Wondering if Shopify can handle your advanced needs? Absolutely can!

I started building eShops over a decade ago, back when Shopify was simple and offered just the basics. At that time, it was great for small stores, but today, it has evolved into a powerhouse that can run alongside other major platforms like WooCommerce (WordPress), BigCommerce, Presta Shop, and more. And if a feature is missing, you can bet that either Shopify or its network of app development partners will find a way to add it.

With a very strong and dedicated community, they’re always working to push the platform forward.

Plus, their 24/7 customer support is there to guide you every step of the way.

But let’s see what extra features Shopify can bring to the table to elevate your shop.

Product Customizer →Personalize products before purchase.

Product customizer lets customers make your products their own, whether that’s engraving a name on a necklace, choosing a color, or picking a size that fits them perfectly, without the stress of a design degree.

Why it's awesome→ It gives a personal touch to each order, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, and it can lead to some seriously cool custom creations!

Strong apps for this feature are Bold Product Options, Infinite Options, Customify, Teeinblue, and Gelato which allow customers to add custom engravings, choose colors, or select sizes.

Subscription Setup → Set up recurring billing options.

Perfect for businesses offering products like beauty supplies, coffee beans, or even socks (hey, everyone needs socks, right?), subscriptions make it easy to set up automatic billing and regular deliveries.

Why it's awesome → It creates consistent cash flow and turns one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers.

Strong apps for this feature are Recharge, Bold Subscriptions, Simplee, Seal Subscriptions, C:Hub Customer Accounts, and PayWhirl, which can help a lot.

Advanced Shipping Rules →Customize shipping rates and zones.

Shipping rules can be a nightmare without the right tools. Shopify’s advanced shipping rules allow you to get super specific with your shipping rates for specific conditions, whether it’s free shipping or extra charges based on distance.

Why it's awesome → It makes shipping easier to manage and more transparent for your customers, and it’s flexible enough to deal with international shipping and zone-based rates.

Advanced Shipping Rules, ShipperHQ, Parcelify, ShippingEasy, and ShipStation can help you create shipping strategies based on location, product weight, and other variables.

Product Bundles → Create and sell product bundles.

If you’ve ever tried bundling products together, think “Buy one, get one 50% off”. You know how powerful it can be. Shopify’s custom product bundles let you create personalized product bundles, offering customers discounts or special offers on collections.

Why it's awesome → Bundling increases the average order value and encourages customers to buy more products at once and it's a great way to cross-sell and create value.

Strong apps for this feature are Bundler, Bold Bundles, Koala Bundles Volume Discounts, and Amplify | Bundles & Upsell, which allow grouping related items and offer discounts too.

Loyalty & Rewards → Reward customers with points and discounts.

Everyone loves a good reward. Loyalty and reward programs are a fantastic way to encourage repeat purchases by offering points for buying products, referring friends, or even just creating an account.

Why it's awesome → It builds customer retention and turns shoppers into brand advocates who bring their friends along for the ride.

Strong apps for this feature are Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards, Marsello, and Growave, which help you build and manage a customer loyalty program, encouraging repeat purchases.

Advanced API Integrations → Customization on Steroids. Connect third-party apps and services.

Shopify’s advanced API integrations give you the power to connect your store with third-party tools and services. Need to sync up your accounting software? Check. Want to link your store with an inventory management system? You got it.

Why it's awesome→ It gives you the flexibility to connect with virtually any third-party service, making your store more powerful and efficient.

Strong apps are Zapier, Shopify Flow, and Workflow Automation, which provide integrations with third-party tools for automating processes and enhancing the store.

Product Reviews & Ratings → Collect customer feedback on products.

Customer reviews aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential. With Shopify’s product reviews and ratings feature, you can easily add a section for customers to rate and leave reviews about products they’ve purchased.

Why it's awesome → It builds trust, improves social proof, and can help boost conversions.

Strong apps like Yotpo, Loox, Judge.me, Stamped.io, and Rivyo are excellent for gathering product reviews and ratings, which help build trust and drive conversions.

Custom Checkout → Tailor the checkout process to your needs.

The checkout page might be the last thing customers see before they finalize their purchase, so why not make it as smooth as possible? With advanced custom checkout, you can modify the checkout process to add extra fields, upsell products, or apply special discount codes.

Why it's awesome → It creates a more personalized experience for your customers, which can lead to higher conversions and more sales.

Strong apps for this feature are ReConvert, Order Printer Pro, and CartHook.

Multi-Currency Support → Display prices in different currencies.

