As merchants scale and grow with Shopify Plus, their needs become more complex and specific. This creates an opportunity for Shopify app developers to step up and help address those advanced needs.
But standing out to these brands can be challenging. Plus merchants need to know that your app can handle their specific requirements, and you need a way to prove that your product can manage their complex needs. This is why we have a Technology Track within the Shopify Partner Program (formerly the Plus Certified App Program)—a track for developers who provide a level of product quality that meets the advanced requirements of Shopify Plus merchants.
Let’s jump into what this means for you.
What is the Technology Track in the Shopify Partner Program?
The Technology Track in the Shopify Partner Program is for best-in-class technology solutions chosen for their quality and alignment with Plus merchant needs. Each app is formally reviewed by the Shopify App Review and Quality Assurance Team, to ensure it meets advanced requirements in the areas of proven usefulness, infrastructure + performance, merchant support, and privacy. In addition, app developers are required to submit their app for a third party security assessment and attain a letter of validation, signifying that they adhere to an enhanced level of security practices.
Apps that meet the program requirements are then certified as a 'Technology Partner' in the Shopify Partner Program Technology Track and added to the Shopify Technology Partner Directory. This lets Shopify Plus merchants easily identify which apps are best suited to solving their specific needs.
The benefits for Shopify app developers
Being a Technology Partner in the Shopify Partner Program comes with a number of benefits for developers. In addition to being included in the exclusive Shopify Technology Partner Directory, you’ll also gain access to special channels to help support you on your business journey. These include:
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Access to a strategic partnership manager: Technology Track partners are eligible for access to a strategic partner manager that will help guide you on GTM
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Access to a partner solutions team: Technology Partners are eligible for access to our partner solutions architect team, who will share updates on our roadmap, help with technical enablements, and support you with our API and platform capabilities
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Recognition: Technology Partners will be provided with an exclusive program badge to be used across their online and offline assets. These badges help partners differentiate themselves with Plus merchants
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3P Security Letter of Validation: Technology Partners receive a 'Letter of Validation' from our approved security vendor
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More referrals: Being a part of the Shopify Partner Program Technology Track means that your app will be recommended more often to merchants by internal sales and enablement Shopify teams
You might also like: How to Get More App Downloads in the Shopify App Store.
What we’re looking for
To understand the qualifications for the Shopify Partner Program Technology Track, please review the detailed list of requirements and official Shopify Partner Program Technology Track Guide.
At a glance, this program will require that all partners provide the following:
- Support: 24/7 access to app partner support
- Security and privacy: Trusted and secure information and data handling. A valid 'Letter of Validation' from our approved 3p security assessment vendor
- Performance: Advanced app performance and integration standards
- Innovation: Leading edge adoption of our latest APIs and platform developments
- Proven track record: Partners who have a record of success with Shopify Plus merchants, and who complement Shopify's platform. Your app should introduce or enhance existing capabilities
We're inspired by developers that focus on doing one thing very well, giving merchants new ways to start, sell, and scale together.
As an example of the kind of capabilities we’re looking for in applicants, take a look at our current Technology Partners and the kind of solutions their apps provide.
- A/B testing: Shoplift
- Accounting and Finance: Xero
- Advertising technology: Criteo, MNTN
- Affiliate and influencer marketing: Impact, Refersion
- Business intelligence and reporting: 42 Technologies, Daasity, Segments Analytics, Triple Whale
- Content management: Sanity, Shogun
- Conversion optimization: Wishlist Plus, Justuno, Lucky Orange
- Customer support: Gladly, Gorgias, Help Scout
- ERP technology solutions: Acumatica, Brightpearl, Dynamic 365 Business Central, Oracle NetSuite
- Fraud and risk management: ClearSale, Forter, NoFraud, Riskified, Signifyd
- Fulfillment services: Shipbob, ShipHero Fulfillment
- Inventory management: Katana MRP, Veeqo Shipping, ShipHero Inventory & Shipping
- Loyalty and rewards: Govalo, LoyaltyLion, Referral Candy, Smile.io, Yotpo: Loyalty & Rewards
- Marketing automation: AdRoll, dotdigital, Klaviyo, Listrak, Mailchimp, Omnisend
- Messaging and notifications: Attentive, Octane AI, Postscript, PushOwl, SMSBump
- Mobile apps: Tapcart
- Order tracking: Route
- Personalization: Dynamic Yield, Nosto
- Print-on-demand: Printful
- Product information management (PIM): Salsify
- Product comparison: True Fit
- Product warranty: Extend
- Retail + POS: Endear, Marsello
- Returns management: AfterShip Returns, Happy Returns, Loop Returns, Narvar Returns
- Reviews and user generated content: Loox, Okendo, Stamped.io, Yotpo
- Search: Algolia, Instant Search +, Klevu, Searchspring
- Shipping solutions: Easyship, ShipperHQ, Shippo, ShipStation
- Subscriptions: Yotpo Subscriptions, Bold Subscription, Ordergroove, Recharge
- Trust and security: Rewind
- Upsell and checkout conversions: Disco for Brand Partnerships, Fairing, One Click Upsell - Zipify OCU, Rebuy
You might also like: Ads on the Shopify App Store: A New Channel for App Growth.
Offer the best in technology solutions
We will be certifying new app partners in the most important and innovative technology categories in commerce. Designed with merchants and partners at the forefront, the Shopify Partner Program Technology Track is a new approach that will continue to keep pushing the boundaries of commerce.
If you’re a Shopify Partner building technology solutions, join us in building for some of the biggest brands in the world.
Read more
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