Understanding The Types of Shopify App Development & its Steps
Shopify is a platform for running online stores. But it doesn’t have every single feature imaginable built in. That’s where Shopify Apps come in. These are kind of like mini-programs you can add to your store to give it extra abilities.
Think of it like your phone. It does a lot by itself, but you can download apps to do even more specific things. Shopify Apps work similarly. There are over 3,600 different apps available as of 2023, so you can find one to handle almost anything you need in your store.
If you need a custom app to perfectly fit your store’s needs, consider looking for a top-rated Shopify app development company. They can create a solution that integrates seamlessly with your store and helps you achieve your business goals.
Three Major Types of Shopify Apps
Public Apps
Imagine a giant marketplace filled with tools for your Shopify store. That’s the Shopify App Store, where you’ll find Public Apps. These are pre-built apps designed to work for any Shopify store and tackle a wide range of tasks.
- Finding Products: Think of apps that help you discover products to sell, like dropshipping or wholesale buying.
- Selling Products: Apps in this category enhance how you display and sell products. This could include adding product reviews, recommendations, or social proof features.
- Orders & Shipping: Streamline your order fulfillment with apps for printing shipping labels, tracking inventory, or managing orders.
- Store Design: Customize your storefront’s look and feel with apps that change themes, add custom pages, or even edit your store’s code.
- Marketing & Conversion: Attract more customers and turn them into buyers with apps for email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), or social media marketing.
- Store Management: Apps to help you run your store smoothly, like tools for customer service, accounting, and reporting.
Public apps are a great starting point because they’re readily available, easy to install, and often come with free plans.
Private Apps
These are like Public Apps but with a twist. They’re built for a specific group of merchants, not everyone. Imagine an app designed exclusively for a clothing store chain. That’s a private app.
Custom Apps
This is where things get really tailored. Custom apps are built from scratch specifically for your unique needs. Need a special feature no other app offers? A custom app can be designed just for you. However, custom apps require developer expertise and typically cost more than Public Apps.
Here’s a quick way to remember the difference:
- Public Apps: Ready-made tools for everyone on the Shopify App Store.
- Private Apps: Built for a select group of merchants, not publicly available.
- Custom Apps: One-of-a-kind solutions designed specifically for your store.
Steps to Build a Shopify App in 6 Easy Steps
Building a Shopify app can be a great way to extend the functionality of Shopify stores and help merchants run their businesses more smoothly. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:
- Become a Shopify Partner: This initial step involves signing up for a Shopify Partner account. This unlocks resources and tools specifically designed for app development on the Shopify platform.
- Set up your Development Environment: You’ll need Node.js installed on your machine as it’s a popular choice for Shopify app development. The Shopify CLI (command-line interface) is also a valuable tool that simplifies the app creation process and helps manage your app throughout development.
- Plan and Design Your App: Before diving into coding, take time to solidify the concept of your app. Identify the problem it solves for merchants and its unique value proposition. Sketch out the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure a smooth and intuitive experience for store owners.
- Develop the App: Shopify offers various resources to assist in development, including comprehensive documentation and sample apps. Utilize the Shopify APIs to connect your app to Shopify stores and access store data. Choose a programming language best suited for your app’s functionalities.
- Test and Refine: Rigorous testing is crucial to ensure your app functions flawlessly within Shopify stores. Utilize Shopify’s test store to simulate a real-world environment for testing. Gather feedback from potential users to identify areas for improvement.
- Publish your App: Once your app is polished and thoroughly tested, you can submit it to the Shopify App Store for review. The Shopify App Store has specific guidelines and requirements for app submissions, so ensure your app adheres to them.
Conclusion
Shopify is great for running your online store, but what if you want more? That’s where Shopify apps come in. There are thousands of apps already built, covering everything from finding products to selling to marketing your store. These are called Public Apps and you can find them in the Shopify App Store, kind of like an app store for your phone.
Public apps are a great place to start because they’re easy to install and often have free plans. But what if no app does exactly what you need? That’s where Custom Shopify app development comes in.
CartCoders, a top Shopify app development agency, can build a custom app just for you. It will work perfectly with your store and solve your specific problems.
Ready to take your Shopify store to the next level?
We’ll discuss your specific needs and build a custom app that makes your store run smoother and sell more. Contact us today!
