Introduction
Running an ecommerce store involves a constant stream of repetitive tasks—processing orders, tagging customers, flagging high-risk transactions, and sending notifications. For Shopify Plus merchants, manually handling these tasks at scale is inefficient and unsustainable. That’s where Shopify Flow comes in.
Shopify Flow is a powerful automation tool that lets you streamline operations, reduce human error, and create customized workflows without writing a single line of code. Whether you want to tag VIP customers, hide out-of-stock products, or automate fraud detection, Flow gives you the power to build smart automations with ease.
In this guide, you’ll learn what Shopify Flow is, how to set it up, and how to build automation workflows that save time and improve operational efficiency.
What Is Shopify Flow?
Shopify Flow is a no-code workflow automation tool designed for Shopify Plus merchants. It allows you to create custom automation rules using a simple visual builder, where each workflow is composed of three parts:
- Trigger – The event that starts the workflow (e.g., order created)
- Condition – The criteria that must be true (e.g., order value over $200)
- Action – What happens if the condition is met (e.g., tag the customer as VIP)
These workflows run automatically in the background, saving time and ensuring consistency across your store.
Key Benefits of Shopify Flow
- Eliminate manual tasks such as tagging orders, updating inventory, or sending emails
- Reduce operational errors by automating routine decisions
- Improve customer experience with instant, personalized responses
- Enhance fraud prevention through real-time monitoring
- Integrate with third-party apps like Klaviyo, Gorgias, LoyaltyLion, and more
Shopify Flow is ideal for merchants who want to focus on scaling, not spreadsheets and busywork.
Getting Started with Shopify Flow
Step 1: Install Shopify Flow
- Log in to your Shopify Plus admin panel
- Go to Apps > Shopify App Store
- Search for Shopify Flow
- Click Install and grant the necessary permissions
Once installed, the app will appear in your admin dashboard.
Navigating the Shopify Flow Dashboard
After installation, open the Flow app to see the main dashboard.
Key areas include:
- Workflows – A list of all active and draft workflows
- Templates – Pre-built workflows to help you get started quickly
- Activity Log – A timeline of workflow executions and statuses
- App Integrations – Settings for third-party services you can connect
How to Create a Workflow in Shopify Flow
Let’s walk through an example: Automatically tagging high-value customers as “VIP.”
Step-by-Step: VIP Customer Workflow
- Click Create Workflow
- Select Trigger: Choose “Order Created”
- Add Condition:
- Property: “Order Total”
- Operator: “Greater than”
- Value: “200”
- Add Action:
- Choose “Add customer tag”
- Enter tag: “VIP”
- Click Save and then Enable
Now, every time a new order over $200 is placed, that customer is automatically tagged as a VIP in your database.
Popular Shopify Flow Use Cases
1. Tag High-Risk Orders
- Trigger: Order created
- Condition: Risk level is high
- Action: Add order tag “High Risk” or send alert to support
2. Auto-Archive Fulfilled Orders
- Trigger: Order fulfilled
- Action: Archive order
3. Automate Reorder Notifications
- Trigger: Inventory quantity changes
- Condition: Inventory less than 10
- Action: Send Slack notification to purchasing team
4. Segment Customers by Purchase Frequency
- Trigger: Order paid
- Condition: Customer has placed more than 5 orders
- Action: Add tag “Loyal”
5. Integrate with Klaviyo or LoyaltyLion
- Automatically trigger email flows, loyalty point rewards, or ticket creation in support tools when a specific event occurs in Shopify.
Best Practices for Building Flows
- Use naming conventions to stay organized (e.g., “Tag VIP Customers – Orders > $200”)
- Test each workflow with sample data before going live
- Use Flow Templates for common use cases to save time
- Review the Activity Log to debug any failed workflows
- Limit workflow scope to avoid unnecessary API calls (especially with third-party apps)
Integrating Shopify Flow with Third-Party Apps
Shopify Flow works seamlessly with a variety of apps that support Flow connectors. Some of the most useful integrations include:
- Klaviyo – Trigger marketing automations based on customer or order activity
- Gorgias – Open support tickets when a refund is issued or a negative review is received
- ReCharge – Manage subscription events and tag customers accordingly
- Slack – Send internal alerts for key events such as low inventory or failed payments
- LoyaltyLion – Award loyalty points or change tiers based on customer behavior
These integrations extend the power of Flow beyond Shopify and into your broader ecommerce tech stack.
Limitations of Shopify Flow
While Shopify Flow is powerful, it does have some limitations:
- Only available to Shopify Plus merchants
- Workflows only run based on supported triggers—you can’t schedule them like cron jobs
- No historical data processing—Flow only triggers on new events
- Can be limited by API call quotas if overused with third-party integrations
If your automation needs extend beyond these, consider supplementing Flow with custom app development or tools like Zapier, Alloy, or Make.com.
Conclusion
Shopify Flow is one of the most valuable tools available to Shopify Plus merchants looking to streamline operations and scale efficiently. With its no-code interface, real-time event processing, and deep integration capabilities, Flow enables you to automate hundreds of everyday tasks—giving your team more time to focus on growth.
By understanding how to create workflows, use conditions and actions effectively, and integrate with third-party platforms, you can unlock a new level of efficiency and agility for your ecommerce business.
Whether you’re looking to reduce manual work, improve customer segmentation, or enhance your order processing, Shopify Flow makes automation accessible and impactful.
