Software

This week, Shopify has launched its Winter ’24 Edition, which includes more than 100 product updates to its ecommerce platform. These include features to make international selling easier. Merchants can now add a localized online store for up to 3 markets.

Within the top 100 of the biggest online stores in the Netherlands in 2023, 63 percent was custom-built. A year earlier, the amount of these kinds of stores was still 55 percent. Compared to 2020, this is a growth of 50 percent.

The Platform Group has become the sole owner of Möbelfirst, an online provider of luxury furniture in Germany and surrounding countries. The group remains on a takeover path, with up to eight more acquisitions in the coming year.

French software solution for services marketplaces, Scnd, has raised 4 million euros in a funding round. The company wants to use the capital injection to expand its ecommerce solution, as well as strengthen its position in the market.

Software provider for ecommerce brands, Shop Circle, has raised 120 million dollars (111.8 million euros) in a funding round. The startup will use the capital injection to expand its suite of products. It wants to become a one-stop shop software provider for online sellers.

Ukrainian company MacPaw, is planning to launch its iOS app subscription service Setapp in Europe next year. By that time, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) will have come into effect in the European Union. This allows users to install third-party apps on iOS, without using Apple’s App Store.

Ecommerce platform Floodlight has raised 6.4 million dollars in a seed funding round. The company offers a smart business account where ecommerce business owners can manage and optimize their finances. “This seed round is an exciting validation of our platform and its potential to meet the needs of unserved SMEs”, says Noam Bernstein, CEO and co-founder.

Patchworks has raised 4 million pounds (4.4 million euros) in growth capital. The ecommerce integration platform wants to use the funds to enhance its product offering. The company also hired Jim Herbert from BigCommerce as their new CEO.

Slovenia-based startup CartFox is launching a new feature: post-purchase SMSes. The company offers automated abandoned cart text messages to online retailers. With the new function, sellers can give customers additional discounts after placing an order.

Leading ecommerce platform Shopify has increased its prices for new customers in the United States. The change is expected to be implemented in Europe soon, as well. Current customers will notice the price change in three months.

Leading ecommerce platform Shopify has shut down its Exchange Marketplace on November 1^st. Merchants who want to sell their Shopify store will now have to use other marketplaces. The app, data and listings have all been deleted and are no longer accessible to merchants.

Shopify is expanding its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) program to Europe. The program, which offers Shopify integrations for merchants, first launched last year. The company is working with local ERP software companies from the Netherlands, Germany and Spain for the European launch.

Website design software Wordpress is considering offering core features as plugins instead. With a plugin-first approach, the software could be updated regularly. The consideration comes right before the launch of the newest version of Wordpress in November.

Ecommerce software startup Instant Commerce has raised 5.4 million euros in seed capital. The Amsterdam-based company will use the money to expand in Europe and the United States. Instant Commerce has raised 7.5 million euros to date.

Belgian software startup Garvis has raised 3.5 million euros. The company uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict stock levels. Garvis will use the funds to develop its platform and accelerate international expansion.