A Simpler Way to Manage Custom Storefronts

shopify custom storefront api 2017

When we launched our JS Buy and Mobile Buy SDKs a couple of years ago, we designed the system so that developers would manage their access tokens and any mobile settings through the Buy Button and Mobile App sales channels.

As use of these SDKs has grown, we wanted to make it easier for partners and developers to track which products were being sold through each storefront, and have access to reports that more accurately communicate the performance of each.

To enable this update, we’ve migrated your Buy Button and Mobile App tokens into their own private app. Below we’ll outline what this change looks like, how you’ll be better able to manage products within your custom storefronts, and how to more accurately view earnings and reports.

We’ll be rolling out these changes and migrations to shops starting on January 31, 2018.

Managing your custom storefront access tokens

If you’re currently building custom storefronts using the JS Buy, Mobile Buy, or Unity Buy SDK, you can expect to find them under the private apps section of a shop, instead of in the Buy Button or Mobile App.

Your existing access tokens will still be active and support any storefronts you’ve built using them, since Shopify will automatically migrate them to the Private Apps page and create a new private app for your old Mobile App tokens.

shopify custom storefront api - managing private apps
Creating an access token for a private app.

If you’ve built mobile storefronts using the Mobile App, you’ll find all mobile settings such as Apple Pay, App Store ID, or Android Pay right in the Private Apps page.

shopify custom storefront api - mobile buy sdk
Mobile Buy SDK options on the Private Apps page.

You might also like: How to Use Shopify's Android Buy SDK to Build Commerce into Mobile Apps.

Managing products for your custom storefronts

With this update, you’ll gain visibility into how each of your individual storefronts is performing. After the update, you’ll also have a clearer view of each custom storefront’s revenue, products, and orders.

Selecting products for each storefront

Instead of selecting ‘Buy Button’ or ‘Mobile App’ to make a product visible to a storefront, you can now select the exact private app that represents the custom storefront you’re hoping to make the related products visible to.

shopify custom storefronts api - channel visibility
Enabling product visibility for custom storefronts.
shopify custom storefronts api - channels
Example of selected sales channel.

You might also like: How to Embed Shopify Stores into Mobile Games With the Unity Buy SDK.

Reporting orders and revenue from each storefront

Instead of reporting orders and revenue under the label Buy Button or Mobile App, you’ll be able to view your earnings and orders for each storefront.

Similar to product visibility, you’ll view orders and revenue numbers through the private app that represents the custom storefront. This gives you a more granular view into where orders and earnings are coming from, compared to the previous labels of Buy Button and Mobile App.

It’s even easier to sell and manage sell anywhere

Our Custom Storefront SDKs make it possible to sell anywhere. Now, selling anywhere will be even easier.

To stay up to date on changes and improvements, make sure to visit the Shopify Help Center, our GitHub page, or our forums.

Check out all the Custom Storefront SDKs

Which part of the new reporting are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments section below!

Grow your business with the Shopify Partner Program

Learn more