In a move aimed at revolutionizing the online shopping landscape, e-commerce giants Amazon and Shopify have announced a groundbreaking partnership. This collaboration enables Shopify merchants to integrate the "Buy with Prime" fulfillment and checkout service into their online stores, offering customers a seamless shopping experience.

"Buy with Prime" introduces a novel concept allowing shoppers with Amazon Prime memberships to make purchases on non-Amazon e-commerce websites and finalize their transactions using their Amazon accounts. Distinctively, Amazon also takes charge of order fulfillment. This sets "Buy with Prime" apart from payment platforms like PayPal, Shop Pay, and Apple Pay, as it provides a comprehensive e-commerce solution encompassed within a single checkout button.

Initially introduced in April 2022, "Buy with Prime" entered the scene without forming partnerships with existing e-commerce platforms. Shortly afterward, Amazon established a partnership with BigCommerce, but Shopify remained reluctant, even cautioning merchants against integrating "Buy with Prime" due to potential violations of Shopify's Terms of Service. Consequently, adoption of "Buy with Prime" remained limited across various websites.

Notably, Shopify boasts a vast network of e-commerce brands, making it a pivotal player in the industry. Recognizing the significance of this partnership, Amazon took steps to mend its relationship with Shopify for the success of "Buy with Prime." In May of the current year, Shopify unveiled plans to divest its logistics arm, eliminating a key hurdle to the adoption of "Buy with Prime." Subsequently, Amazon agreed to channel "Buy with Prime" payments through Shopify Payments. This collaboration facilitated the creation of an integration that streamlines the process of enabling "Buy with Prime" and eliminates Shopify's previous warnings against its implementation. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain if changes will occur in the flow of payments and data exchange between Shopify, Amazon, and the merchants.

"Today, Amazon introduced the Buy with Prime app for Shopify—a novel app integration simplifying the process for merchants to offer Buy with Prime on their Shopify stores. This integration grants Prime members the option to select Buy with Prime when viewing a product's details before finalizing their purchase within Shopify's Checkout. The Buy with Prime feature provides Prime members with expedited, free delivery and hassle-free returns through Amazon's robust fulfillment network. Following authentication through their Amazon accounts, Prime members can complete their orders using payment methods from their Amazon wallets, with Shopify Payments handling the transaction through Shopify's Checkout."

The newly established integration also encompasses catalog synchronization, promotions, and order syncing. Previously, orders placed via "Buy with Prime" required external plugins for visibility within Shopify. With the "Buy with Prime" app for Shopify, orders, promotions, catalog listings, and taxes will be automatically synchronized within the Shopify admin interface.

This partnership yields multifaceted benefits for all stakeholders involved. Amazon gains access to a vast array of Shopify merchants, expanding its logistics-as-a-service capabilities. On the other hand, Shopify secures increased control and revenue through payment processing fees. Ultimately, shoppers emerge as winners, enjoying the convenience of Prime checkout across a broader spectrum of websites. Undoubtedly, Amazon stands as the major beneficiary of this partnership, with the forthcoming Prime Day expected to feature a substantial participation of more than 150 brands in the "Buy with Prime" program.

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Sources: https://www.marketplacepulse.com/articles/shopify-unblocks-amazons-buy-with-prime