Recurly

Brief Overview of Recurly Commerce

Recurly Commerce is a subscription management platform purpose-built for enterprise-level Shopify stores. It is designed to help brands convert one-time shoppers into long-term subscribers by providing a flexible and robust subscription experience. The core problem it solves is the reduction of customer churn and the enhancement of subscriber retention, which in turn leads to more predictable recurring revenue. The platform is crafted for scalability, offering deep integrations and high configurability built on a global-ready infrastructure. By handling the complexities of billing logic, churn management, and subscription models, Recurly Commerce allows brands to focus on product development and growth. It supports both digital and physical subscription products within a unified Shopify environment.

Recurly Commerce Key Features for Content Creators

• Customizable Customer Experience: Brands can tailor the subscriber experience using customizable templates or an API for a fully headless storefront. The platform includes a no-code storefront widget editor, a password-less hosted portal, and an app-like mobile experience to give subscribers control over their plans.
• Dynamic Experimentation: Users can run dynamic experiments to optimize revenue across various aspects of the business. This includes A/B testing one-time purchases, subscription offers, shipping options, and discounts, with the ability to set up tests in minutes and receive notifications when results are ready.
• Advanced Subscription Models: The platform supports more than just basic subscribe-and-save models. It enables the launch of prepaid and gift subscriptions, configurable membership plans, and automated workflows such as upgrading customers from a free trial to a paid plan.
• Churn Reduction Tools: A suite of tools is available to minimize customer churn. These include multi-step cancellation surveys to gather feedback, targeted save offers presented during the cancellation process, win-back triggers for lapsed customers, and an intelligent payment retry logic to recover failed transactions.
• Complex Model Configuration: Recurly Commerce can handle sophisticated subscription models with features like configurable renewal logic, build-a-box tools that let customers customize their orders, and flexible scheduling options for deliveries and billing.
• Automated Workflows: The system automates various subscriber actions to improve efficiency and scale operations. This includes automating product swaps, managing gift subscriptions, and implementing loyalty rewards for long-term customers.
• Enterprise-Grade Integrations: The platform connects with a brand's existing technology stack. It supports integrations for data synchronization with tools like FiveTran and for marketing automation, such as running win-back campaigns through Klaviyo.
• Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics: Brands gain access to analytics designed to inform business strategy. The reporting tools allow users to track product performance, analyze subscriber cohorts, and accurately forecast future revenue.
• Real-Time Market Intelligence: To maintain a competitive edge, the platform provides real-time insights into competitor activities. This intelligence helps inform smarter pricing strategies and merchandising decisions.
• Powerful Referral Programs: Users can launch personalized referral programs directly through the platform. This feature turns loyal subscribers into a powerful growth channel by rewarding them for bringing in new customers.

Recurly Commerce Target Users & Use Cases

Recurly Commerce is designed for established and fast-growing direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands operating on the Shopify platform. It is particularly suited for enterprise-level businesses that require a scalable and highly configurable subscription management solution.

• Primary Creator Types: High-growth Shopify merchants, enterprise DTC brands, and businesses offering consumer goods, beauty products, food and beverage, or digital services via subscription.
• Experience Level: The platform caters to users with intermediate to advanced needs, offering both no-code tools for quick implementation and a robust API for deep, custom integrations.
• Team Size: It is best suited for teams that can leverage its comprehensive reporting, experimentation tools, and integration capabilities to manage and grow a subscriber base.
• Specific Use Cases:
  • Converting one-time purchasers into recurring subscribers.
  • Offering customers the flexibility to skip, swap, or pause their subscriptions.
  • Implementing complex subscription models like build-a-box, memberships, or prepaid gifts.
  • A/B testing different subscription offers, discounts, and shipping prices to maximize conversion.
  • Reducing involuntary churn through intelligent payment retries and dunning management.
  • Analyzing subscriber behavior and LTV with detailed cohort reporting.
  • Integrating subscription data with other business systems like ERPs and marketing automation platforms.
  • Launching and managing customer referral and loyalty programs.
• Content Types: The platform supports both physical and digital subscription products sold through a Shopify store.

How to Get Started with Recurly Commerce

Getting started with the platform involves a guided onboarding process to ensure proper setup and integration.

1. Schedule a Demo: The first step is to book a demonstration with the Recurly Commerce team.
2. Guided Installation: During the demo, the team provides instructions on how to download and install the app from the Shopify marketplace.
3. Configuration and Setup: Utilize the platform's help center and developer documentation to configure subscription plans, customize the customer portal, and integrate with any necessary third-party tools via the API.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recurly Commerce

• Does Recurly Commerce integrate with Shopify Flow? Yes, the platform integrates with Shopify Flow, allowing for the creation of automated workflows within the Shopify ecosystem.

• Is Recurly Commerce available on the Shopify marketplace? Yes, it is available on the Shopify App Store. However, prospective users must first schedule a demo to receive guidance on how to download and install it.

• How will checkout work for my Shopify subscription purchases? All integrations are required to use Shopify's native checkout experience. This provides access to high-converting payment methods like ShopPay for a seamless transaction process.

• Can I launch a digital or physical subscription in Shopify? You can launch either digital or physical subscriptions, or a combination of both, within your Shopify store. This allows for a unified platform for all sales.

• Does Recurly Commerce offer dunning? The platform has dunning capabilities to manage failed payments. There are plans to incorporate the full power of Recurly's advanced dunning engine into the Recurly Commerce product.

Bottom Line: Should Content Creators Choose Recurly Commerce?

Recurly Commerce is a strong choice for enterprise-level Shopify brands that have outgrown basic subscription apps and require a more powerful, scalable solution. Its main advantages lie in its advanced features for churn reduction, customer retention, and revenue optimization. The ability to run dynamic experiments, offer complex subscription models, and provide a highly customizable subscriber portal makes it a valuable tool for maximizing customer lifetime value.

This platform is best suited for established DTC businesses that are serious about growing their recurring revenue streams. The combination of a no-code editor for ease of use and a robust API for deep customization provides the flexibility needed to create a unique and compelling subscription offering. For Shopify merchants focused on building a sophisticated, retention-first subscription business, Recurly Commerce provides the comprehensive toolset needed to succeed.