Checkout: Faster, Smarter, More Flexible
Faster Cart and Checkout
Cart loading speeds are now up to 50% faster, and checkout pages load over a second sooner thanks to asynchronous customisation loading. This ensures a smoother, faster shopping experience for customers.
Expert opinion: Speed drives conversions. These updates ensure your customers don’t get frustrated waiting, which should reduce cart abandonment rates significantly.
Cart's Lifetime Has Increased
Shoppers now have more time to complete their purchase, reducing the chance of losing a sale.
Expert opinion: High-ticket items often require more deliberation. A longer cart lifetime means fewer abandoned carts and more completed checkouts.
Add a Chat App to Checkout Pages
Customers can now get real-time assistance while checking out, increasing confidence and reducing drop-off rates.
Expert opinion: A direct line to support at checkout could be the difference between a completed sale and an abandoned cart.
Draft Orders Work with Functions and Extensions (Exclusive to Plus)
Shopify Functions and custom UI extensions now apply to draft orders, offering smooth checkout experiences even for B2B customers and bespoke workflows.
Expert opinion: This feature bridges the gap between personalised workflows and efficient checkouts, perfect for merchants with complex sales models.
Split Shipping in Checkout
Customers can now split orders across multiple shipping destinations directly at checkout, providing greater flexibility for gifting or distributed teams.
Expert opinion: This is huge for customer satisfaction during peak holiday seasons or corporate orders.
Checkout Blocks on More Pages
Merchants can now use the Checkout Blocks app to customise the thank you and order status pages, even on non-Plus plans.
Expert opinion: This gives brands a simple way to enhance post-purchase engagement without coding expertise.
Retail: Bridging In-Store and Online
Bundles on POS
Shopify Bundles are now available on POS, allowing retailers to sell multi-product bundles in-store.
Expert opinion: This update empowers physical stores to match online promotions, boosting upselling opportunities.
Retail Customer Segments
Use location-based customer segments to personalise in-store marketing campaigns.
Expert opinion: Geo-targeting made simple. Merchants can now drive foot traffic with hyper-local promotions.
Customer Metafields on POS
View and edit customer metafields directly within Shopify POS, enhancing personalisation during in-store interactions.
Expert opinion: A small detail with a big impact—this helps build stronger in-store relationships, helping promote customer lifetime value.
Unverified Retail Returns
Staff can now process returns without a receipt or order number, simplifying customer service.
Expert opinion: This is a big tick for convenience, which is strongly correlated with customer satisfaction and loyalty. Frequent shoppers may not keep track of receipts, but they’re the exact customers you want to keep happy.
Analytics and Operations: Smarter Insights, Faster Actions
Faster-Loading Admin
The Shopify Admin now loads 25% faster, with improved navigation speeds of 12.5%.
Expert opinion: Streamlined backend performance means you can spend less time managing and more time scaling.
New Analytics
Shopify’s new analytics provide customisable insights with real-time data queries using ShopifyQL. Dive deeper into metrics that matter most to your business.
Expert opinion: This brings enterprise-grade analytics to all merchants, making data-driven decisions more accessible.
Shopify Flow Automates More Tasks
Flow can now automate workflows without custom HTTP calls, with support for nearly all Admin API actions.
Expert opinion: More automation, less manual work—a win for scaling brands.
Shopify Tax Automated Filing
Shopify Tax now automates the preparation, filing, and remittance of your sales tax returns in the US, EU, and UK.
Expert opinion: VAT and sales tax compliance made simple.
Ship-to-Store Now Available
Customers can buy online and have items shipped to their preferred store for pickup.
Expert opinion: A great way to enhance convenience and drive in-store traffic.
Marketing: Enhanced Customer Engagement
Customer Account Extensions
Easily add apps to customer accounts for order management, returns, and subscriptions without needing custom code.
Expert opinion: Personalisation at scale opens up opportunities for deeper engagement with your customers.
Branded Login Pages
Customise login pages to match your store’s branding, including typography and brand colours.
Expert opinion: A seamless branded experience from login to checkout helps build trust and consistency.
Trigger Automation with Segments
Trigger automations based on customer segment changes, such as targeting lapsed customers with win-back campaigns.
Expert opinion: Dynamic segmentation ensures your marketing stays relevant and timely. The more personalised, the more effective.
B2B and International Expansion
Better Draft Orders for B2B
Merchants can now lock product prices, offer bundles, and collect deposits directly through draft orders.
Expert opinion: This is a big win for B2B merchants who rely on custom pricing and large-volume orders.
Self-Serve Returns for B2B (Exclusive to Plus)
B2B customers can now initiate returns directly through their accounts, just like DTC customers.
Expert opinion: Efficient returns build trust, which is especially important in the B2B space where repeat orders are critical.
Duties & Taxes Included in Price
Merchants can now include international duties and taxes in product prices, reducing surprises at checkout.
Expert opinion: This update removes friction for global customers, leading to higher conversion rates.
More Local Payment Methods
Managed Markets now supports Bancontact, GrabPay, KCP, MobilePay, Przelewy24, Twint, and Vipps.
Expert opinion: A must-have for expanding into new international markets.
Why These Updates Matter
Shopify’s Winter ’25 Edition may not boast flashy headlines, but these updates address real merchant needs, from speed and flexibility to personalisation and compliance. Whether you’re focused on optimising your checkout, scaling your B2B sales, or enhancing customer engagement, there’s something here for everyone.
For a breakdown of all new developments, visit Shopify Editions Winter ‘25.
Want to know how the above enhancements can drive growth for your brand? Feel free to get in touch.
