Profitable Shopify App: How To Develop Your First Shopify App

Shopify is no unfamiliar name today as it is well-recognized for providing eCommerce businesses easy access to build, manage, and run online stores. It is specifically beneficial for retail POS and online store vendors who are just starting as they get to do it with less hassle. 

The Shopify eCommerce platform allows you to use its multiple features via the apps available in its app store. You can either use them or go for Shopify application development to custom-create Shopify apps based on your business unit’s personalized needs. 

Now, there are over 6,000 Shopify apps you can choose from, in addition to the option to build new ones. While the former option is convenient and inexpensive, the latter option also has its perks, such as customized features and innovation. 

Going forward in this blog, we will discuss in detail Shopify apps, their types, and how you develop them for the first time. 

Let’s get started! 

What are Shopify Applications? 

As mentioned earlier, Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows merchants to list and sell their products by providing easy opportunities to create and manage online stores. As a business owner, you can build eCommerce stores by leveraging the features of the Shopify platform. 

As for Shopify apps, you can either create them to use in your Shopify store specifically. Or, you can create them and list them publicly for use by setting a price. These apps can fulfill multiple purposes like marketing plans, store design, conversion, customer service, store management, shipping & delivery, merchandising, etc. 

Considerations Before you Start Building your First Shopify App 

If you are developing a Shopify app for the first time, the process could appear more daunting to you. And it’s better to plan ahead than regret it later. So, what are some things that you must consider before you start with custom Shopify app development? 

Let’s find out! 

• Purpose 

Do you know what’s the purpose of your Shopify app? What problem or challenges it can address? Having this information will save you time and developers will have a better time understanding the product features they are expected to build. 

• Type 

There are multiple types of Shopify apps present. 

1. Custom apps – These apps you create for specific clients or yourself to serve tailored requests/ requirements. 
2. Public apps – You can create applications that solve specific Shopify development challenges, set a selling price, and upload them to app stores. 

A business can utilize any of the two types to build its Shopify storefront. However, having a custom app can help extend their store’s functionality greatly.  Businesses have to consider which one they will build beforehand. 

• Cost 

Creating a Shopify store may take anywhere between $15,000 and $25,000 based on the project complexity. Before you start Shopify application development, you should consider these prices and decide as per your budget. Create an online invoice to keep track of all the costs associated with setting up the Shopify site.

• Complexity/ time

Most businesses aren’t aware of the complexities and challenges one has to go through to develop these Shopify applications. It is a time-consuming process and if you lack the technological skills, you may have to face many roadblocks. 

Under such circumstances, you may acquire help from a Shopify app development company. They will have the experience and expertise to guide you through the journey. 

How to Build your Shopify App? 

Since you are developing a Shopify application for the first time, you first need to know these most important things. 

1. You need to register/authorize your app 

To call your app a Shopify app, you need to register it first. For that, you need to access the dashboard of your Shopify partners account and tap on the ‘Create an app’ option. 

Next, choose the type of app you will be developing (public or custom), and write down the app name, URL, redirection URL, etc. Note that this is a step to register or enlist your app in Shopify and not create it. 

2. Your Shopify application needs to be hosted in a public web address as the platform won’t host it for you. 
3. It is important to use Shopify APIs like Admin API and Storefront API. While Admin API will allow read/write operations to/from your store, Storefront API will ensure you have access to all the publicly available data on your storefront. 

Once you ensure these steps are taken care of, follow the steps mentioned below to develop your Shopify app effortlessly. 

1. Choose a tech stack 

Since Shopify applications are self-hosted and the APIs used do not depend upon the kind of programming language you use, developers are at the advantage of using anything they prefer. They can use any language for development, however, the most popular and compatible ones with Shopify are Ruby, Javascript, Node JS, etc. 

2. Authenticate app 

To authenticate your app means to connect your app to the Shopify platform. If you have already registered your app from the Shopify partners dashboard, you might have received an API or API secret key. You will need to use this for authentication purposes. It’s a one-time thing and you will also need a tunneling address to register your app. 

3. Develop and code 

Your app is registered and created! But, it has no features and it doesn’t do anything. You would need to develop them. Developers need to write codes, mutations, queries, and routes to get started with the process. 

After the development, the app has to be tested thoroughly to ensure there are no errors or issues with the application. 

Since it requires one to be technically sound, businesses availing of Shopify web app development services can be hugely benefited. They will have the technical guidance and they can focus on other important aspects like developing app logic and ways to market them for improved profits.

Author Bio:

Maulik Shah is the CEO of BiztechCS, a development company. He often takes the front seat in the company’s development projects, because he enjoys solving problems through technology. When it comes to writing for any blog, his contribution is priceless. Maulik ensures that his interaction with development is frequent enough, and his industry knowledge ever evolving, that he can share it. Despite his packed days, Maulik’s door is always open and he is generous with sharing this knowledge and experience.