Shopify Plus is built for businesses that need advanced features to grow. It supports high-volume sales, custom checkouts, and global scalability with tools like APIs, Liquid for custom themes, and multi-currency support.

Key Benefits of Shopify Plus:

Customisation: Full control over checkouts and themes.
Scalability: Handles over 10,000 checkouts per minute with unlimited bandwidth.
Global Reach: Multi-currency options and localised content.
Automation: Advanced tools like Shopify Flow for efficiency.
Support: Dedicated 24/7 assistance.

Quick Comparison: Shopify vs Shopify Plus

Feature	Shopify Plus	Standard Shopify
Checkout Customisation	Full control with JavaScript/CSS	Limited options
Automation	Advanced (Shopify Flow)	Basic
API Access	Higher limits, enhanced API	Standard API
Support	Dedicated 24/7 support	Regular support channels
Transaction Capacity	Unlimited	Standard

This guide explains how to use these features effectively, from theme development to performance testing, ensuring your store is fast, secure, and ready for growth.

What is Shopify Plus? | Your ecommerce enterprise platform

Tools for Shopify Plus Development

Learn about essential tools to create scalable Shopify Plus solutions.

Working with Liquid

Liquid connects your HTML templates to store data, allowing you to create dynamic content. It uses delimiters like {{ }} for data output and {% %} for logic. Here’s an example:

{% if product.available %}
  <div class="price">
    {{ product.price | money_with_currency }}
  </div>
{% else %}
  <div class="sold-out">
    Sorry, this product is currently unavailable
  </div>
{% endif %}

Liquid goes beyond templating, offering flexibility for customising store features and integrating with other tools.

Integration Tools

Shopify Plus provides APIs and SDKs to integrate with external systems while ensuring strong performance and security.

Integration Type	Common Use Cases	Key Benefits
REST API	Inventory sync, order management	Wide compatibility, detailed documentation
GraphQL API	Custom storefronts, complex queries	Fewer API calls, improved efficiency
Webhooks	Real-time updates, automation	Instant data synchronisation

Using APIs effectively can boost both system efficiency and revenue potential.

To support these integrations, reliable code management tools are essential for smooth development and deployment.

Code Management Tools

The Shopify CLI is your go-to tool for setting up apps, themes, and headless storefronts, but other tools are equally important:

Shopify CLI: Handles app and theme setup, as well as headless storefront creation.
Git: Ensures version control and enables team collaboration.
Mechanic: A serverless automation platform that manages webhooks, scheduled tasks, API integrations, and more.

These tools are indispensable for building scalable, custom Shopify Plus solutions that are easy to maintain.

Theme Development Guidelines

Build Shopify Plus themes that excel in performance by prioritising mobile design, speed, and accessibility.

Mobile Design Standards

A mobile-first approach is essential. With mobile commerce making up 66% of sales during Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekends, it’s clear that designing for mobile users should come first. Here are some key principles:

Design Element	Mobile-First Approach	Implementation Tips
Navigation	Bottom-positioned menus	Use large touch targets for easy interaction
Content Layout	Progressive enhancement	Start with a mobile layout, then adapt for larger screens
Interactive Elements	Touch-optimised controls	Avoid hover effects; ensure clear tap targets
Visual Hierarchy	Prioritised content flow	Place critical elements within thumb-friendly areas

"Mobile-first design means building your site for mobile before building your desktop version. It means focusing on your user, their needs, and how you show off your client’s content." – Lucy Carney, Shopify

Speed Optimisation

Fast-loading themes improve both conversions and search rankings. Shopify Plus themes should aim for a Lighthouse score of 60 or higher on core pages. Here’s how to achieve that:

JavaScript Optimisation: Minimise dependencies, remove parser-blocking scripts, and use Shopify Theme Inspector to spot performance issues.
Asset Management: Use Shopify’s CDN for hosting and implement the image_tag filter to serve responsive images tailored to device sizes.
Resource Loading: Preload critical resources and use lazy loading for content below the fold.

Making Themes Accessible

Creating inclusive themes ensures a better shopping experience for everyone. Focus on these accessibility features:

Accessibility Feature	Implementation	Impact
Semantic HTML	Use proper heading structures	Helps screen readers navigate content easily
ARIA Labels	Add meaningful labels to interactive elements	Clarifies functionality for assistive technologies
Colour Contrast	Follow WCAG 2.1 standards	Improves readability for all users
Keyboard Navigation	Enable full keyboard functionality	Assists users relying on keyboards

A Nielsen Norman Group study found that testing with just five users can uncover 90% of usability problems. Make accessibility testing a regular part of your workflow to catch and address issues early.

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Custom Features and Functions

Custom features and functions let you take Shopify Plus to the next level, going beyond its standard benefits. With tailored apps, checkout adjustments, and multi-currency options, you can create a shopping experience that stands out.

