Shopify Plus Inferred
In 2024, Shopify made a significant change to its platform by obscuring the front-end indicators for sites using Shopify Plus. This change meant that distinguishing between a standard Shopify site and a Shopify Plus site became impossible through traditional, public internet detection methods. Despite this challenge, the interest in determining which sites are leveraging the advanced capabilities of Shopify Plus remains high. To address this, BuiltWith has introduced a novel concept called Shopify Plus Inferred.
What is Shopify Plus Inferred?
Shopify Plus Inferred represents a unique method developed by BuiltWith to identify websites that are likely utilizing Shopify Plus without overt indicators. This inference is drawn from a combination of historical data and other web technologies that indicate a site's propensity to use Shopify Plus. It's important to note that only BuiltWith offers this inferred detection due to our extensive and detailed historical insights as well as our capacity to monitor a significant array of web technologies.
Shopify Plus vs. Shopify Plus Inferred
To clarify, Shopify Plus as a technology references sites that were either directly detected using Shopify Plus when it was visible or remain detectable today as Shopify users. On the other hand, Shopify Plus Inferred encompasses sites that are currently using Shopify yet meet several criteria suggesting a likely transition or usage of Shopify Plus features, inferred rather than confirmed due to the current opacity of detection.
Criteria for Shopify Plus Inferred
While the precise methodology for determining Shopify Plus Inferred status remains a trade secret, several general criteria guide this inference:
- Site Activity and History: The site must have been active for a minimum duration of two years.
- Domain Structure: The presence of Shopify must be identified on either a root domain or a subdomain formatted as store, shop etc...
- Absence of Direct Shopify Plus Detection: The site should not currently be detected as using Shopify Plus directly.
- Content and Compliance: The site should not be categorized as dormant or involved in activities related to gambling or scams.
- Technology Spend: A minimum average spend on technologies above a certain threshold is required for a site to qualify as Shopify Plus Inferred. This indicates the site's capability to invest in the advanced services associated with Shopify Plus.
Why Shopify Plus Inferred Matters
Understanding which sites might be using Shopify Plus—even without overt indicators—provides valuable insights into market trends, competitor analysis, and potential partner or customer identification. For ecommerce stakeholders and technology analysts, recognizing these insights supports strategic decision-making and helps maintain a competitive edge in a landscape where direct detection is no longer feasible.
Shopify Plus Inferred represents a boundary-pushing approach by BuiltWith to adapt to the evolving eCommerce environment. By leveraging historical data and current web technology usage, BuiltWith enables stakeholders to infer sites utilizing Shopify Plus, offering a critical tool for industry analysis. Though the precise mechanisms remain proprietary, the overarching criteria and approach underscore BuiltWith’s commitment to innovation and actionable insights in digital commerce intelligence.