We're excited to announce that Shopify Summer Editions 2024 have just launched, and we can’t wait to share all the amazing new features with you. This year’s updates are packed with incredible tools and improvements designed to make running your Shopify store easier and more efficient than ever.

Split Shipping in Checkout

Have you ever lost a sale because a customer needed items shipped to different addresses? Shopify has listened to your feedback and introduced the new Split Shipping feature, revolutionizing the checkout experience for both you and your customers.

Imagine a scenario where a customer wants to buy gifts for family members in various cities. Previously, they would have to place multiple orders, leading to inconvenience and potential cart abandonment. With Split Shipping, this hassle is eliminated. Now, customers can send items from a single order to multiple locations, making their shopping experience simple and easy.

Greater Flexibility with UI Extensions

To make Split Shipping even better, Shopify has added UI Extensions support for this feature. This lets developers customize the shipping method options and item targets, creating a more personalized checkout experience.

Customers will now see detailed delivery information for each shipping option, including exact costs and delivery times. This transparency helps customers make informed decisions and improves their overall shopping experience.

Implementing Split Shipping not only improves the shopping experience but also boosts your sales by addressing a common pain point. By providing more flexibility and control, you reduce the likelihood of cart abandonment and increase the chances of completed purchases.

The Hydrogen Visual Editor

The Hydrogen Visual Editor, powered by Utopia, is transforming headless commerce by making it easier and faster to build and manage your storefront. With the Hydrogen Visual Editor, your whole team can now create, build, and ship in a visual environment, reducing the need for constant developer intervention. Non-technical team members can independently handle content updates and design tweaks, working together easily in real-time.

The editor syncs changes directly to GitHub, ensuring your code remains the source of truth. Developers can still use their favorite tools like VS Code and GitHub, while instantly deploying previews with Oxygen. Data integration is a breeze, allowing you to pull in information from metaobjects, the Shopify Storefront API, or your CMS. You can even update content directly within the editor.

Meet Shopify Sidekick: AI-Powered Assistance

One of the standout features of Shopify Summer Editions 2024 is the introduction of Sidekick, an AI-powered expert designed to assist merchants whenever they need help. Sidekick knows your Shopify store inside out and is ready to provide tailored support.

You can easily find Sidekick at the top right of your navigation panel. When you open it, it appears as a sidebar in your admin view. Just tell Sidekick what you need help with, and it will automatically provide a solution or suggestion on how to proceed. After reviewing the details provided by Sidekick, you can save your changes, and you're done! It’s that simple. This new feature not only saves you time but also ensures that you get the most out of your Shopify store with expert guidance right at your fingertips.

Shopify Magic: Improve Your Store with AI

Shopify Magic introduces a suite of smart AI tools that make running your store easier and more efficient:

• Improve Product Photos: Instantly edit your product images with AI. Change, match, or remove backgrounds in just a few clicks.
• Generate Product Descriptions: Provide a few keywords, and AI will create catchy, SEO-friendly product descriptions for you.
• Personalize FAQs: Get tailored FAQs and answers for your store. Quickly add them to your Shopify Inbox to help customers and increase sales.
• Optimize Emails: Let AI determine the best times to send emails and generate engaging subject lines and content, making your email marketing more effective.
• Convert Chats to Sales: Receive quick, personalized responses to customer questions, helping you turn live chats into sales.

“We have used Shopify Magic a few times for our product descriptions, and I was surprised by how well it works. Shopify Magic has exceeded my expectations.”

District for Kids

Sarah Wajda — Digital Marketing Manager

Markets: Expand Your Reach Globally

One of the standout features of Shopify Summer Editions 2024 is the reimagined Shopify Markets. This update is a game-changer for store owners looking to expand their business across borders, into B2B, or even in-person selling, all from a single, easy-to-use location in the Shopify admin. Think of it as your business’s command center, where you can control and customize your operations without needing an advanced degree in Shopify settings.

Simplified Global Selling

Shopify Markets handles the tricky parts of selling internationally—tax filing, duties, prepaid shipping labels, customs documentation, and fraud protection.

Expanding to New Markets

From one dashboard, you can create a new market, like the UK, and set up a custom catalog and pricing for it. Customize your store’s theme to better appeal to different audiences by using local language, featuring region-specific promotions, and highlighting relevant products.

Inclusive Pricing for Duties and Taxes

Include duties and import taxes directly in your product prices for regions where customers prefer an all-inclusive price. This eliminates surprise fees at checkout, improving the shopping experience and increasing conversion rates.

Expanded Shipping Choices

Offer more shipping options, like standard shipping via UPS, to give your customers flexibility and improve satisfaction.

Auto-Editing for International Orders

Easily edit international orders post-purchase without worrying about updating duties, taxes, or currency changes. Shopify handles these updates automatically.

In-Person Selling Made Easier

Shopify Markets makes in-person selling a breeze. Manage pricing and product availability for different retail locations directly through Markets. For instance, you can mark down prices for your U.S. outlet stores or ensure only best-sellers are stocked at your flagship store.

B2B Expansion Simplified (for Shopify Plus)

For Shopify Plus users, expanding into B2B markets is now more straightforward. Manage bulk orders, tax exemptions, and other B2B-specific needs from within the Markets hub, enabling you to grow your wholesale business efficiently.

Wrapping Up

Shopify’s Summer Editions 2024 are packed with features designed to make running your Shopify store smoother and more efficient. Whether it’s the flexible shipping options, intuitive design tools, AI-powered assistance, or global market management, these updates are here to revolutionize your e-commerce experience. Dive into these exciting new features, and see how they can help you upgrade your store and stay ahead in the competitive e-commerce landscape. Happy selling!