The eCommerce space is only becoming more sophisticated and complex. Shopify stores have evolved from basic static stores to those having highly advanced features, UX, and UI.
To implement, manage, and stay competitive in this changing Shopify environment, merchants are expecting much more from retainers.
The good news! Shopify retainers are adapting to modern merchant needs and demands, and evolving with the needs.
This blog looks at how Shopify retainers are transforming their service offerings to meet market trends, technological advancements, and merchant needs.
Current State of Shopify Retainers
Studies show that by 2027, 23% of global retail sales will take place online. To compete in the market, merchants are increasingly hiring Shopify retainers for routine and specialized services. Let’s look at the various services provided by retainers under different categories.
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Design: theme customization, creatives, images, videos, visual updates, UX/UI
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Web development: technical implementation, custom functionality, web maintenance, bug fixes
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Marketing: advertising, marketing campaigns, promotions, content creation, SEO
While the above are essential services, traditional Shopify retainers or siloed retainers tend to get limited. Segmented or focused retainers are often not able to meet multiple requirements of merchants.
Moreover, many of these retainers work reactively, only responding to merchant requests when problems come up. Thus, when Shopify merchants require integrated services that cover various categories, traditional Shopify retainers often fall short. As a result, the offerings of Shopify retainers are evolving.
From basic and routine Shopify support, retainers are taking a more proactive approach to supporting brands by offering advanced skills, market expertise, strategy support, technological services, etc.
Key Trends Shaping Shopify Retainer Services
Factors such as advancements in digital technology, AI, and automation; international and cross-border market expansions; and changing market dynamics are driving Shopify merchants to focus more on optimization, and data analytics. And these factors are in turn shaping retainer services. Let’s look at some trends in detail:
1. Increased focus on performance optimization
With increasing competition in the eCommerce market, Shopify merchants have understood the need for factors such as speed page loading, mobile responsiveness, efficient UX, and search rankings, etc.
Merchants are looking for performance optimization support from Shopify retainers. And retainers include a wide range of optimization services. These include regular performance audits, website technology monitoring, systematic optimization processes, etc.
2. Rise in CRO and data-driven services
Continuous conversion rate optimization (CRO) has become a must for Shopify brands to beat competition. The field of conversion rate optimization has evolved over the years. It now involves data collection, analysis, and strategies.
Shopify retainers offer various CRO services:
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Data-driven conversion rate optimization
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A/B testing
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User behavior analysis
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Funnel optimization
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Cart recovery campaigns
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Checkout optimization
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UX/UI enhancement
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Personalization and segmentation
3. Growth in full-service retainers with strategy included
Shopify retainers have evolved over the years. From basic services, retainers have now come to include advanced services, such as strategy, focused marketing, etc. Rather than just being Shopify website retainers, they’re now playing strategic roles, and helping brands create unique positions in the market.
Some focused services provided by retainers:
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Product development
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Market expansion
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Customer lifetime value optimization
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Subscription business model development
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Omnichannel integration
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International market expansion
Impact of technology on retainers
Digital technology is one of the most vibrant markets. Studies show that the digital commerce software market size is forecast to increase by USD 4.82 billion by 2028. All these factors are shaping retainer services. Here are some ways in which technology is changing retainer offerings.
1. Automation of routine tasks
Automation is helping eCommerce businesses cut down operational costs, collect data, and manage Shopify websites more easily as opposed to traditional methods of managing websites. With automation, tasks such as routine checks, theme updates, security patches, and backup management take place automatically. This helps Shopify merchants and retainers to focus on more important and strategic tasks.
2. AI tools for CRO, SEO, customer support
With AI advancing at an extremely fast pace, AI tools have become a key component for eCommerce stores. AI tools are performing all sorts of tasks. AI-based CRO platforms identify optimization opportunities, while AI SEO tools automate keyword research and content optimization. For customer support, AI-based chatbots and support desks are playing the role of human support agents. Moreover, AI tools are intelligent enough to know when to pass on the issue or conversation to a human agent.
3. Faster implementation of custom features with modern frameworks
Shopify development has evolved with modern frameworks and headless commerce structures. These have made customization easier and faster. Shopify retainers provide support for complex functionalities, custom features, and technology upgrades.
Shopify retainers help brands grow faster and keep up with digital trends with services such as:
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Customized design and development
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Advanced code customization
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Integrations with third-party tools
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Ongoing support for brand differentiation
Evolving merchant needs
As markets change and evolve, Shopify merchants have to keep up with the trends and demands. Here’s what merchants are expecting from Shopify retainer teams.
1. Demand for more strategic partnership, not just task execution
While traditional Shopify retainers offered more basic services and task execution, retainers are now offering more strategic services, as required by merchants. Today’s merchants expect retainers to play a more strategic role that helps grow their business.
Merchants expect retainers to understand their business, the industry, market dynamics, and competitive landscape. This demand is driving Shopify retainers to develop and deliver more strategic support alongside technical services.
2. Need for international support and localization
Ambitious and growing Shopify businesses often plan international expansion. The processes and tasks related to international expansion can get complex. For this, merchants often require expert support from experienced and knowledgeable retainers. Shopify retainers help with support related to:
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Localization services
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Multi-market services
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International payment gateway integration
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Currency management
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Region-specific compliance requirements
3. Expectation of proactive recommendations
Shopify merchants expect retainers to provide proactive support, not only in technical matters, but also in strategy, business development, market opportunities, etc. As retainers are in the market and engaged in doing the actual work, merchants expect them to play a proactive role.
Merchants expect retainers to look for growth opportunities, for example, by recommending new app integrations that can help the business. Or by trying new conversion optimization methods. This requires retainers to have deep and broad knowledge and experience in all factors of running eCommerce businesses.
What the future looks like for Shopify retainers
The world of eCommerce is only going to become more sophisticated and complex. And to handle this transformation, Shopify merchants will need more of and from retainers. Let’s look at what we can expect in the future.
1. Hybrid retainers combining human expertise + AI efficiencies
The use of artificial intelligence is imperative for growth-oriented businesses. Shopify retainers are providing hybrid models that combine human expertise with AI capabilities. In the coming years, retainers will use AI for data analysis, pattern recognition, and optimizing tasks. Retainers will complement AI with human capabilities, such as conceptualization, problem solving, relationship management, creative strategy, etc.
2. Subscription models with flexible services
While traditionally, retainers segmented services in different categories and provided specific services, going forward, the concept of subscription models for Shopify retainers will pick up. For example, instead of providing a fixed monthly package that includes only design services, retainers will provide flexible packages that include multiple services. Merchants can have access to more services and better costs.
3. Deeper integration into brand strategy
Shopify retainers will function more like in-house teams that can help with strategy and add more value to brands. Retainers will incorporate more advanced services, such as product development, market expansion planning, long-term business strategy, among others. As market trends and demands change, retainers will keep evolving their services that require expertise and skills.
Wrapping up
Shopify retainers are no more restricting their services to routine support. Instead, they’re playing a more important role by providing proactive services that help businesses transform and grow.
Factors such as increasing competition, advancement in technology, AI adoption, and evolving merchant expectations are changing the role retainers are playing in setting up, managing, and growing Shopify stores.
If you’re a Shopify store merchant seeking retainers that can help your business grow, contact XgenTech.
