Shopify App Challenge
Commerce & COVID-19
Announcing the Winners of the Shopify App Challenge
It’s never too late to start building an app that helps businesses adapt, grow, and thrive online. Thank you for joining us in solving the new problems entrepreneurs are facing.
The brief
The challenge
The onset of COVID-19 has changed the way local businesses must run. Over 4 weeks, this challenge aims to empower the Shopify developer community, and to focus your creative and technical efforts on critical problem areas detailed below.
The tools
For this challenge we’ll provide tutorials, workshops, and support as you develop your idea into an app. Workshop topics include: Overview of the Shopify Platform, Building an app, Getting ready for the Shopify App Store, Pricing models, Marketing your app, and Managing your published app.
The criteria
Submissions will be scored on the business case, creativity, technical viability, and user experience of the app. Focus on getting your core features up and running. We don’t expect a polished app but we are looking for meaningful progress. Read the full rules to understand what’s allowed and what’s expected of a submission.
Problem areas to be solved
Moving from offline to online
Help businesses like restaurants, grocery stores, and your favorite mom and pop shops get online. Apps that make it easy to get set up online, highlight products, enhance online stores, and get prepared to sell quickly are in demand.
Communicating with customers
Merchants are looking for the right channels and best ways to keep their customers engaged, from on-page messaging like banners and pop-ups, to new ways to connect like SMS, and chat bots.
Helping increase online sales
Many merchants have products ready to sell but need help finding new customers through SEO and marketing. Equally important is helping merchants increase sales by offering discounts, creating bundles, and pre-orders.
Pickup and delivery
Social distancing is a way of life for now but customers still need products. Apps that enable scheduling and curbside pickup or new ways of shipping like contactless delivery can help bridge the gap.