Top 8 Must Do Steps After Upgrading to Shopify Plus 2025

Essential Actions for a Smooth Transition

Upgrading to Shopify Plus in 2025 is a significant move for any business. After the upgrade, there are key steps that are essential to maximize the platform’s features and benefits. These steps ensure that businesses can operate smoothly and leverage the advanced tools available with Shopify Plus.

It is crucial to review and optimize site performance after the upgrade. Analyzing speed, mobile optimization, and overall user experience can directly affect customer satisfaction and sales. Familiarizing with the new features Shopify Plus offers is also important, as this knowledge can unlock new opportunities for growth.

Businesses should not overlook the importance of staff training during and after the upgrade. Educating the team on how to navigate the new system will lead to better collaboration and efficiency. By following these steps, users can fully take advantage of their new Shopify Plus experience.

1. Evaluate Your Current Shopify Setup

After upgrading to Shopify Plus, it is crucial to assess the current setup. This will help identify any compatibility issues and ensure all functionalities are optimized.

Assess Theme Compatibility

Evaluating theme compatibility is essential. Shopify Plus offers advanced features that may not work well with older themes.

• Check for Updates: Verify if the current theme has updates available. Many theme developers release updates to improve performance on new platforms.
• Test Site Performance: Load the site and check for any glitches or slow loading times. These issues can affect user experience and sales.
• Customization Review: Look at any custom code added previously. It should align with Shopify Plus features. Remove or update any incompatible code.

Running these checks can save time and enhance the user experience.

Review Apps and Integrations

Reviewing apps and integrations is also important after the upgrade. Not all apps are fully compatible with Shopify Plus.

• Functionality Check: Assess if installed apps still function as intended. Some may require updates or reconfiguration to work seamlessly.
• Prioritize Essential Apps: List the most critical apps. Focus on those that impact sales, marketing, and customer service. Remove any non-essential ones to streamline operations.
• Support Upgrades: Reach out to app developers for support regarding issues related to Shopify Plus. This can ensure that the needed features work correctly.

Taking these steps can provide a solid foundation for a more efficient online store.

2. Configure Advanced Shopify Plus Features

After upgrading to Shopify Plus, it is important to explore and set up advanced features. Configuring these options enhances the store’s capabilities and improves customer experience.

Set Up Shopify Flow

Shopify Flow is a powerful tool for automating business tasks. It allows store owners to create workflows that save time and reduce errors.

With Shopify Flow, it is easy to automate tasks like:

• Order management: Automatically tag orders based on status or value.
• Customer interactions: Send personalized emails to customers after a purchase.
• Inventory alerts: Get notifications when stock levels are low.

To set it up, access the Flow app from the Shopify dashboard. Users can start by choosing triggers and actions. Triggers are events that start the workflow, while actions are the tasks that follow.

Creating effective workflows helps streamline operations and focus on growth.

Leverage Scripts and Custom Checkout

Scripts and custom checkout options provide flexibility and cater to unique business needs. These features allow store owners to offer tailored discounts, shipping rates, and payment methods.

Scripts help modify the checkout process. Some key uses include:

• Discounts: Create percentage or fixed-amount discounts for specific items.
• Shipping options: Set specific rates based on customer tags or cart contents.

To utilize scripts, shop owners should navigate to the Scripts Editor in their account. Writing simple Ruby code can create customized experiences.

Custom checkout options also empower businesses to customize features. Store owners can enable features like:

• Custom payment processing
• Different checkout flows based on customer segments

Configuring these settings leads to a better shopping experience and can boost sales.

3. Optimize for Higher Volume Traffic

Upgrading to Shopify Plus requires optimizing your store for higher traffic. This ensures that the site can handle increased visitors without issues. Two key areas to focus on are load testing and improving speed and performance.

Implement Load Testing

Load testing is an important step to prepare for increased traffic. It involves simulating heavy traffic to see how the website performs under pressure.

• Choose a Tool: Tools like Apache JMeter or LoadNinja can help simulate users.
• Set Test Scenarios: Create scenarios that mimic real user behavior. Consider peak times when traffic is highest.
• Analyze Results: Look for bottlenecks that slow down the site. This could be slow-loading pages or back-end processing.

By running these tests before a traffic spike, your store can be adjusted to handle the load smoothly.

Optimize Speed and Performance

Speed and performance are crucial for user experience and retention. A slow site can frustrate visitors and lead to lost sales.

• Image Optimization: Use tools like TinyPNG to compress images without losing quality.
• Minimize Redirects: Each redirect adds load time. Keep them to a minimum.
• Leverage Caching: Use browser caching to store frequently accessed data. This speeds up loading times for returning visitors.

Regularly monitoring site speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights helps in making continuous improvements. Optimization in these areas leads to better results for businesses experiencing higher traffic levels.

4. Utilize Exclusive APIs

After upgrading to Shopify Plus, merchants can take advantage of exclusive APIs to enhance their store’s functionality. These APIs provide important tools for managing customer interactions and promotions effectively.

GiftCard and User APIs

The GiftCard API allows merchants to create and manage digital gift cards. This feature can help increase sales by offering customers an easy way to purchase and send gifts. Merchants can set specific values for gift cards and track their usage.

