Akeneo Unlock 2025: the future of PIM software
Discover the summary of Akeneo Unlock 2025, what we have learned and how our PIM solutions can support you in your next step.
Jun 05, 2025
5 mins
As a Shopify Premier Partner that supports industrial distributors and manufacturers, we’ve noticed that one trend has dominated every conversation lately. B2B eCommerce is accelerating, and complexity is no longer an acceptable reason for delay.
That’s why the announcements at Editions.dev caught our attention. Shopify is doubling down on B2B and AI with powerful features and a unified vision. One platform built to serve merchants across eCommerce, physical retail, and B2B, with the flexibility to grow, the intelligence to adapt, and the infrastructure to scale.
Our experts provide an overview of Shopify’s announcements and explain why industrial suppliers can’t afford to ignore what’s coming next.
Shopify’s top 3 strategic moves to power industrial B2B growth
AI: The New Engine of Commerce
Shopify is taking bold steps to become the most advanced, AI-powered commerce platform. AI is now woven into every layer of the platform, from dynamic pricing to product recommendations and storefront automation.
Tools like the AI Store Builder allow merchants to generate fully designed storefronts, including visuals and copy, simply by entering a brand description. For B2B eCommerce teams under pressure to launch quickly or test seasonal campaigns, it’s a game changer.
From DTC to B2B: Recognition
It’s no longer a secret that Shopify is now also focusing on B2B to meet the growing needs of industrial distributors. Forrester officially recognizes Shopify as a B2B commerce leader. This change comes with significant investments, including features tailored to large catalogs, pricing logic, and ERP-friendly architecture.
A Unified Customer Experience
One of the most impactful updates is the complete revamp of Shopify customer accounts. The complete revamp of Shopify customer accounts. Designed to provide a more secure, seamless, and scalable experience for buyers, this new model replaces outdated customer portals. Built for modern B2B interactions, it offers no compromises on functionality and is ready to scale as your business grows.
Tools to Build Smarter: Themes, Functions, and Developer Innovations
Horizons and the New Era of AI Themes
Shopify introduces Horizons, a next-generation storefront framework that combines flexibility and speed. With ten new, conversion-ready themes and embedded AI, distributors can build or update storefronts in record time with no coding necessary. Features like drag-and-drop blocks, hover-to-preview, and AI block generation allow business teams to independently tailor category pages, promotions, and seasonal visuals without IT assistance.
This is a major win for B2B businesses juggling multiple catalogs, especially when rapid deployment and brand consistency matter.
Custom Checkout Logic with Shopify Functions
With Shopify Functions, distributors can create custom checkout rules, such as tiered pricing, volume discounts, and approval flows.
Even better: Shopify’s AI-powered developer assistant makes implementation faster and more accessible for technical teams managing ERP logic or partner workflows. There’s no need for workarounds anymore, your checkout can now reflect your business reality.
Enhanced Workflow Automation
Default flows are no longer sufficient. Fortunately, Shopify’s automation tools now support multi-step approvals, contract-based pricing, and recurring procurement triggers. These workflows can be customized to reflect real-world operations without the need for third-party tools or manual labor.
This is ideal for businesses that manage high-value accounts and structured purchasing paths.
Developer-Centric Ecosystem: How can developers easily integrate ERP and PIM systems with Shopify?
GraphQL and Performance-Driven Architecture
Shopify is doubling down on GraphQL with tools like Apollo, Hive, and GraphiQL, which simplify even the most complex system integrations. For merchants who rely on PIM, ERP, or CPQ systems, this shift enables faster and more reliable data synchronization, which is crucial for industrial distributors and scaling B2B operations.
Cursor: AI for Developer Productivity
Cursor, Shopify’s internal AI coding assistant, gives developer workflows a major upgrade. Cursor helps development teams ship faster by generating custom features and accelerating prompt-based code completion, resulting in more time spent on high-impact work.
Design System Evolution: Polaris & Hydrogen Synergy
Shopify is aligning its design system, Polaris, more closely with its headless commerce stack, Hydrogen.
The result? A seamless front-end development experience that blends performance with design flexibility. This is ideal for teams building custom storefronts or modular UX in complex B2B environments.
Today, Shopify stands out as a robust industrial commerce platform. Powered by AI and designed with developers in mind, it is recognized by Forrester as a B2B leader.
Do you manage complex catalogs, specific pricing rules, or ERP integrations? Contact our Shopify expert to build an agile, scalable eCommerce architecture.
