Shopify, as one of the leaders in this field, offers a range of advanced tools and features that support entrepreneurs in effectively managing and growing their online businesses. However, Polish entrepreneurs face a specific challenge due to the unavailability of Shopify Payments in their region. Why is this limitation so significant, and what consequences does it bear for business growth?

Shopify Payments allows merchants to handle transactions in multiple currencies, which is invaluable in the context of the global market. Without this feature, Polish stores are restricted to operations in a single currency, significantly complicating international sales and potentially creating barriers for customers from other countries. The lack of ability to integrate all payment processes in one place forces entrepreneurs to use external providers, which not only increases costs but also affects user experience and raises the risk of conversion.

Unfortunately, this limitation forces entrepreneurs to seek alternative solutions that will allow them to maintain competitiveness in the global market. Implementing labor-intensive solutions related to managing multiple stores or using currency conversion applications are just some of the actions taken to mitigate the impact of the lack of Shopify Payments. However, these temporary solutions are not always sufficient.

Especially in the context of the dynamic changes in the e-commerce market, Polish entrepreneurs eagerly await the moment when Shopify decides to introduce its full payment offer in Poland. Recent findings in the Shopify code, suggesting integration with the popular Polish system Przelewy24, bring hope for a faster resolution to this issue.

Why is the absence of Shopify Payments in Poland a problem?

Shopify Payments is an integrated payment system that allows merchants on the Shopify platform to manage all transactions internally without the need to use external payment service providers. It offers key benefits, such as the ability to handle multi-currency transactions, simplify the payment process, and reduce transaction fees. Unfortunately, the unavailability of Shopify Payments in Poland is associated with significant losses for local sellers.

What do we gain with Shopify Payments?

1. Multiple currencies and market expansion: Shopify Payments allows the acceptance of payments in various currencies, significantly increasing the ability to sell in international markets without additional complications related to currency conversion.
2. Integrated payment ecosystem: Organizing all payments in one place facilitates financial management, account control, and transaction reporting, simplifying accounting and reducing the risk of financial errors.
3. Increased transparency and security: Direct payment handling by Shopify provides better security and enhances customer trust, which can translate into higher sales conversion.

What do we lose by not having Shopify Payments in Poland?

1. Limited ability to handle different currencies: Polish stores are forced to operate in one currency, which is a major barrier to expanding into international markets. International customers often abandon purchases due to the lack of local currency payment options.
2. Higher operational costs: Without an integrated payment handling function, entrepreneurs must rely on external providers, which involves additional fees and commissions, decreasing profit margins.
3. Increased complexity in payment management: The necessity to integrate multiple payment systems leads to more complex transaction management and can cause errors in reporting and complicate financial processes.
4. Negative customer experiences: Stores that do not utilize local currencies are at risk of a higher number of abandoned carts and decreased consumer trust, ultimately resulting in lower conversion rates.

In summary, the lack of Shopify Payments in Poland is a significant limitation for Polish entrepreneurs, reducing the potential benefits of fuller payment integration in e-commerce activities. Only the introduction of this feature could revolutionize the local market and help companies compete more effectively on the global stage.

Does Shopify charge fees for external payment gateways like Przelewy24?

Shopify charges fees for using external payment gateways, which is a significant financial aspect that entrepreneurs must consider when choosing a subscription plan on the Shopify platform. When sellers use providers other than Shopify Payments, they incur additional transaction fees. These fees vary depending on the subscription level they choose, meaning that the decision on the plan directly impacts the store's profitability and profit margins. Below are detailed fee amounts:

Basic Shopify

Transaction fee: 2%

The Basic Shopify plan is often chosen by budding entrepreneurs who are just starting their e-commerce journey. It is one of the most affordable plans available, making it attractive for small businesses. However, using external payment gateways comes with relatively high transaction fees of 2%. This means that an additional commission is charged on each transaction processed through another gateway, potentially significantly reducing profits.

Shopify

Transaction fee: 1%

The Shopify plan is a mid-level subscription, usually chosen by growing businesses that have achieved a stable level of sales. Transaction fees of 1% are lower than those of the Basic plan, which can lead to more efficient cost management with an increasing number of transactions. This option is more cost-effective for entrepreneurs who can allocate an additional budget to grow their business and benefit from lower commissions with more transactions.

Advanced

Transaction fee: 0.6%

The Advanced Shopify plan is designed for advanced companies conducting large e-commerce operations requiring advanced analytics functions and access to financial and sales reports. Here, transaction fees are the lowest, at only 0.6%, making this plan the most beneficial for companies with a high number of transactions. This way, a larger portion of the revenue remains within the company, which is crucial for its development and further investments. Understanding the impact of fees on profitability

Using external payment gateways on Shopify makes understanding the structure of transaction fees extremely important for proper financial management of the store. Choosing the appropriate subscription plan is a strategic decision that companies should make based on the analysis of their actual needs and the scale of operations. Lower transaction fees in higher plans often justify their cost if they are able to improve profit margins with higher turnovers.

Despite the additional costs of working with external payment providers, Polish entrepreneurs operating on Shopify can optimize their costs by choosing a plan suited to their current needs and anticipated scale of operations. Analyzing and understanding how fees impact total operational costs is key to maintaining profitability and ensuring sustainable e-commerce growth.

How to solve the problem of the absence of Shopify Payments in Poland?

The lack of Shopify Payments availability in Poland poses a challenge for local entrepreneurs who aim for effective and competitive operations in the global e-commerce market. Nevertheless, there are several strategies and tools that can help Polish sellers successfully overcome these limitations. Understanding the available solutions allows for maintaining competitiveness and increasing customer satisfaction, which is particularly important in light of global trends and growing customer expectations.

1. Separate stores for each currency

Although it may seem complicated, one of the most commonly used solutions is creating separate online stores for individual international markets, offering payments in local currencies and tailored to the language and culture of consumers.

Advantages:

1. Adaptation to local markets: Creating separate stores allows for full customization of the offer to the specifics of a given market, including language, currency, and local consumer preferences.
2. Greater control over pricing strategy: The ability to individually set prices and promotions depending on the market allows for more effective competition and fitting into the local economic realities.
3. Increased consumer trust: Adapting the store to the local culture and language helps build customer trust and a positive brand image.

Disadvantages:

1. High operational costs: Managing multiple stores requires more labor, time, and resources for maintenance and updates, which can generate additional costs.
2. Complexity of logistics: The necessity of separately managing inventory and ordering processes for each store can introduce additional complexity and increase the risk of errors.
3. Questioning brand consistency: There is a risk of brand identity dilution if different stores are not managed consistently in terms of service quality and offer.

2. Currency conversion apps

Alternatively, Polish sellers can use apps available in the Shopify App Store that convert prices into user currencies.

Advantages:

1. Simple implementation: Integrating such apps is usually fast and straightforward, allowing for a quick increase in customer convenience.
2. Improved price transparency: Displaying prices in the customer's currency reduces uncertainty and improves user experience, which can lead to increased conversion.
3. Adaptability: These apps often function dynamically, instantly updating exchange rates, enabling current price adjustments to market conditions.

Disadvantages:

1. Final payment in one currency: Even though prices are displayed in local currencies, the final settlement can discourage customers due to hidden conversion costs.
2. Dependence on external apps: The store's stability and quality become dependent on external software providers, which can introduce the risk of technical issues.
3. Limited attractiveness for international customers: This solution does not fully resolve the issue of real multi-currency handling, which can be a barrier for customers preferring local currencies also during payment.