The User API also provides significant benefits. It enables management of customer account details, such as email preferences and order history. This API helps in personalizing the shopping experience, making it easier for customers to navigate and manage their accounts.

Multipass and Discount APIs

The Multipass API offers a seamless login experience for users across multiple sites. This is especially useful for businesses that operate different brands under one umbrella. It allows customers to switch between sites without needing to log in multiple times.

The Discount API helps merchants create and manage discount codes effectively. They can generate unique codes, set discount amounts, and specify usage limits. This flexibility supports various marketing strategies and can boost sales during promotions.

5. Expand Internationally

Expanding internationally can significantly increase a business’s market reach and sales opportunities. Shopify Plus provides tools to help merchants take advantage of global markets effectively and efficiently.

Set Up Multiple Stores

Setting up multiple stores lets businesses cater to different regions more effectively. Each store can target specific markets with tailored content, language, and products.

• Localization: Merchants should adjust their websites to fit local preferences. This includes translations, local currencies, and adjusting sizes and measurements.
• SEO Considerations: Using country-specific domains or subdomains can improve local search rankings. This strategy helps attract organic traffic from target markets.
• Centralized Management: Shopify Plus allows easy management of multiple stores from one dashboard. This saves time and resources while ensuring consistency across all platforms.

Implement Local Payment Methods

Offering local payment methods is crucial for successful international sales. Customers prefer payment options they know and trust.

• Research Popular Options: Understand which payment methods are widely used in the target market. Options may include local payment gateways, mobile wallets, or bank transfers.
• Integration: Many popular payment providers can be easily integrated with Shopify Plus. Merchants should ensure these payment options are available at checkout.
• Security and Trust: Local payment methods often increase trust among customers. Ensuring secure transactions is vital for gaining and retaining customers.

6. Enhance Security Measure

Securing an online store is critical, especially after upgrading to Shopify Plus. The following actions can help strengthen the security of the platform and protect sensitive information.

Review Access Controls

Access controls determine who can log into the Shopify store and what they can do once inside. This step is vital to prevent unauthorized access.

• Limit Admin Accounts: Reduce the number of admin accounts. Only allow trusted personnel access to sensitive areas.
• Two-Factor Authentication: Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) for all admin users. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification.
• Password Policies: Enforce strong password policies. Require unique passwords that combine letters, numbers, and symbols.

Regularly reviewing these controls helps to keep the store secure and minimizes risks.

Audit User Permissions

User permissions define what different users can see and do on the platform. It’s essential to regularly audit these permissions.

• Evaluate Roles: Assess the roles assigned to each user. Ensure they only have access to the sections necessary for their job.
• Remove Inactive Users: Periodically check for inactive users or those who no longer need access. Remove their permissions immediately.
• Adjust Permissions as Needed: As business needs change, adjust user permissions. Ensure they are in line with current roles and responsibilities.

Regular audits will keep the store secure and prevent potential security breaches.

7. Establish Robust Analytics

After upgrading to Shopify Plus, setting up solid analytics is crucial. This enables better decision-making and helps understand customer behavior effectively. Two important areas to focus on are integrating advanced reporting tools and utilizing dashboard data insights.

Integrate Advanced Reporting Tools

Integrating advanced reporting tools can enhance how businesses track their performance. Shopify Plus allows for the use of various analytics apps that provide detailed insights.

Some popular reporting tools include:

• Google Analytics: Offers comprehensive tracking of user interactions and e-commerce metrics.
• Shopify Reports: Built-in options provide sales, customer, and product performance data.

Using these tools effectively can help businesses identify trends, monitor traffic sources, and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Regularly reviewing these reports can lead to informed adjustments that improve sales strategies.

Utilize Dashboard and Data Insights

The Shopify Plus dashboard gives a clear view of vital metrics in one place. It shows real-time data, allowing businesses to monitor sales, traffic, and customer behavior instantly.

Key features of the dashboard include:

• Live Sales Tracking: Helps businesses see sales as they happen.
• Customer Insights: Understand who is shopping, which products are popular, and how customers navigate the store.

Using these data insights allows for quick responses to market changes and customer needs. It’s essential for business growth and can guide strategies for future success.

8. Strengthen Customer Support

Upgrading to Shopify Plus provides an opportunity to enhance customer support. This can lead to increased satisfaction and loyalty among customers. Two key areas for improvement are dedicated support and customizing the service experience.

Implement Dedicated Support

A dedicated support team is essential for managing customer inquiries effectively. Businesses should create a specific group of agents who are trained on Shopify Plus features and functionalities. This team can help resolve issues quickly and provide in-depth assistance.

To implement this, businesses can:

• Assign roles: Designate team members with specific responsibilities.
• Use tools: Integrate helpdesk software for tracking customer interactions.
• Offer training: Regularly train staff on new features and best practices.

By doing this, customers receive faster and more knowledgeable responses, improving their overall experience.

Customize Service Experience

Customizing customer service allows businesses to cater to individual needs. Personalization can make interactions more meaningful.

Key strategies include:

• Use segmentation: Identify customer segments to tailor communication.
• Create feedback loops: Encourage customers to provide feedback on their experiences and adjust based on their input.
• Personalized greetings: Use customer data to address them by name and recall past interactions.

These approaches help create a unique experience for each customer, fostering loyalty and trust in the brand.