Shopify Unite 2021 Recap 1

SaaS
Written By Rick Watson

Shopify reshapes itself in the image of Microsoft with its latest UNITE conference, and with it, Tobi Lutke has "refactored" Shopify.

Too many features to list, but here are the implications of what happened:

  • Shopify has recast itself as a platform company. In a few words, they will provide the important stuff, but developers will be responsible for everything else. (Think "Microsoft Office" for eCommerce, and then APIs beyond that).

  • Shopify reinvigorated its App Store mission and in so doing put itself firmly in the "Microsoft camp" rather than the "Apple" camp. $1M of no commissions, and lowering commissions to 15% after that. Huge for innovation.

  • Shopify App Store Discovery innovation essentially dunked on the entire market. Seriously, they are light years ahead of everyone else in this simple but critical concept.

  • Shopify clearly trying to end some of the biggest sticking points why people leave: Store Customization (Themes and Metafields), Checkout, Payments, Cart. Big things they opened up. Sea changes coming for those areas.

Words I expected to hear about and didn't. Like at all:

  • Retail Stores, POS, Shopify Fulfillment Network, and even B2B. Not mentioned.

  • Shopify Plus. We hardly knew you. Another big one not mentioned.

Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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Shopify Unite 2021 Recap 2 - The End Of Plus
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