Exploring Shopify Customer Accounts & Enhancing Security with miniOrange

Exploring Shopify's Customer Accounts & Enhancing Security with miniOrange

Shopify's recent update introduces advanced extensibility features for Shopify customer accounts, significantly enhancing both Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Business-to-Business (B2B) customer accounts. This update allows for more seamless and customizable customer interactions, boosting satisfaction and operational efficiency for both types of customers. Shopify has revealed that developers can now access customer accounts using customer account UI extensions, which are currently in developer preview. This is exciting news because it allows Shopify developers to create apps right within the customer accounts portal. But what exactly are these extensions, why should app developers consider using them, and what can they create with them?

What are Customer Accounts?

Shopify recently launched a feature for customer accounts that allows shoppers to sign in with either a Shopify OTP login (one-time password) or through their Shopify app. Merchants can embed links in emails that give customers access to the order index page, order status page, and profile page without requiring any sign in.

From there, customers can update their customer profile, and the changes will be reflected in the Shopify admin, something that was not available in legacy customer accounts (formerly known as classic customer accounts). This simplifies the Shopify create account process, making it more usable for merchants as well as customers.

Difference Between Shopify’s Customer Accounts vs Legacy Customer Accounts

Shopify’s Legacy Customer Accounts

• Requires customers to log in with an email and password.
• Accounts are created through invitations or direct signups.
• Offers limited customization and functionality, often leaving businesses with rigid customer interaction frameworks.
• Limited self-service options.

Shopify's Customer Accounts

• Features seamless login via one-time email code or Shop login.
• Automatically creates accounts upon first login, simplifying the process for users.
• Enhances self-service returns and order management, allowing customers to handle returns and track orders more efficiently.
• Customizable profile pages with additional data fields for a personalized experience, enabling businesses to gather and utilize more customer information.

Enhancing Customer Experience of Shopify Customer Accounts

Shopify has added some cool new features to the customer accounts solution that make shopping even better for customers! This update helps merchants optimize Single Sign-On (SSO) for customer login to stores, offering a smoother experience. Here's what more businesses can achieve:

• Personalize Product Recommendations: Brands can suggest products based on what a customer has bought before. With Shopify customer accounts (SSO enabled), businesses can seamlessly personalize these suggestions.
• New Pages: Brands can introduce new sections, such as wishlists or custom design spaces. These pages offer extra value and improve the overall shopping experience. Businesses transitioning from Classic B2B SSO for Shopify (legacy customer accounts) setups can leverage these new features to provide a better user journey.
• Automated Customer Service: The customer accounts solution supports automated customer service through various app integrations. This streamlines support and enables businesses to focus on growth. Using SSO for customer accounts (Shopify), companies can ensure a consistent and secure experience across multiple platforms for both new and existing users.

New B2B Customer Accounts

This update is particularly beneficial for B2B customer accounts! Here’s what’s new:

• Detailed Profiles: Businesses can now have profiles that include all the important information, like company details and location. This enhanced functionality supports seamless SSO for new customer login to store, making it easier to onboard and manage customer accounts on Shopify efficiently.
• Location Permissions: Different locations within a company can now manage their own orders and billing independently. Legacy B2B SSO for Shopify implementations, this feature simplifies access management by ensuring that each branch only views and handles relevant information. Integrating Shopify Single Sign-On (SSO) for customer accounts makes it easier for businesses to assign appropriate roles to regional teams.
• Better Order Management: There’s improved visibility into order status, which helps businesses track their orders and get them fulfilled more efficiently. Brands that leverage SSO for customer accounts on Shopify experience faster processing, as customers can login seamlessly without needing to remember multiple passwords. By shifting from Shopify customer accounts, businesses unlock modernized login experiences and secure their systems with SSO for new customers. This ensures that both B2B and retail customers can enjoy quick and safe access, streamlining the checkout and account management processes.

Strengthening Your Store Security with miniOrange

When it comes to customer accounts, security is super important! miniOrange offers a range of security features for Shopify that help keep your store and customer data safe. Here’s how we do it:

