Every loyalty app has a dashboard. Most make you leave Shopify to use it. We asked ourselves: why? Why should managing rewards require a completely different interface, a separate login, a new tab in your browser? So we did something radical—we killed the external dashboard entirely.
The Hidden Cost of Context Switching
Research from the University of California found it takes an average of 23 minutes to regain focus after switching tasks. Every time you leave Shopify to check your loyalty analytics, you're not just losing the 5 minutes in the other dashboard—you're losing the mental context of what you were doing.
For a typical merchant managing their store, this adds up:
- Check loyalty metrics: switch to external dashboard
- Need to check a customer order: switch back to Shopify
- Adjust reward settings: switch to loyalty dashboard
- Verify the change worked: switch back to Shopify
Each switch isn't just tab-changing—it's mental reorientation. New UI patterns, different navigation, separate data contexts.
The Native Difference
Anchor doesn't have an external dashboard because it doesn't need one. Everything lives inside Shopify Admin:
dashboardProgram Overview
Points issued, redemptions, member growth—all visible without leaving Shopify.
settingsConfiguration
Earning rules, rewards, VIP tiers—configure everything in familiar Shopify UI.
personCustomer View
See loyalty data right on customer profiles. Points, tier, history—no tab switching.
editManual Adjustments
Add or deduct points, adjust tiers—inline with customer management.
The 2-Hour Weekly Savings
We surveyed merchants who switched from external-dashboard loyalty apps. On average, they reported:
That's over 100 hours per year. Time better spent on marketing, product development, or not working at all.
Why Others Don't Do This
Building a truly native Shopify app is harder than building a standalone web app with Shopify API integration. It requires:
- Shopify's App Bridge: Complex framework for embedded apps
- Polaris design system: Following Shopify's UI guidelines
- Admin API limitations: Working within Shopify's constraints
- Session management: Seamless authentication handling
Many loyalty apps were built before Shopify's embedded app capabilities matured. Others prioritize being "platform agnostic" to work with WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc. The result? Shopify merchants get a second-class experience.
What Native Means for You
- No separate login: Authenticated through Shopify
- No learning curve: Familiar Shopify interface
- No tab juggling: Everything in one place
- No data silos: Customer loyalty data alongside orders
- No additional security: Shopify handles authentication
The Philosophy
We believe your tools should adapt to your workflow, not the other way around. If you run a Shopify store, you live in Shopify Admin. Your loyalty program should live there too.
That's why we killed the external dashboard. Not because we couldn't build one—because you shouldn't need one.
See how Anchor works inside Shopify →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "native Shopify Admin integration" mean?
It means Anchor is embedded directly within your Shopify Admin dashboard. You manage your loyalty program in the same place you manage orders, products, and customers—no external logins or separate dashboards.
Why don't other loyalty apps do this?
Building for native Shopify Admin requires using Shopify's embedded app framework, which has technical constraints. Many apps were built before these capabilities existed, or were designed to work across multiple platforms.
Can I still access Anchor outside of Shopify?
Anchor is designed to work exclusively within Shopify Admin for the most seamless experience. This native approach provides better security, faster performance, and a more intuitive workflow.
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