or use the Storefront API to seamlessly integrate them into the custom storefront.

You are now also able to offer unique discounts across specific channels like Google, Facebook, and Instagram, to strengthen customer relationships and sell more. And with deferred purchase options with PayPal, you'll be able to reach more customers around the world with pre-orders and try-before-you-buy options.

For in-person sellers and gadget lovers, Shopify has introduced POS Go – an all-in-one mobile selling hardware device that streamlines the in-person sales process. There is no need for a separate tablet or card reader, so you can stay connected to your business on the go, at a fraction of the cost of other setups. And with enhanced inventory tracking, you'll have a real-time, accurate view of on-hand and unavailable quantities, helping you minimise lost sales, misplaced stock, and over-ordering.

Finally, for merchants who are looking to grow their customer base, Shopify has introduced new features to help you capture high-intent shoppers' information through Shopify Forms. With customizable capture forms, functioning as a layer on top of your store, you can collect valuable information from your shoppers and turn them into loyal customers.

In conclusion, Shopify Editions: Winter 2023 has a little something for everyone. Whether you're a customer looking for a smoother shopping experience, or a merchant looking to take your online store to the next level, these updates have been a lovely start to 2023.