Shopify has full faith in technological advancement as it never shies away from opting for new tools and techniques to empower independent selling. Last month, when Shopify sacked 20 percent of its staff, CEO Tobi Lutke acknowledged in a statement that “we are at the dawn of the AI era and the new capabilities that are unlocked by that are unprecedented”.
“Shopify has the privilege of being amongst the companies with the best chances of using AI to help our customers. A copilot for entrepreneurship is now possible. Our main quest demands from us to build the best thing that is now possible, and that has just changed entirely,” he added.
While Lutke’s statement came with news not favourable for some of Shopify’s employees, another tech giant Apple introduced the spatial computing device Vision Pro last week. The new product launch is garnering praise from all across the globe. Shopify also wants to make the most of spatial computing technology with Vision Pro.
Yes, it’s very expensive. Yes, it will probably be the geeks like me who but get it first and look weird wearing it. Yes, it could be a total flop. Or maybe it won’t be. Just imagine if it is the start of that next exciting chapter in the incredible story that is the world wide web. And we were lucky enough to be here to witness it.
Dan Conboy, E-commerce and D2C Strategy Director
Vision Pro For E-commerce
“Entrepreneurs multitasking in 2024,” Shopify tweeted along with representational pictures of an entrepreneur, who could see the sales data and order notifications through Vision Pro.
Lia, who has her store LFG gear based on Shopify, commented how she is already preparing her Shopify store for the spatial computing device. “Already prepping my Shopify store,” she replied.
already prepping my shopify store! pic.twitter.com/arpxyCDi9j
— Lia (@LFGgear) June 6, 2023
Shopify’s Wait is Over
Shopify President Harley Finkelstein said Shopify is preparing for this transformation for a very long time. “Vision Pro from Apple will transform commerce. Shopify has been preparing for this shift for years,” he said quoting a tweet from Russ Maschmeyer.
Maschmeyer works as a designer, founder and innovation lead at Shopify. He posted a video from the past, explaining how Vision Pro will pave the way for AR shopping. “Shared this back in March. Hits different this week doesn’t it? #WWDC23 Should we build it?” he captioned the video, in which a person is suggested products to learn and practice latte art.
Vision Pro from @Apple will transform commerce. @Shopify has been preparing for this shift for years. https://t.co/sCzwlSwBub
— Harley Finkelstein (@harleyf) June 8, 2023
Finkelstein was quick to give permission to the designer as he replied: “Approved – go build this right now!”
Vision Pro: A New Chapter in AI
Dan Conboy, an e-commerce and D2C Strategy Director believes that Apple’s Vision Pro has the potential to change e-commerce. “The age of the internet has been shaped by a small number of highly significant events over the past 30 years or so,” he said in a long LinkedIn post.
Conboy gave examples of personal computers, internet access, wifi, mobile web and social media as catalysts of technological transformation. “The growth of the personal computer to bring computing into the mainstream home and office. The 56K modem and growth of affordable commercial internet providers like AOL and Freeserve. The rollout of V1 broadband to serve rich media content which enabled platforms like YouTube. WiFi to expand the web from a single device to a home and office network beyond wires.
“The mobile web (charged by the iPhone in 2007) which liberated the internet from being based in a place where you needed to be, to being with you wherever you are. Social media: changing how we connect, create and consume content from centralised mass media to decentralised creators where choice is central,” he added.
Conboy believes that spatial computing devices like Vision Pro will help write a new “chapter of powerful cloud computing and AI”. The portability of the device will ensure a personalised web experience for each of its users.
“I wonder whether Apple’s announcement signalled the start of one of those rare, but significant, next chapters with Vision Pro and the era of spacial computing. It’s bold. It feels and looks unusual. But the more I listened to their presentation at WWDC and the potential use cases, the more I started to think that this could be a thing – it might just work,” Conboy said.
What Makes Vision Pro a Useful Device?
The e-commerce expert explained why he believes so. “Seismic changes need a large user base. Apple’s ecosystem and loyal customer base could propel adoption (over time). The partnerships they have already formed with the likes of Disney and Microsoft create relevancy and show buy in from the familiar.
“The multitude of use cases remind me of the first time I saw the iPad. Back then, when it was first launched, I didn’t get it. Why would I get an iPad when I had a iPhone? It was only when I did get one that I got it. It was different but felt right. Now I, and others, have that hindsight, that light bulb moment, to reflect on when considering this new medium too,” he explained.
Vision Pro will be made available early next year in the United States. Physically, it would fit like a pair of spectacles to provide an infinite canvas for the user to operate the apps. “Arrange apps anywhere and scale them to the perfect size, making the workspace of your dreams a reality — all while staying present in the world around you. Browse the web in Safari, create a to-do list in Notes, chat in Messages, and seamlessly move between them with a glance,” Apple says in the product description.
According to Conboy, Vision Pro comes with tremendous opportunities for e-commerce. “Imagine fusing the UI you know, with AI that knows you and your style, with Apple Pay as a payment platform you trust. How incredibly powerful and experiential that could be for progressive brands. And not to replace in real life (for nothing will) but to supplement it,” he said.
Expensive Device
The spacial computing device has been launched at a price of $3,500. But Apple has started working on a cheaper model to get make the new product accessible to more users. “Yes, it’s very expensive. Yes, it will probably be the geeks like me who but get it first and look weird wearing it. Yes, it could be a total flop,” Conboy said.
“Or maybe it won’t be. Just imagine if it is the start of that next exciting chapter in the incredible story that is the world wide web. And we were lucky enough to be here to witness it,” he added.
Shopify doesn’t fear riding a wave of technological advancement. Since the start of the year, the Canadian e-commerce company has launched products like Commerce Components by Shopify and Shop Cash. Shopify also upgraded the enterprise retail search and discovery by partnering with Google Cloud in March. In April, Shopify joined hands with Melio to launch the Bill Pay expense management tool.
