The Best Shopify Apps for International eCommerce

The best Shopify apps for global sales

Taking your Shopify store international is a significant undertaking. It requires more than a .com domain and an international shipping policy. When you decide to start selling to a global audience, you must consider a multitude of factors, including how to cater to different currencies, languages, local laws, and cultures.

To complicate things further, there is no single foolproof process for internationalising your Shopify store either. The process is different for every business, depending on what it sells, its target market, and business goals.

Expanding into international markets can be tough. Not only do you need to make considerable changes to your website, but you also need to gain the trust of your international audience. Fortunately, if you’ve built your eCommerce store using Shopify, the Shopify app store contains plenty of apps that can be seamlessly integrated with your store to expand its functionality and add essential features to help you cater to a global audience.

In this article, we’ll discuss the most important factors to consider when internationalising your Shopify store and recommend the top Shopify apps for international sales. Read on if your store is ready to take the world by storm.

8 factors to consider when internationalising your Shopify store

If your Shopify store is thriving in your local market and you’re ready to take things up a notch, it could be time to expand into international markets. Before you can begin selling to new international markets, your store will need to undergo significant development to adapt it to meet the needs of a global audience.

Internationalising your Shopify store is a complex and multifaceted process that requires a strategic approach. Without proper research and planning, your store may not cater to the needs of an international audience, and your attempt at going global could flop.

To help you devise an internationalisation strategy, we’ve compiled a list of the top eight most important factors to consider when taking your Shopify store global.

1. Localisation

Localisation is the process of tailoring your Shopify store to cater to local preferences and cultural differences. At a minimum, you should translate your website content into the local language and display prices in the local currency to make it easier for local people to shop. Localising the content on your website helps improve user experience and customer engagement, increasing conversion rates.

Language Translation: For your store to be accessible across various regions, it must support the local language of each target market. Use translation or localisation apps for Shopify to accurately translate product descriptions, policies, and other key information.

Currency Conversion: Install Shopify app for currency conversion to display prices in local currencies automatically. Implementing tools like Shopify Payments’ currency converter can simplify this process and make pricing straightforward for international customers.

Localised Content: Adapt your website content to make it culturally relevant and to match local market demands. This could include localising product descriptions and marketing campaigns to make them culturally relevant.

2. Market Research and Strategy

To successfully conquer international markets, your strategy should be formed from extensive market research. This research should include identifying the most viable markets for your products, looking at relevant local laws and regulations, and comprehensive competitor research.

Target Market Identification: Identify which international markets are best suited to your products. Evaluate factors like demand, competition, and economic stability to help you target the most relevant markets. 

Regulatory Compliance: Complying with local laws and regulations is critical. Familiarise yourself with the local taxes, duties, and legal requirements for each market you’re targeting. Use tools like Zonos to help manage cross-border tax compliance.

Competitor Analysis: Analyse local competitors to gain a better understanding of market expectations and pricing strategies. Studying how your competitors operate and position themselves can help you identify opportunities and gaps in the market to gain a competitive edge.

3. Shipping and Fulfilment

To sell internationally, you’ll need to revisit your store’s shipping options and policies and set up international shipping on Shopify to ensure that you can provide fast and efficient delivery to customers across different regions. Reliable shipping services are key to creating a positive shopping experience and maintaining your brand’s reputation across global markets.

International Shipping Options: International customers expect to be able to choose from multiple shipping options with reliable carriers, allowing them to choose a delivery service that meets their needs. International shipping apps like Flexport or Shipper HQ can simplify logistics, providing solutions that include customs clearance and real-time package tracking. This helps to maintain transparency and trust with your customers.

Local Warehousing: Consider using local warehouses or fulfilment centres to reduce shipping times and costs. The Shopify Fulfilment Network (SFN) and other similar logistics partners can help you distribute products fast and cost-effectively.

Returns Management: Develop a clear and customer-friendly international returns policy to build customer trust and satisfaction. Implementing tools like Shopify’s new self-serve return system can also help to streamline the process and improve customer experience.

4. Payment Methods

The most popular payment methods differ around the world. When internationalising your Shopify, you should review your existing payment methods and add new ones for international markets. Providing familiar and secure payment options can significantly enhance the customer experience and help to increase conversion rates.

Local Payment Gateways: Integrate Shopify payment gateway apps to offer familiar payment methods for international customers. Shopify Payments supports a variety of global payment methods, which you can find out more about here.

Fraud Prevention: To safeguard your business and your customers, you should also implement robust fraud detection and prevention systems. Consider using apps like Sifnifyd, which uses AI and machine learning to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions. This not only reduces the risk of chargebacks and financial losses but also provides a 100% financial guarantee against fraud on approved orders, protecting your revenue and helping to build customer trust.

5. SEO and Marketing

To gain brand awareness and attract customers within your new international markets, you will need to develop tailored SEO and marketing strategies for each target market. This targeted approach will ensure that your efforts resonate with your target audience in each region, increasing relevance and impact. 

Hreflang Tags: Use hreflang tags to indicate language and regional URLs to search engines to help with proper indexing and avoid penalties for duplicate content. Correct use of hreflang tags ensures that the right content is served to the right audience, enhancing user experience and search relevance.

Localised Marketing Campaigns: Develop targeted marketing campaigns tailored to the cultural preferences and habits of different regions. This might include leveraging local social media channels, collaborating with regional influencers, and using local advertising platforms to increase engagement and brand awareness within specific markets.

Local Domain or Subdomains: Use country-specific domains (ccTLDs) or subdomains for each target market. This will not only help to boost local SEO but also increase customer trust by providing a familiar and relevant browsing experience.

