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Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows anyone to easily launch an online store, and it has garnered significant support from users worldwide. Not only can you intuitively register products and customize designs, but it also comprehensively supports a wide range of functions, including credit card payment processing, shipping settings, and even feature expansion through abundant apps. In addition, Shopify offers a variety of services to support business growth, such as international sales and social media integration. From those trying to manage an online store for the first time to large-scale brands, it enables optimal store construction tailored to various purposes and scales. We will now explain in detail the fundamental appeal and utilization methods of Shopify.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform widely used by business owners, sole proprietors, and even beginners planning to launch new online stores around the world. Its most significant feature is that even individuals without specialized web design or programming knowledge can open their own online shop in just a few steps. Shopify offers a wealth of design templates and a unified system for everything needed to run a store, including product registration, inventory management, and order processing, making it easy for even first-time e-commerce site creators to get started with confidence.
The platform’s appeal lies not only in its ease of use but also in its diverse payment options. It supports a wide range of methods, including credit cards, various forms of electronic money, and even payment methods for overseas customers, facilitating global expansion to target customers not only in Japan but also worldwide. Furthermore, since the functions required for site construction, product shipping, and customer management are provided in a subscription format, users can continue to use the latest features while keeping initial costs low. Additionally, complex tasks such as server management and security measures are unnecessary, allowing users to concentrate on store operations.
Originating in Canada, Shopify now operates in over 175 countries, with millions of stores running on the platform worldwide. This overwhelming track record is a testament to its high reliability and comprehensive support system in the global market. In addition to online stores, Shopify also offers its own sales management system called ‘Shopify POS’ (Point of Sale) for businesses with physical stores, providing the significant advantage of easily centralizing sales management across multiple channels.
Furthermore, Shopify is also valued for its high scalability. Through its app store, users can easily introduce a wide variety of additional functions, such as marketing support, customer service tools, analytical functions, and logistics management, allowing them to flexibly customize services according to their business growth and needs. Should you plan to expand your business scale in the future, Shopify can handle it smoothly without significant burden.
Thus, Shopify is highly regarded by various businesses around the world as an online store building platform excelling in ‘simplicity,’ ‘multifunctionality,’ ‘global reach,’ and ‘scalability.’ For those who want to bring their business ideas to life and challenge the global market at low cost and in a short period, Shopify presents a very attractive option.
What are the basic features of Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce platform equipped with a wide variety of standard features necessary for operating an online store. We will now introduce its diverse features.
Store Features
Shopify’s all-in-one store management.
Shopify makes e-commerce site creation straightforward, covering not only online store development but all essential aspects of online shop operation, from web hosting to payment processing. A key feature is its wide array of template themes, enabling even novices without design expertise to launch a site effortlessly. You can select a theme that aligns with your brand image and industry, then customize it flexibly for diverse needs like product sales, adding new pages, or blog updates. Leveraging industry-specific theme selections, in particular, helps you efficiently find a design that closely matches your vision. Additionally, Shopify’s platform automatically takes care of system updates and security, eliminating the need for cumbersome maintenance. You can also bypass the hassle of setting up a rental server, allowing you to launch a professional online store quickly.
POS Lite System: Also Smartly Manages In-Store Sales.
Additionally, Shopify features a POS (Point of Sale) system designed for in-store sales. The ‘POS Lite’ app can be installed on all Shopify plans at no extra cost, readily supporting both cash and card payments at your physical store. A significant advantage is the ability to centrally manage both online and offline sales data, which allows for efficient inventory management and sales analysis. The setup process is also simple: just add the POS channel in your Shopify admin and install the app on your existing smartphone or tablet. With a quick setup, it can be immediately used as a cash register in your physical store. This integrated service makes Shopify an ideal platform for businesses aiming to create synergy between their retail store operations and online sales.
Payment Features
Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments is an online payment service that can be easily set up immediately after launching your store, simply by activating it from the admin panel. It eliminates the need for tedious screening processes or complex procedures, allowing you to add a wide range of payment methods to your shop—such as credit cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal—often from day one. A key feature is its broad support for major domestic and international payment methods, catering to diverse customer needs. This centralized management enables store owners to quickly and confidently focus on increasing sales.
