We're thrilled to announce a new feature on our government e-commerce platforms. Now vendors can sell digital and downloadable products! With this functionality, we're empowering not only our vendors but also our government buyers with the flexibility to offer and access to a diverse range of digital and downloaded products. Read this blog to discover this new feature and start selling digital products on our government e-commerce platforms. 

What Are Digital Products?

Digital products encompass a vast array of offerings, ranging from e-books, software, music, movies, and even online courses. Unlike physical goods, digital products can be instantly accessed and delivered over the internet, making them incredibly convenient for consumers. This convenience is further amplified by the ability to access these products across multiple devices, allowing government buyers to enjoy their purchases anytime, anywhere. Moreover, the distribution of digital products eliminates the need for physical inventory, reducing costs for both vendors and buyers. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Start Selling Digital Products:

1. Log in to your account using your username and password.
2. Go to "Products" from the menu on the left side of the screen.
3. Click on the "Add product" button.
4. Fill in the details of the digital product you wish to add.
5. In the "Shipping" section, uncheck the box that says "This is a physical product."
6. Download the “Digital Downloads” app from Shopify App Store. 
7. Go to “Digital Downloads” from the menu on the left side of the screen.
8. In the search bar, look for the digital product you just uploaded. Once you find it, click on it. 
9. You'll see a box with the option "Add files." Click and upload the digital product (for example, a digital book). 
10. In the "Fulfilment" section, you can adjust some details of the sale and download of the product.
11. Click on the "Save" button to save the changes made. 
12. There you go, your digital product is now uploaded and ready to go!

A recent study by JPMorgan found that over $54 billion are spent on digital products annually, and the digital products market is expected to grow to $74 billion by 2025. Selling digital products has never been easier, and now it's also possible via our government e-commerce platform.

This blog was written by Gisela Montes, GovTech Community Lead at Glass.