Why you should upgrade to Shopify 2.0

2021 was a big year for Shopify. The 2021 Shopify Unite event brought with it the announcement of one of the biggest updates to the ecommerce platform ever, featuring the significantly improved Online Store 2.0. This update represents major changes to the ecommerce platform, piquing the interest of Shopify merchants and developers around the world who have been wondering how this new update makes the Shopify experience better than ever.

Introduction to Shopify 2.0

Shopify 2.0, or Online Store 2.0, includes a number of new features that are redefining the store design experience—a reimagining designed to improve the experiences of Shopify developers, app developers, and merchants. The new, improved platform includes a new version of the online store build, which includes improvements to the store themes and editor, store content, and developer tools. This will make it easier for developers to build and customize stores, while also giving merchants more control and power to realize their brand vision through their virtual storefronts. In other words, Shopify 2.0 simplifies the experience of creating and managing your online store.

So what exactly does Shopify 2.0 mean for Shopify merchants?

Here's what we think is most important for merchants wondering whether they should migrate to Shopify 2.0:

Updated theme architecture

In terms of store design, 2.0 offers merchants and developers more space to create storefronts that easily match their brand vision with a new and improved theme architecture that removes previous design limitations. The updated theme architecture is designed to provide merchants and developers with a more flexible customization experience. This means merchants will no longer be tied to a single block, as the 2.0 update allows users to insert new sections into each page and a more tailored look and feel than ever before.

Simplified website development and maintenance

With simplified site development and maintenance, 2.0 introduces a new way for developers to build merchant apps and themes with a suite of new developer tools to assist with theme development, testing, and deployment. While this is an improvement aimed at developers, it certainly benefits merchants as well, as it improves the speed and efficiency of site development. With Shopify 2.0, developers can now create themes and apps, automating many common development tasks, while Theme Check scans themes for bugs, performance issues, and more, making maintenance faster and more efficient.

Faster websites

Shopify 2.0 has improved loading speeds, and this will undoubtedly improve SEO, user experience, and conversions. The previous default theme, Debut, has been improved and renamed Dawn. This new theme, being 35% faster than its predecessor, has the advantage of loading speed. As we all know, site speed is a huge advantage in terms of search engine optimization and the conversion funnel of customers who visit your site.

App modularity

With the update to Shopify 2.0, installing and deleting apps is easier and cleaner. The new update allows apps to integrate seamlessly from the theme editor, using app blocks. This means developers and merchants no longer need to access a theme's code to integrate apps, helping them move things along faster. The app can be added, removed, and modified directly through an intuitive editor and deployed to any page of your site via blocks. This makes a huge difference in customizing the features you'd like to have on your online store.

Why Every Shopify Store Should Upgrade to Shopify 2.0

One of the biggest reasons to upgrade to Shopify 2.0 is that the upgrade is a valuable addition to both developers and merchants, and if you're still using the older version of Shopify, the new 2.0 version is worth considering. Shopify 2.0 includes a new set of intuitive improvements, new features, and real-world benefits that make it easier to manage and grow your online store, saving you time and ultimately helping you improve your profits. Ultimately, Shopify 2.0 offers store owners greater creative and functional flexibility in terms of branding and website presentation, giving you the opportunity to create a unique store that you can manage and maintain with undeniably improved efficiency. The bottom line is that store owners should take advantage of Shopify 2.0's new and improved features by making the switch and staying ahead of the ecommerce game.

Are you ready to upgrade?

If you want to understand your best options for upgrading your online store to Shopify 2.0, you can consult Shopify experts like Yastime to help you make the right choices and simplify the transition. Have a project in mind? Feel free to contact us today!