This feature allows your customers to view prices and make payments in their own local currencies. So whether you're selling to customers in Europe, Asia, or the Americas, they can shop with ease, and you won’t have to deal with the headache of currency conversion.

Why it's awesome → It makes your store more accessible to a global audience, increasing the potential for international sales.

To offer a global shopping experience, Hextom: Currency Converter, Nova: Multi Currency Converter, MLV Auto Currency Switcher, and Auto Currency Switcher automatically adjust the price based on the customer’s location.

Abandoned Cart Recovery → Automate recovery of lost sales.

This feature sends out automatic emails or SMS reminders to customers who have left items in their cart but didn’t check out. It’s a great way to nudge them back and complete their purchase.

Why it's awesome → It recovers lost sales and reminds customers to finalize their orders. Plus, it can be done on autopilot!

Klaviyo, WhatsApp Chat & Abandoned, and Cartly Abandoned Cart Recovery are great apps for recovering abandoned carts by sending automated reminders to customers.

Accessibility Features → Ensure accessibility for all users.

It's crucial to make your online store accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Shopify provides various tools and customization to help you meet accessibility standards.

Why it's awesome → Accessibility is not just about following guidelines, it’s about creating an inclusive shopping experience for everyone, which can lead to better customer satisfaction and a wider audience.

Accessibly, UserWay, and AccessEz Accessibility Widget are apps that help make your store accessible for users with disabilities, ensuring compliance and a better experience.

Personalized Accounts → for Enhanced Customer Experience

Shopify makes it easy for customers to create accounts, track their orders, save preferences, and receive personalized recommendations. This creates a more tailored shopping experience and builds a stronger relationship with your customers.

Why it's awesome → It increases customer engagement, encourages repeat purchases, and enhances the overall shopping experience by giving customers control over their preferences and order history.

Strong apps are Froonze Customer Accounts, C:Hub Customer, Flits, Growave, and Wishlist Hero, which help you create personalized customer accounts and offer wishlists.

Email Marketing & Lead Capture → Capture leads and integrate email campaigns.

Shopify makes it easy to connect with all the major email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and Omnisend. You can easily capture leads with sign-up forms, pop-ups, and even incentives like discounts for first-time subscribers.

Why it's awesome → It automates your email marketing campaigns, ensuring you stay connected with customers and keep them coming back.

Apps like Klaviyo, Omnisend, and Mailchimp allow you to build automated email sequences, collect leads, and drive traffic back to your store with targeted campaigns.

Advanced Tax Management → Simplify complex tax rules.

Managing taxes across various regions can be a headache, but with Shopify’s advanced tax management features, you can automate tax rate calculations for different locations and jurisdictions.

Why it’s awesome → It saves you time by automating tax calculations and ensures that you're compliant with the complex tax rules in different regions, so you can focus on growing your business instead of crunching numbers.

Strong apps for this feature are TaxJar and TaxCloud Sales, which automate tax rate calculations for multiple regions.

Live Chat & Customer Support → Provide real-time assistance.

Live chat functionality lets you engage with customers in real time, answering their questions, providing support, and resolving any issues quickly.

Why it’s awesome → It allows for quick resolutions, improves customer satisfaction, and helps increase conversions by providing instant assistance when customers are on the fence.

Strong apps for this feature are Tidio, Chatty AI Chatbot & Live Chat, and Zendesk, which offer customizable live chat support for your store.

Dropshipping Integrations → Start a dropshipping business.

With dropshipping, you can run a store without ever having to worry about inventory management or shipping. Shopify integrates with dropshipping apps, allowing you to source products directly from suppliers and ship them straight to your customers.

Why it’s awesome → It removes the hassle of inventory management and allows you to run a business with minimal upfront investment, making it an ideal business model for entrepreneurs.

Strong apps for this feature are Oberlo, Dropshipman: Easy Dropshipping, and Spocket, which help automate the dropshipping process and connect you with suppliers.

Shopify is packed with advanced features that can take your online store from basic to brilliant. Whether you’re looking to enhance the customer experience with personalized options, improve operational efficiency with custom APIs, or boost your sales with loyalty programs and product bundles, there’s a tool for every need.

By leveraging these powerful features, including SEO, accessibility, and email integrations, you’ll not only stand out from the crowd but also deliver a shopping experience that keeps your customers coming back for more.

So go ahead, unlock the full potential of Shopify, and your future self will thank you.

Read this and more articles from Nadia Nikolaidou on Linkedin.