Building Custom Apps

Custom apps are a great way to address specific business needs. By using Shopify’s APIs, these apps can access store data and provide solutions that go beyond the platform’s built-in features.

Business Need	Custom App Solution	Results
Credit Management	Saddleback’s B2B credit system	Automated tier-based credit limits for UK stockists
Sequential Subscriptions	LiquorLoot’s learning journey	Customised box delivery order for progressive customer education
Dynamic Pricing	Veneta Blinds’ product builder	Real-time pricing calculations based on custom measurements

Steps to get started with custom apps:

Go to Settings > Apps and sales channels to activate custom app development.
Define the necessary API scopes for your app.
Plan for hosting and ongoing maintenance costs.
Make sure to test the app thoroughly before launching it.

Once your custom app is ready, you can focus on optimising the checkout process.

Checkout Modifications

A customised checkout experience can improve conversion rates by aligning with your brand and simplifying the purchasing process.

Modification Type	Implementation Example	Impact
Geolocation	Kopari Beauty‘s address autocomplete	Faster checkout completion
Dynamic Pricing	Merchology‘s automated discounts	Simplified pricing updates
Local Options	Roses Only‘s NYC-specific checkout	Improved regional customer experience

Cory Cummings, Lead Developer at BVAccel, highlights the importance of thoughtful design:

"Good design can be seen but, it’s great design that can be felt. Although customized fonts and breadcrumbs on a check-out page seem simple — it’s the implication of ‘great design’ — it converts customers, and strengthens the user’s experience and your long-term relationship with them."
– Cory Cummings

After refining your checkout process, consider expanding your store’s global accessibility with multi-currency options.

Multi-Currency Setup

Make it easy for international customers to shop by enabling multi-currency features through Shopify Payments. This allows users to see prices and complete transactions in their local currency.

Steps to set up multi-currency:

Activate Shopify Payments and international sales tools.
Add a country/region selector to your store.
Adjust local pricing with rounding rules and region-specific tweaks.
Test currency conversion accuracy before going live.

For the best results, use automatic exchange rate updates while maintaining the ability to set manual rates for certain markets. This approach ensures competitive pricing while protecting your profit margins.

Store Management and Growth

Once your store’s features and functions are tailored to your needs, managing a Shopify Plus store effectively requires thorough performance checks, strong security measures, and consistent support to ensure growth.

Performance Testing

Even small delays can hurt revenue. For example, Walmart reported a 2% increase in conversions for every second saved on load time. Key areas to monitor include:

Testing Focus	Implementation	Impact
JavaScript	Defer non-essential scripts	Speeds up page load times
Image Management	Use proper sizing, optimal formats, and lazy loading	Enhances Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Layout Stability	Specify image ratios and reserve page space	Minimises Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

"We condition our platform through performance testing on a massive scale to ensure that all components of Shopify’s platform can withstand the rush of customers trying to purchase during sales events like BFCM."

Security Standards

Keep your Shopify Plus store safe with these critical security measures:

Environment Protection: Use environment variables to secure secrets and Shopify keys.
Code Management: Regularly review code and implement automated deployment processes.
Data Protection: Enforce TLS/SSL connections and ensure proper password hashing.

"It’s obviously possible to fix all the security-related bugs and holes later in the development lifecycle, but it’s considerably harder and more expensive. That’s why adding threat modelling sessions and regular security reviews is vital to any bigger development step, entailing that security is there by design, not just as a patch."

Store Support

Consistent performance depends on regular monitoring and timely updates. Focus on these support activities:

Support Area	Activities	Benefits
Performance Monitoring	Analyse traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks	Resolve issues before they escalate
Security Updates	Apply system patches and update dependencies	Keep security measures up-to-date
Technical Support	Conduct code reviews, fix bugs, and update features	Maintain operational stability

Developing clear hypotheses, running controlled experiments, and measuring results will help guide future improvements.

Summary

Shopify Plus custom development helps create tailored eCommerce solutions that support business growth. This platform can handle large transaction volumes and consistently achieves strong year-over-year growth. Below is a breakdown of key areas impacted by custom development on Shopify Plus.

Development Focus	Impact	Consideration
Theme Customisation	Enhances brand presence	Prioritise mobile-friendly design
Custom Apps	Addresses specific needs	Ensure seamless system integration
Checkout Optimisation	Boosts conversions	Shop Pay increases conversions by 40%

Achieving success with custom development on Shopify Plus requires careful planning and strict compliance with Shopify’s standards. Clean user interfaces, scalable solutions, and thorough testing in development environments are critical for maintaining performance.

Looking ahead, Shopify Plus development is expected to emphasise features like multi-store management, Launchpad automation, and deeper system integrations. Focusing on performance, security, and rigorous testing will remain essential for driving long-term growth.

Ultimate Guide to Shopify Plus Custom Development