Scaling an e-commerce business will require upgrading your outdated and basic software tools. If you think your existing e-commerce platform is holding you back, then it might be time to consider a more robust solution like Shopify Plus. As Shopify’s enterprise platform, it’s designed to handle high-volume traffic and sales and offers advanced features for customization, automation, and integration.

Shopify Plus is an upgraded e-commerce platform specially designed for large-scale businesses, owing about 0.19% of the total share in the global eCommerce market. There are approximately 49,261 live stores currently using Shopify enterprise platform services. While the growing user base of Shopify Plus says a lot about its reliability and efficiency, choosing it or not depends entirely on your store’s requirements. So, is it worth upgrading to Shopify Plus? Is it the ultimate e-commerce enterprise platform? Let’s find out!

In this detailed guide, we will start with the basics of Shopify Plus, including what it is and how it works, covering all of its key features, use cases, benefits, limitations, pricing, and more. So, let’s get started!

Key Statistics and Facts on the Shopify Enterprise Platform

• The revenue from Shopify was valued at $6.65 billion in 2023. (Source: Yaguara) 
• There are approximately 49,261 live stores currently using Shopify enterprise platform services. (Source: Yaguara) 
• 87% of Shopify merchants sell products through the Shopify app. (Source: Yaguara) 
• The top product categories on Shopify Plus include Apparel (21.9%), Beauty & Fitness (10.4%) and Home & Garden (9.5%). (Source: Storeleads.app)

What is the Shopify Enterprise Platform? 

Shopify Plus is a premium, enterprise-grade solution designed extensively for high-volume businesses. Built on the robust Shopify Online Store 2.0 platform, it’s tailored for merchants processing over 25,000 orders monthly. 

With unlimited customization options, global capabilities, and dedicated support starting at $40,000 per month, Shopify Plus offers a tailored experience for large-scale ecommerce operations. This elite solution grants access to advanced services, including enhanced APIs, personalized support, and exclusive integrations. 

A dedicated account manager is also assigned to ensure seamless operations. Designed for high-traffic volumes, Shopify Plus ensures enhanced security, rapid page loading speeds, and efficient performance. Additionally, it provides a suite of tools to manage multiple stores, streamline operations, and integrate with other platforms and systems, making it an ideal choice for enterprise-level businesses seeking scalable ecommerce solutions.

How Does Shopify Plus Work?

Shopify Plus works by providing businesses with a suite of customizable and extensible solutions. This includes online selling tools for social commerce, omnichannel solutions for seamless operations across online and retail, and digital commerce features for B2B that create smooth wholesale buying experiences.

One of Shopify Plus’s key features is its customizable checkout pages. This allows businesses to enhance the checkout experience, aiming to reduce cart abandonment and increase sales.

Shopify Plus also offers e-commerce automation tools to automate sales campaigns, promotions, and common tasks. These tools help businesses manage their operations more efficiently.

Moreover, Shopify Plus provides ongoing strategy guidance and 24/7 priority technical support, ensuring businesses have the necessary assistance to achieve their goals.

Key Features of Shopify Enterprise Platform for Large-scale Businesses

When you decide to scale your e-commerce business and upgrade to Shopify Plus, you will unlock plenty of features and functionalities that are hard to find in the standard Shopify platform. So, let’s take  a look at some of the key features of Shopify features that are worth your money:  

Exclusive Shopify Plus Feature

Shopify Plus offers a range of exclusive features designed to help businesses thrive. From advanced API resources to customizable checkout options, Shopify Plus provides the tools to take your business to the next level. 

Exclusive API Resources 

Shopify Plus merchants enjoy access to unique API resources, including Gift Card, Multipass, and User APIs for REST, as well as publish and unpublish scripts in GraphQL to automate product listing. 

Centralized Store Management 

With Shopify Plus, you can manage multiple stores from a single location, streamlining your operations and giving you greater control over your business. 

High-Growth Channels 

Shopify Plus offers a range of specialized apps and channels designed to help you grow your business, including. 

• Wholesale channel for B2B sales
• Launchpad for traffic and product optimization
• Script Editor for custom code and functionality
• Bulk Account Inviter for customer account activation

Customizable Checkout 

With Shopify Plus, you can create a branded checkout page that reflects your business’s unique style and improves brand awareness. You can also add a Google Tag Manager to sell products on Google. 

Dedicated Launch Support 

As a Shopify Plus member, you will have access to a dedicated launch support team that will assist with setup, migration, online launch, and strategy. 