Shopify Checkout
Shopify Checkout goes beyond being a mere accounting system within an online store; it seamlessly integrates with social media sales channels like Instagram and Facebook, as well as transactions through external e-commerce marketplaces. Continuously striving for a state-of-the-art user experience, its purchase flow is designed to eliminate complex inputs and cumbersome steps, enabling customers to complete their purchases quickly and without stress. Furthermore, enhanced mobile optimization and security measures create a highly convenient and secure payment environment for both store owners and customers.
Back-office Features
Utilizing Mobile Apps
By using Shopify’s mobile app, you can efficiently perform essential store management tasks from your smartphone or tablet. For example, you can easily manage inventory by scanning barcodes and check real-time order statuses and sales data even when you’re on the go. This flexibility to run your business from anywhere is a major advantage. Additionally, you can seamlessly continue operations like inventory restocking and customer support even without a PC, making it ideal for business owners who travel frequently.
Data Analysis and Reporting
Shopify offers a wealth of reporting features that allow you to analyze your store’s performance from various perspectives. You can gain a detailed understanding of sales trends, visitor numbers, and customer behavior patterns, and also collect specific data such as the search terms customers used to find products. Based on these analysis results, you can identify areas for improvement in your marketing strategies and promotions, and they can also be instrumental in reviewing your product lineup and pricing.
The Shopify App Store’s Rich Extensibility
In the Shopify App Store, you can freely install a diverse range of apps designed to support the operation and growth of your online store. Solutions are available for various industries and scales, including apps to easily customize product page designs, translation apps for multilingual support, and shipping management tools that streamline dispatch operations. Furthermore, when you want to incorporate features like subscription services or add campaign functionalities to acquire repeat customers, you can expand your store’s capabilities by selecting the optimal apps as needed.
Comprehensive Support System
Shopify offers comprehensive customer support in Japanese and community forums where users can exchange information. This ensures that all users, from beginners to advanced, can confidently resolve any issues or questions that arise. Moreover, with extensive official documentation and FAQs available, users can smoothly manage operations and expand features even while researching independently.
Marketing
Marketing initiatives using Shopify allow for a deep understanding of customer behavior and sales trends through its diverse data analysis features, enabling more precise targeting and the optimization of strategies. Its unique marketing automation features streamline email distribution and campaign management, significantly reducing the daily effort involved in customer acquisition. Furthermore, by strengthening your blog as an owned media channel and combining it with SEO strategies and social media integration, you can increase brand awareness and acquire new customers. Moreover, leveraging extensive analytical reports allows for continuous strategic review and improvement through the PDCA cycle, fostering long-term business growth. The diverse official blogs and startup success stories published by Shopify also serve as valuable resources for enhancing your marketing activities.
How to Make the Most of Shopify’s Diverse Extended Features
For those operating online stores using Shopify, numerous extension options are offered that can be flexibly added to complement the standard built-in features. Both free and paid options are available, allowing you to effectively adopt them based on your store’s growth and specific needs.
For instance, you can introduce the functionalities you need, precisely when you need them—covering everything from product sales promotion, inventory management, and enhancing payment methods, to improving shipping efficiency, automating customer support, and even launching full-scale marketing initiatives. A key feature is that adding or removing apps can be easily done from the Shopify admin panel, enabling smooth customization even without specialized knowledge. It also supports temporary use, such as utilizing specific apps only during campaign periods. Let’s flexibly incorporate these diverse options to build the optimal environment for your shop. Now, let us introduce them.
Shop Pay
Shop Pay is a payment option that dramatically streamlines the checkout process for Shopify users. Once your information is registered, future purchases can be completed in just a few clicks. As your email address, payment method, and shipping address are automatically filled in, you can skip time-consuming procedures by clicking the ‘Buy Now’ button without adding items to the cart. This provides a stress-free shopping experience, especially for frequent repeat customers, and contributes to higher conversion rates.
Marketplace Connect
Marketplace Connect is a platform extension app that seamlessly integrates products from your Shopify store with major global marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, as well as social media platforms. This enables centralized management of products, inventory, order processing, and even sales analysis across multiple sales channels. A key feature is its ability to help you expand sales channels and maximize customer acquisition opportunities, without needing to worry about the specific regulations and requirements of each new marketplace you want to enter.