• Single Sign-On (SSO): Our Single Sign-On feature simplifies the overall logging experience. Customers can access their store using just one set of credentials, which not only simplifies login but also boosts security. When comparing Shopify customer accounts vs legacy login systems, SSO emerges as a more secure and user-friendly option.
• Restrict Content (LockOn): With miniOrange LockOn feature, you can control who sees specific pages or products based on customer tags. This feature is ideal for businesses needing to manage access to exclusive content or products. Whether it’s for customer accounts on Shopify or Legacy B2B SSO for Shopify, you can ensure only the right audience accesses your store, boosting engagement and security.
• OTP Login: With our OTP login, customers can securely access your Shopify store login using OTP (one-time password) sent to their phone or email. You can enhance their shopping experience by letting them login with OTP, Google Authenticator, or through a phone call, making it easy and secure without the hassle of remembering passwords.
• Inventory Sync: The Shopify Inventory Sync feature automatically links your products and inventory across multiple platforms like Etsy, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, and Amazon. It makes importing bulk products easy from CSV files, APIs, and Google Sheets. Implementing SSO for new customer login to store further enhances user experience.
• User Provisioning: miniOrange offers two-way sync for orders, products, and user information between Shopify Stores or your other website. Our user provisioning solution makes it super easy to create, update, and delete user info from your Identity Provider (IDP) right to your Shopify store in real-time. Plus, you can update your inventory just once, and it’ll sync across all your connected Shopify stores!
• Subscription Management: Shopify Subscription Management feature allows your store to turn one-time buyers into subscribers and brand followers, boosting your average order value. It allows customers to continue receiving their product without reordering from the e-commerce store each time. Utilizing Legacy B2B SSO for Shopify simplifies the login process further for your business clients.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): It adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity in multiple ways before they can log in. miniOrange offers various MFA solutions like OTP (One-Time Password) sent via SMS, Email, Telegram, WhatsApp, and even through knowledge-based security questions (KBA). Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), along with Shopify SSO for new customers, makes an even more secure store, offering peace of mind.

Shopify’s Legacy or Customer Accounts: Which One’s Right for You?

When it comes to picking between Shopify customer accounts vs Legacy customer accounts, it really depends on what your business needs.

• Legacy accounts are great if you’re using specific tools, like certain subscription services or translation apps, that might not work perfectly with the new system yet. If your business relies on these tools, Shopify SSO for new customer logins to stores might require careful configuration to avoid disruptions.
• Shopify customer accounts (formerly known as new customer accounts) offer more flexibility. They provide a simpler user experience and better features for business-to-business (B2B) interactions, making them a good fit if you’re looking to modernize how you connect with customers. With SSO for customer accounts on Shopify, customers can enjoy seamless logins, ensuring a smooth shopping experience from day one.

So, think about what matters most for your business, and choose the account that fits your needs best.

Future Prospects

Shopify customer accounts are currently in the developer preview stage, but there’s a lot to look forward to! Shopify plans to bring a more unified account experience across different stores. This could make shopping more personalized and efficient, transforming the way businesses connect with their customers. SSO for new customer login to store could open opportunities to streamline authentication, making the login process smoother and more secure.

Merchants who implement customer accounts in Shopify SSO will benefit from improved onboarding, faster access, and better user experiences. The ability to offer Shopify SSO for new customers simplifies the login process, enabling businesses to create seamless customer journeys.

FAQs for customer accounts and legacy customer accounts

• What are Customer Accounts in Shopify?

Shopify Customer Accounts allow password-free login via OTP, provide quick access to orders through email links, and speed up checkout with auto-filled customer details. Customers can directly manage their profiles, with updates reflected in Shopify admin.

• How to set up SSO for Customer Accounts in Shopify?

You can enable Single Sign-On for Shopify customer accounts using the miniOrange SSO application, by configuring multiple identity providers for seamless login into your Shopify Plus and non-Plus stores.

• How to connect your own identity provider to Shopify customer accounts?

You can connect multiple identity providers to Shopify customer accounts like Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Auth0, and more using the miniOrange Single Sign-On app. The application supports SSO protocols including SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and JWT for seamless customer login. Follow the step-by-step guide or contact our team for assistance.

• Is SSO compatible with Legacy Customer Accounts in Shopify?

Yes, single sign-on is compatible with Shopify legacy customer accounts using the Shopify SSO app, allowing seamless login with identity providers like Microsoft Entra ID, Auth0, Okta, and more.

Conclusion

Shopify's customer accounts, along with miniOrange's security applications, are changing the game for how brands connect with and protect their customers. By leveraging SSO for Shopify customer accounts, businesses can provide a more personalized, efficient, and secure shopping experience, whether they’re serving direct-to-consumer (DTC) or business-to-business (B2B) markets.

With these tools evolving, it's essential to stay informed and ready to adapt. Whether you’re working with a legacy B2B Shopify account or modern DTC setups, these features ensure smoother customer interactions and stronger security. Staying ahead with SSO for new customer login to store gives you an edge in the competitive world of ecommerce.