Merchant Success Program 

This program educates merchants about the Shopify Plus platform and gives them the tools they need to succeed. They’ll discover new features and learn how to optimize your business for success. 

Unlimited Staff Accounts 

With Shopify Plus, you will have unlimited staff accounts, giving you the flexibility to grow your team and provide role-based access and permissions. 

Permission Control 

Assign level-based permissions to your collaborators, partners, and admins with Shopify Plus, ensuring each user has the access they need to do their job. 

Expansion Stores 

Shopify Plus provides up to 9 free expansion stores, making it easy to expand into new markets, internationalize, or operate in multiple physical locations. 

Shopify Plus Partners 

Shopify offers specialized services and app management expertise across various industries. To receive certification, partners must pass rigorous audit programs, ensuring you receive the best services. 

Custom Themes 

With Shopify Plus, you can have up to 100 active themes, giving you the flexibility to test, develop marketing campaigns, and customize your site’s look and feel. 

Free Shopify POS Pro 

As a Shopify Plus merchant, you will receive free access to Shopify POS Pro, a comprehensive tool for both online and brick-and-mortar stores. 

Shopify Plus Academy 

The Shopify Plus Academy is an exclusive online training program offering a library of self-guided training on skills and techniques for growing your business.

Who is Shopify Plus for?

Shopify Plus is specially designed for large-scale businesses, from large enterprises to high-profile brands. Its advanced features and scalability make it a go-to choice for businesses aiming for growth and expansion in the online marketplace. Here’s how it can help different stakeholders in expanding their e-commerce businesses. 

Large Businesses

Shopify Plus is ideal for large businesses that handle high-volume sales and need advanced features. It provides robust tools for managing inventory, processing orders, and handling customer service, making it easier to scale operations.

Growing E-commerce Stores

For e-commerce stores experiencing rapid growth, Shopify Plus offers scalability and flexibility. It can handle increased traffic and transactions, ensuring smooth operations even during peak sales.

Brick-and-Mortar Stores Going Online

Traditional retailers looking to establish an online presence can benefit from Shopify Plus. It offers seamless integration between physical and online stores, providing a unified platform for managing all sales channels.

B2B Businesses

Shopify Plus supports B2B functionalities like wholesale pricing, custom catalogs, and bulk orders, making it suitable for businesses selling to other businesses.

High-Profile Brands and Influencers

Shopify Plus provides advanced marketing and promotional tools for brands and influencers with a large following. It also offers dedicated support to ensure its audience a smooth and premium shopping experience.

Benefits of Shopify Plus

Here are some extended benefits of Shopify Plus over Shopify and other eCommerce platforms:

#1. Unparalleled Scalability

Shopify Plus is designed to handle a massive volume of traffic and transactions, with the capability to process over 10,000 transactions per minute. This ensures that your website remains operational even during peak periods. 

In fact, businesses that utilized Shopify Plus between 2016 and 2020 experienced an average sales growth of 126%, thanks to the platform’s scalability and advanced features.

#2. Enhanced Customization Options

Shopify Plus offers greater flexibility when customizing your online store. You can tailor your website’s appearance, hide cash on delivery options during checkout, and more to meet your business’s unique needs.

#3. Multichannel Selling Capabilities

With Shopify Plus, you can expand your sales channels to include social media and marketplaces, enabling you to reach a broader audience and accelerate business growth. By leveraging social media for e-commerce, you can tap into a vast customer base and drive sales.

#4. Shopify API Access for Seamless Integration

Shopify Plus provides developers with API access, enabling them to create custom connections between Shopify and other business systems. This streamlines business processes increases efficiency, and reduces operational costs.

#5. Dedicated 24/7 Support

Shopify Plus offers a dedicated support team around the clock to assist with technical and account-related issues, ensuring that you receive timely support when needed.

#6. Improved Conversion Rates

Shopify Plus merchants have reported an average conversion rate increase of 1.91% compared to standard Shopify merchants, likely due to the platform’s advanced features and customization options.

#7. Faster Page Load Times

Shopify Plus boasts an average page load time of 2.4 seconds, significantly faster than the industry average of 7 seconds. This enhances the user experience and reduces bounce rates.

#8. Reduced Cart Abandonment Rates

According to a Baymard Institute study, Shopify Plus merchants have an average cart abandonment rate of 63.24%, significantly lower than the industry average of 69.57%. This is likely attributed to the platform’s advanced features and customization options.

