Beyond 'Boring': Shopify’s best updates for 2025

1. Shopify’s "Boring Edition": A foundation for growth

Shopify dubbed this update the “Boring Edition”, but don’t let the name fool you. Beneath its modest title lies a collection of powerful tools aimed at creating a long-term foundation for merchants. Shopify’s focus this season was on reinforcing its position as a reliable partner for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. The update reflects their commitment to unifying e-commerce, retail, and B2B into a cohesive ecosystem.

One standout feature is the "Not Boring" mode on the Winter Edition’s webpage, showcasing Shopify’s playful side while demonstrating its prowess in interactive, multimodal web experiences. It’s a masterclass in how to make your brand stand out, a tip merchants can take to heart.

2. Key POS and retail updates

Shopify is doubling down on Unified Commerce, blending online and offline retail experiences. Here are the highlights:

• Customer meta fields in POS: Add customised fields such as birthdays or loyalty preferences directly into the POS system. These fields sync across your Shopify ecosystem, helping you personalise customer interactions and segment your audience more effectively.

• Offline payments: Shopify now supports offline payments, allowing transactions to process even without an internet connection. This feature is perfect for businesses operating in locations with unreliable networks.

• Retail customer segments: Build local communities around your physical store by segmenting customers based on proximity. This segmentation enables you to create hyper-relevant, localised marketing campaigns.

• Ship to store: Customers can now opt to ship items to your store, encouraging foot traffic and opportunities for upselling when they come to pick up their purchases.

Enhanced UI and UX for POS: Shopify’s latest POS updates focus on making the interface more intuitive for retail staff, reducing training time and improving customer service efficiency.

3. B2B updates

Shopify’s focus on B2B continues to grow, with updates tailored to meet the unique needs of wholesale and corporate customers.

• Account extensions: Shopify now supports passwordless logins and extensible accounts, providing a secure, seamless experience for B2B buyers.

• Quotations and proforma invoices: Merchants can now offer draft orders that generate PDF quotations, which customers can review and approve before completing the purchase.

• CSV order uploads: Allow your B2B customers to upload CSV files with product details, streamlining bulk orders and reducing errors.

• Draft order functions: Shopify’s new functionality enables you to enforce business rules, like minimum order values, on draft orders, not just on online checkouts.

4. Checkout updates

Shopify’s checkout continues to be a critical area of innovation, ensuring a fast and flexible experience for customers.

• Checkout blocks app: This no-code tool lets you customise your checkout with upsells, notes, and reordering of payment methods. Previously only available to developers, these updates empower merchants of all technical skill levels.

• Accelerated checkout buttons: Speed enhancements mean options like PayPal, Shop Pay, and Apple Pay load significantly faster, reducing cart abandonment.

• Disabling gift cards via API: For specific promotions or campaigns, merchants can now disable gift card usage within checkout processes.

5. Scaling internationally made simple

The revamped Shopify Markets dashboard is a game-changer for merchants selling across borders:

• Market-level customisations: Tailor your store’s product catalogue, pricing, and even themes for specific markets. Shopify now enables complete localisation, making international sales smoother and more effective.

• Business unit integration: Shopify Plus merchants can link specific business entities (e.g., LLCs or regional branches) to markets, ensuring compliance and simplifying payouts across multiple currencies.

• Unified analytics: Gain insights into individual markets’ performance, helping you refine strategies and allocate resources more effectively.