Managed Markets
Managed Markets supports businesses wanting to sell their products internationally. It offers one-stop management for complex tax systems and shipping rules in various countries, in addition to sales settings compliant with country-specific laws and regulations. Tedious tasks like currency exchange, cross-border logistics, and customs duty calculations are handled automatically, enabling you to conduct global e-commerce as seamlessly as domestic sales. This makes venturing into overseas markets significantly more accessible than before.
Shopify Collabs
Shopify Collabs is a free app that facilitates new partnerships between brands and influencers or creators. In addition to direct invitations, you can research and send offers to suitable creators from the extensive Collabs network. It also offers one-stop management for providing gifts, distributing coupons, and tracking and paying referral rewards (affiliate commissions). It’s an ideal tool for businesses looking to easily expand brand awareness and acquire new customers.
Shopify Email
Shopify Email is an official feature that enables effective email marketing integrated with your own store’s data. By utilizing its range of intuitive templates, you can easily create email campaigns to promote purchases, announce new products, and send personalized notifications to customers. Performance, including sales contribution and open rates, can also be checked in real-time, allowing for swift improvements to your strategies.
Shopify Inbox
Shopify Inbox is a free chat service beneficial for both physical and online stores. Not only can you respond to customer inquiries in real-time, but it also features an automated reply function for frequently asked questions. It’s possible to automatically classify conversations and configure settings to enhance outreach to users with high purchase intent. Furthermore, by offering discount coupons directly during chats, it enables a new sales approach that converts conversations into immediate purchases.
Shopify POS
Shopify POS is a POS register app that provides integrated support for operating both physical and online stores. Beyond inventory management, sales aggregation, and checking sales data per staff member, it also automates real-time inventory analysis and promotion suggestions. You can issue unlimited accounts for sales staff, enabling your entire team to improve the efficiency of store operations. By utilizing the dedicated ‘POS Go’ terminal, everything from checkout operations and barcode scanning to contactless payments can be completed with this single device.
Shopify Applications
By utilizing the Shopify App Store, you can flexibly add optimal features from over 8,000 applications to match your store’s growth. For example, it’s possible to extend various functions according to your objectives, such as design apps that allow free customization of your site layout, marketing tools to enhance customer acquisition, logistics apps to streamline shipping operations, and even solutions that integrate with social media advertising. By skillfully combining these extended features, the scope of your store operations greatly expands, also leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, apps listed on the Shopify App Store are provided only after clearing over 100 screening criteria under strict quality control. Therefore, an environment is in place where everyone, from beginners to professional operators, can confidently select and install apps. Additionally, not only are apps finely categorized by purpose, but a high-precision search function is also available, making it an attractive advantage to easily find the perfect tools for your shop in a short amount of time. The ability to easily build an optimal app environment tailored to each shop’s specific challenges and goals can be described as a major strength of Shopify.
Full Customization Possible with Custom Code
Shopify’s appeal is its convenience, enabling even beginners to intuitively create online stores; however, if you possess web development skills, the possibilities expand even further.
For example, you can tweak the fine details of pre-made themes to express your brand’s uniqueness, or even design a completely original theme from scratch. Furthermore, by utilizing APIs and various development tools, you can also develop custom apps that incorporate your company’s unique features not found in the standard functions.
Additionally, by using Shopify’s proprietary template language, Liquid, you can make fine adjustments to layouts and display conditions. Plus, with abundant official references and sample code available, the implementation barrier is not high.
Thus, a major advantage of utilizing Shopify’s customization features is the ability to build a store that maximally showcases your brand’s identity and worldview. For users aiming to create a unique online shop tailored to their specific needs, Shopify’s flexibility will be a significant advantage.
Starting an Online Store? Leverage Shopify!
Shopify is a convenient all-in-one e-commerce service, packed with all the features necessary for running an online store. Even for beginners, the basic setup is straightforward, allowing you to launch your very own online store quickly. While you can use the wide array of available themes as they are, if you wish to express more originality, you can also flexibly add apps or perform unique customizations. Furthermore, if you require more specialized designs or advanced feature extensions, you can commission a Shopify Expert to integrate custom elements. Because it can be freely structured to meet diverse business needs, it will be a powerful partner in realizing your ideal online shop. Why not start building a shop that’s uniquely yours and explore new business possibilities with Shopify?