#9. Enhanced Operational Efficiency

Shopify Plus enables businesses to automate tasks and access APIs, leading to improved operational efficiency and cost savings. In 2019, sales for businesses with Shopify stores increased by 50%, outpacing the global e-commerce market growth rate of 21%.

#10. Seamless Shopify Pay Integration

Shopify Pay offers a fast and secure payment method, allowing customers to save payment and shipping information, streamlining the checkout process. This integration can increase sales and reduce cart abandonment rates on your Shopify store.

How is Shopify Plus Different from Shopify?

Shopify Plus is an advanced version of Shopify tailored for enterprise-level businesses. While Shopify is ideal for new and growing businesses, Shopify Plus offers advanced customization, scalability, and support for high-volume merchants. It provides more control over websites and stores. 

So, if your business is expanding rapidly, Shopify Plus can be a suitable upgrade. However, it’s important to consider factors like budget and specific business requirements before choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus.

Here are the key differences between Shopify vs Shopify Plus

How Much Does Shopify Plus Cost?

Shopify Plus offers a flexible pricing model that scales with your business needs, offering tiered plans based on monthly order volumes. This approach ensures that you only pay for what you use, with base monthly fees aligned to your order bandwidth. Additionally, partners can earn commissions by referring qualified leads.

Unlike standard Shopify plans, Shopify Plus pricing adjusts across different tiers to accommodate varying order processing needs. 

• Starter Tier: Ideal for emerging businesses processing around 5,000 orders per month, this tier provides access to core Plus features like unlimited storage and bandwidth, extra staff accounts, and dedicated support, starting at approximately $2,300 per month. 
• Mid-Market Tier: This plan offers advanced workflow customization features, including bespoke buyer portals and advanced order approvals, starting at around $5,000 monthly for retailers handling around 10,000 orders monthly. 
• High-Volume Tier: Designed for enterprise-level merchants processing 25,000+ orders per month, this tier provides the full suite of Plus capabilities, starting at approximately $40,000 monthly. 

Overage Fees for Excess Usage 

While base monthly fees cover expected order processing within each plan’s bandwidth, additional overage charges apply for usage beyond thresholds in areas such as: 

• Bandwidth: $2 per GB beyond monthly allowance 
• Staff Accounts: $20 per user over the cap 
• Orders: Clients outside the high-volume tier are charged per order above their allotted amount. 
• Storage: $0.20 per GB beyond plan capacity 

How to Switch to Shopify Plus?

Upgrading to Shopify Plus is a strategic move for businesses experiencing rapid growth or requiring advanced ecommerce features. To make the switch, here’s a complete process to be followed: 

• Start by assessing your current Shopify plan and identifying the limitations hindering your business. Review your sales volume, product offerings, and integrations to determine if Shopify Plus is the right fit. 
• Next, contact Shopify’s sales team to discuss your specific needs and receive a custom quote. They will guide you through the migration process, which typically takes 2-4 weeks. 
• During this time, Shopify’s experts will work closely with your team to configure your new plan, set up advanced features, and ensure a seamless transition. 
• Once complete, you can access enhanced reporting, API access, and priority support. With Shopify Plus, you will be equipped to tackle complex integrations, high-volume sales, and continued business growth.

Conclusion

Shopify Plus is a robust and scalable e-commerce platform designed to help businesses thrive in the competitive online market. With its advanced features, customization options, and flexible pricing model, Shopify Plus provides a tailored solution for enterprises seeking to elevate their online presence. 

As a leading Shopify development company, we can attest to its ability to handle high traffic and transaction volumes, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking to expand their online reach. So, if you need any help in migrating to Shopify Plus, you can contact Shopify App Developers anytime and book our free consultation. 

FAQs

What is the Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is a premium, enterprise-grade solution designed extensively for high-volume businesses. Built on the robust Shopify Online Store 2.0 platform, it’s tailored for merchants processing over 25,000 orders monthly. 

Is Shopify Plus Different than Shopify?

Yes, both are different. While Shopify is ideal for new and growing businesses, Shopify Plus offers advanced customization, scalability, and support for high-volume merchants. It provides more control over websites and stores. 

How Many Stores Use Shopify Plus?

There are approximately 49,261 live stores currently using Shopify Plus.

What is the Function of Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus works by providing businesses with a suite of customizable and extensible solutions. This includes online selling tools for social commerce, omnichannel solutions for seamless operations across online and retail, and digital commerce features for B2B that create smooth wholesale buying experiences.