6. Customer Support

Customer support can make or break a business, and if you’re preparing to enter new international markets, you need to ensure that you can offer the same high level of support to your customers no matter where they are in the world. 

Multilingual Support: International customers should be able to access customer support in their local language. This may include offering support via online chat, email, and phone. Implement customer service apps for Shopify, such as Gorgias, to facilitate this and integrate multilingual capabilities.

Time Zone Considerations: Adapt the hours that customers can access support to match your international customers’ local business hours – this may mean offering 24/7 support services. Consider using automated chatbots like Tidio or Gorgias to provide immediate assistance outside of standard business hours and enhance the customer experience.

7. Legal and Tax Considerations

Forgetting to consider the different laws and regulations that govern different regions could be a very costly mistake. To avoid potential legal issues and penalties, it’s important to thoroughly research and understand the legal and tax considerations specific to your new international target markets. 

Local Business Registration: In some countries, you may need to register your business locally to operate legally. This may involve setting up a local entity or obtaining necessary licenses and permits.

Taxation: Familiarise yourself with Value-Added Tax (VAT), Goods and Services Tax (GST), and other local tax requirements. Apps like Global-e can help you easily configure tax compliance on Shopify.

8. Technology and Integration

Reaching and attracting new international customers can be challenging without the right technology. Leveraging internationalisation apps and local platforms will help your Shopify store expand by growing its international reach and improving the shopping experience it offers in international markets.

Internationalisation Apps: Integrate apps specifically designed to support international expansion. Apps like Shopify Markets can simplify the process of selling to multiple countries, while geolocation apps can personalise the shopping experience based on the user’s location. Currency converters are also important for providing real-time price adjustments according to local currencies.

Integration with Local Platforms: Integrate with local eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, and social media channels to maximise your reach and relevance in new markets. 

The best apps for Shopify internationalisation

Venturing into international markets is an exciting step for any growing Shopify store, but it’s also one that’s not without its challenges. To succeed at breaking into new international markets, you’ll need to equip yourself with a toolbox full of specialist tools and technologies designed to aid with international expansion. The right tools can help make the transition smoother and increase your chances of succeeding in new international markets. 

Fortunately, the Shopify platform is supported by an extensive app ecosystem designed to help facilitate global growth. If you browse the Shopify app store, you’ll uncover a range of tools tailored to streamline every aspect of the internationalisation process, from building a localised checkout process to complying with tax and customs regulations.

Not sure where to start? We’ve highlighted the top 5 Shopify internationalisation apps below.

Global-e

Global-e is a comprehensive solution for international eCommerce, handling everything from localised checkout experiences to tax and customs management. The platform ensures a seamless shopping experience for customers worldwide by acting as an intermediary that manages compliance and logistics. It is well suited to brands with large international sales volumes.

Orbe

Orbe is a geolocation app that redirects customers to the appropriate version of your store based on their geographic location and browser language. It integrates seamlessly with Shopify Markets and Global-e and can be used to create customised geolocation and country selector popups designed to match your brand’s aesthetic. The app saves user preferences and automatically redirects users during future visits.

Zonos

Zonos simplifies cross-border selling by automating tax compliance, including the calculation of duties and VAT, and managing tax remittance on behalf of the merchant. This app offers complete transparency and facilitates faster customs clearance, significantly enhancing the international shopping experience and reducing the administrative burden.

Shopify Markets

Shopify Markets helps merchants manage global commerce from a single Shopify store. It allows merchants to customise their stores for different regions, including localised domains, languages, and currency conversions. It also handles local tax and duty calculations, ensuring that your store complies with international trade regulations to reduce the risk of compliance issues.

Expansion Stores

Expansion Stores are only available to Shopify Plus users. They are independent online stores tailored for specific international markets. Each store operates separately, allowing for customised themes, local currencies, and region-specific content. This setup provides greater autonomy and scalability and is best suited to stores with extensive international sales and complex logistics. Expansion stores are ideal for managing distinct regional operations and providing a highly localised shopping experience to customers around the world. 

Shopify Markets vs. Expansion Stores

If you want to start selling to international markets, the first decision you need to make is whether to use Shopify Markets or Expansion Stores. The right option for you and your business depends on several factors, including your business’s size, complexity, and budget.

Let’s learn more about each solution to help you decide which is the right option for your store.

Key features of Shopify Markets:

• Manage multiple markets from a single store.
• Quick to set up.
• Customisable features for different regions.
• Supports local currencies and languages (but with potential exchange fees).
• Available on all Shopify plans.

Key features of Shopify Expansion Stores:

• Create independent expansion stores with their own currencies and supply chains.
• Suited to businesses with a large volume of international sales and distinct regional operations.
• Localise each store’s design and content to target a specific region. 
• Only available on Shopify Plus.

Choosing the Right Approach:

Carefully consider these features and how they align with your business needs to identify the most suitable solution for your store.

Generally, Shopify Markets is suited to smaller teams who want to test and gradually expand into international markets without a big upfront investment. In comparison, Shopify Expansion Stores are better suited to larger businesses that have already established significant international sales and require a robust solution to support complex logistics and multiple warehouses.

Partner with Create8 to expand your Shopify store’s reach into global markets

Are you ready to take your Shopify store to the next level and start selling to international markets? 

Here at Create8, we are a Shopify partner, and our team of specialist Shopify web designers and developers have helped numerous businesses adapt their eCommerce stores to sell in multiple currencies and languages. No matter the size and complexity of your operations, our team can guide you through every step of the internationalisation process.

Ready to start your project? Get in touch with our team of experts today – international success awaits!