Tag: b2b shopify

OpenAI recently announced a powerful new integration that brings Shopify directly into the ChatGPT interface. This native integration is more than just a technical milestone—it’s a strategic leap forward for commerce, user experience, and AI-driven shopping.

What’s New?

With this rollout, users can now access Shopify store data—including product prices, shipping information, and real-time inventory—directly within their ChatGPT conversations. Even more compelling: there are now embedded “Buy Now” and “Checkout” buttons, making it possible to complete a purchase without ever leaving the ChatGPT environment.

These features are conveniently placed in the ChatGPT answer panel, alongside other frequently used tools like weather updates and stock market data. In other words, shopping is becoming as seamless and integrated into daily AI usage as checking the forecast.

Why This Matters

ChatGPT has quickly become part of many users’ daily routines. Whether it’s planning a trip, getting meal ideas, or researching products, people are turning to conversational AI for all kinds of decisions. Embedding e-commerce capabilities within that flow of conversation is a huge unlock.

For Shopify merchants, this presents a meaningful opportunity to reach customers where they’re already spending time—and reduce the friction between discovery and purchase. Instead of hoping a customer clicks through a link and browses their site, merchants can now showcase products, answer questions, and complete transactions all within a single AI-powered conversation.

This changes the dynamic from passive discovery to conversational commerce—with Shopify at the center of it.

The Bigger Picture

As ChatGPT continues to grow in usage and mindshare, this type of native integration is more than a technical convenience. It’s a distribution channel. And for Shopify, it’s a major win—one that could drive significant incremental revenue across its merchant base.

The potential for personalized shopping assistants, real-time product recommendations, and dynamic Q&A around purchase decisions makes this a particularly exciting development for anyone in e-commerce.

We’re just scratching the surface of what AI can do for commerce, but this is a clear and compelling step forward. I’m excited to see how this plays out—and how Shopify merchants capitalize on this new channel.

---

Have any questions or need help thinking through a challenge or opportunity?

Speak to one of our Shopify professionals today. We are are here to help… no strings attached.

If you’re on Shopify Plus and thinking about expanding into B2B, you’re in a great position. Shopify has been steadily investing in B2B features, and it’s never been easier to offer a wholesale experience that’s deeply integrated into your eCommerce operation.

That said, one of the first big decisions you’ll need to make is how to structure your B2B storefront. Shopify gives you two primary options:

Option 1: Blended Store

A blended store allows you to serve both your D2C (direct-to-consumer) and B2B customers from a single Shopify store. This is a great choice if you have:

• A similar product mix across both channels
• Shared inventory between D2C and B2B
• A single team managing all customer types

Key Benefits of a Blended Store:

• One unified Shopify Admin Panel
• Shared inventory management across customer types
• Consistent branding and theme for both D2C and B2B experiences

If your business already runs efficiently with overlapping products and fulfillment workflows, a blended approach can reduce complexity and help you scale B2B sales quickly.

Option 2: Dedicated B2B Store

A dedicated B2B store is a completely separate Shopify storefront, built specifically for your wholesale or business buyers. This makes sense if you’re looking for:

• A custom buying experience for B2B customers
• Distinct inventory, pricing, or fulfillment processes
• Separate staff or teams managing B2B operations

Key Benefits of a Dedicated B2B Store:

• Independent Shopify Admin for B2B
• Unique inventory separate from D2C
• Custom design and theme tailored for wholesale buyers

This setup gives you the most flexibility and control over your B2B experience—from pricing to layout to order workflows.

Other Considerations

Whether you choose a blended or dedicated approach, there are a few other Shopify settings and features to think through:

• Discount Codes – How will promotions differ between customer types?
• Gift Cards – Will B2B customers have access to these?
• Notifications – Should order or shipping emails be different for B2B?
• Shipping Settings – Flat rate, negotiated freight, or local delivery?
• Line Item Discounts – Does B2B pricing rely on volume or tiered discounts?
• Tax Settings – Will tax-exempt customers need special handling?

Taking the time to map these out early can save you a lot of rework later.

What’s Coming Next: Shopify Editions

If you’re trying to future-proof your B2B strategy, keep an eye out for the upcoming Shopify Editions, launching this June. Shopify is expected to roll out a wave of new B2B features that will continue to make both the blended and dedicated store setups more powerful and customizable.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to B2B on Shopify Plus. Your decision should reflect how your business operates today—and how you plan to grow in the future.

At Ambaum, we work with merchants to architect and build B2B solutions that fit their exact needs—whether it’s extending an existing D2C store or launching a fully custom wholesale storefront.

---

Have any questions or need help thinking through a challenge or opportunity?

Speak to one of our Shopify professionals today. We are are here to help… no strings attached.

B2B on Shopify has so much depth to it that a lot of merchants get overwhelmed to the point where they don’t get started. And when you’re dealing with complex buyer relationships, pricing structures, and custom workflows, that hesitation is understandable. Many of our previous posts, for example,  focus on specific B2B features in the hopes a retailer on Shopify Plus will see it and realize they can start small and incrementally add features over time. 

You don’t have to launch with a fully custom portal, gated access, and complex logic from day one. The key is to start small—solve one problem, make one process more efficient, and build from there.

One of the easiest ways to start is to create a company account request form.

What Is a Company Account Request Form?

Think of this as the front door to your B2B store. Rather than manually vetting and onboarding every new company that wants to buy from you, a company account request form allows interested buyers to submit their information directly through your website. You can then review and approve them within Shopify before granting access.

This simple step can save hundreds—if not thousands—of hours over the lifetime of your store.

Here’s How to Set It Up

1. Use the Shopify Forms App

Start by installing the Shopify Forms app (it’s free and available through the Shopify App Store). This app makes it easy to build branded, embeddable forms without writing any code.

2. Add Key Fields

You’ll want to capture important business details so you can properly vet requests. Common fields include:

• Company name
• Business address
• Phone number
• Customer name/contact
• Email address
• Any custom info relevant to your sales process

By default, Shopify will store these responses as metaobjects, which makes it easy to manage and reference them later.

3. Customize Field Types

The Shopify Forms app gives you flexibility to tailor the form to your needs. You can use:

• Text fields (single or multi-line)
• Drop-down lists
• Radio buttons
• Multiple choice options
• Date pickers
• File upload fields (useful for documents like resale certificates or tax IDs)
  

4. Review Submissions in Shopify Admin

Once your form is live, every submission flows into your Shopify Admin. From there, your team can review and approve new accounts manually.This ensures that only qualified and approved companies are granted access to your B2B catalog and pricing. Once approved, you can assign customer tags, price lists, and payment terms as needed.

Why This Matters

A company account request form is a perfect example of starting small. It doesn’t require heavy development, but it unlocks real automation in your business. Instead of fielding back-and-forth emails or spreadsheets of company data, you can onboard customers in a streamlined, professional way.

Even better: once this system is in place, you can layer in more B2B features like:

• Custom pricing per company
• Net payment terms
• Order drafts or reordering workflows
• Shopify’s B2B-specific checkout experience
  

If you’re on Shopify Plus and thinking about dipping your toes into B2B, this is a great first move. A simple form might not seem like a game-changer—but it sets the foundation for everything else.

---

Have any questions or need help thinking through a challenge or opportunity?

Speak to one of our Shopify professionals today. We are are here to help… no strings attached.