You’ve probably haven't heard about Shopify 2.0, it's quite a big deal.
On 29th June 2021, it was announced at Shopify United (Shopify’s conference), that Shopify 2.0 would introduce a host of new features that will be welcomed by both developers and Shopify store owners.
The aim of the new feature is to make the platform more flexible while overcoming some of the previous limitations.
So, on that note, What new features does Shopify 2.0 offer?
Shopify 2.0 offers a range of new features, including:
1. SHOPIFY SECTION EVERYWHERE
This is billed as the best new feature! With Shopify section everywhere, the store owners will be able to easily add blocks and sections to any part of the website. On earlier versions of Shopify, it was only possible to add sections to the homepage. This means you can now list all the sections of a page, blog posts, collection pages, custom pages, and much more.
So creating great designs will be easier than ever before!
2. META FIELDS
Merchants can now add meta fields and properties, without having to worry about coding! This means you can add content to a product page, whilst adding new space for additional information such as a size chart or ingredient list. This also applies to other sections of the site, not just product pages.
3. APP MODULARITY
App modularity is definitely another highlight of this newest version of Shopify. It makes it possible for merchants to add and remove UI components through the theme editor, quickly and easily. Oh, and you no longer need to access the theme’s code.
Once you install an app that needs to be positioned on your website, you will be able to position it using the platform’s drag and drop feature.
4. LOADING SPEED
One of Shopify’s key goals is to improve loading speed and all Shopify 2.0 templates will now be easier to load. The checkout, for example, now loads twice as fast as it did previously, even for older generation stores.
5. CHECKOUT UPGRADES
In Shopify 2.0, the checkout has undergone serious upgrades. It can now handle seven times the volume and can also be modified with extensions that will allow new features to be integrated in sections that were previously untouchable.
6. A FRESH EDITING EXPERIENCE
One of the main goals of the new features is to offer a fresh editing experience, making it easier than ever before for merchants to build storefronts from scratch, incorporate theme extensions, and manage apps within themes.
This feature also enables merchants to centralise and customise all available functionalities in line with their business requirements.
7. NEW DEVELOPER TOOLS
The new developer tools that come with the new version of Shopify offer a whole host of exciting opportunities to build new apps and themes for your business. They can assist with testing, developing, and deploying new themes.
8. LIQUID INPUT SETTING
Another update to the theme editor is the Liquid input setting.
Similar to the HTML setting, you will now be able to input liquid variables in the form of both global and template-specific Liquid objects. But what does this mean for merchants? They won’t need worry about manually changing the code of any theme when adding code for apps using Liquid.
Tell me more about section everywhere for Shopify…
One of the most requested Shopify updates from merchants has been adding flexibility to block sections.
Sections everywhere will allow sections and blocks on any page to be updated, across the site. The new features include a new editor experience and a theme app extension.
This section everywhere update will allow users to make changes to their online stores and improve the integration of products, without having to find replacement bocks.
FOR DEVELOPERS
Shopify Dawn, which was introduced for developers during Shopify United, also comes with Online Store 2.0 features, including JSON templates, which support app blocks and sections on all pages.
This means expert Shopify developers will be able to create advanced sections, with more of a focus on settings such as font sizes, colour control, padding control, margin controls, etc. Once created, the custom blocks can be used anywhere across the site and will be available in all stores.
What advantages does Shopify 2.0 offer store owners?
Shopify 2.0 offers a whole host of benefits for store owners, including:
- Greater flexibility to change online store content
- The ability to develop new pages with complex designs, without the help of a developer
- When a developer is hired to create a new section, the new block will be available in all stores, futureproofing the investment
- Greater speeds
- Access to easy to apply theme changes on all pages
- Easier integration of apps
- The ability to modify the checkout section
- Native integration of metafields
- The network of apps, themes, and services will grow exponentially.
What does this mean for stores built prior to Shopify 2.0?
Any stores built with Shopify 1.0 will continue to work as normal, and you shouldn’t notice any differences, aside from the theme editor interface. Nothing in your store should change.
Can I migrate from Shopify 1.0 to Shopify 2.0?
It is possible to migrate from version 1.0 to 2.0, but you’ll need the help of an Shopify Expert such as SSDC.
Can I add a section everywhere to any part of my site?
Absolutely! We’ve investigated the code and ran some tests, and we’re pleased to say we can make any part of your store compatible with section everywhere. This means we may be able to carry out the work you need, without upgrading the whole site to Shopify 2.0.
Explore Shopify 2.0 today and contact us to migrate only one part of your store to the new Shopify section everywhere.