Make your software your own

This is the second of four articles we’re sharing that aims to answer the question, Why Shopify? When Bloom started seven years ago, industry experts thought we were crazy. “Shopify doesn’t have alcohol-specific features. There aren’t any integrations with tax and compliance services. You can’t create and manage memberships.” We heard a lot of comments like these in the early days. What we knew, but others didn’t, is the internet had already moved towards API-driven web applications, and Shopify was at the forefront of that digital transformation. The wine industry, and the software that ran it, didn’t seem even to be aware of the technology. It was behind the curve, and we saw that as an opportunity.

Not familiar with the term API? It is short for Application Programming Interface. It is a fancy term that means two web applications defined to do a specific task can securely pass information back and forth to each other. Most web applications and mobile apps you use today are API-driven. 

If your winery software feels outdated, it probably isn’t built using APIs. 

This is important because Shopify has made the strategic decision to focus more on tools for developers. Yes, Shopify empowers merchants to quickly create a scaleable ecommerce shop, market their products, fulfill orders, and generate detailed reports. But more importantly, the platform allows software designers to extend that core functionality in infinite ways. Shopify provides us with endless documentation libraries, software development kits, design components, and APIs. Shopify is modular and open. 

If your winery software feels outdated, it is probably monolithic and closed. 

Every business has different needs

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all software. We like choice. We require options. Our business tools should evolve and grow with our business needs. The software stack that a small start-up winery uses is very different from that of a large enterprise with a global presence, yet both businesses need many similar types of tools. They both need digital marketing tools, customer relationship management tools, reporting tools, compliance tools, and more. But the feature scope and scale of those tools are drastically different. 

This is where legacy software hits a wall. 

Think about it. If the software is closed and not API-driven, then the software has to do everything. And if you expect software to do everything well, then your expectations are probably not being met. How can closed software with a “built-in” email marketing tool compete with the robustness of Klaviyo? How can closed software provide shipping and fulfillment features that compete with ShipStation or Shippo? What about ERP integrations? Without public APIs, you can’t connect with Microsoft Dynamics, Netsuite, or Salesforce.

If your winery software feels outdated, your business is bound by limited features. 

Enter Shopify apps

Are you saying I'll need to add MORE apps to my core software to achieve all the functionality I want?

Yes, we are.

If you’ve read this far, you understand times have changed. Software is now modular and open. This is all by design and intentional. You should embrace it and stack your software with the best tools for your business. Focus on the value your investment can return, and not the investment's cost. The options are endless with Shopify.

If your winery software feels outdated, we bet you can’t extend the software with best-in-class apps.  

There is a vast selection of apps built for Shopify. We've categorized, described and provided examples of the apps our customers use every to run their businesses.

LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC APP RECOMMENDATIONS?

Avalara for taxes and compliance
ShipStation for label printing and order fulfillment
Klaviyo for digital marketing
Experiences app for reservations and events
A2X for accounting integration
Shopify Flow for business automation

ASK YOURSELF…

In a world where the ecommerce landscape is ever-changing, and your customer is constantly evolving, does your business feel limited or limitless? The ability to grow, adjust, and pivot are must-haves for success and longevity. Thankfully the power of Bloom and Shopify makes customizing software practically painless. Quickly the question becomes, where do we go now that we have no limits?

P.S. Would you like to harness the power of Shopify and Bloom Commerce? We'd like to help. Get in touch with our team at Bloom.