Table of contents
Every store has busywork: tagging customers, checking stock, flagging risky orders, sending internal alerts. None of it is hard, but it adds up to hours every week. Shopify Flow lets you automate that work so it happens on its own. Here is how it works and where to start.
How Flow works
Every Flow workflow has three parts:
- Trigger: something happens (an order is created, inventory changes, a customer signs up).
- Condition: only continue if something is true (the order is over a certain value, stock is below 10, the customer is in a certain country).
- Action: what Shopify does automatically (add a tag, send an email or Slack message, hold the order, hide a product).
It is visual, no code needed for most workflows, and Shopify provides templates for common tasks. Flow is included with most paid Shopify plans; check your plan in the admin.
Automations worth setting up first
1. Tag high-value customers
When a customer's total spend passes a threshold, tag them as VIP. Use the tag for special offers, priority support or early access. (Pairs well with loyalty and retention.)
2. Low-stock alerts
When a product's inventory drops below your reorder point, send yourself or your team an alert. No more discovering a bestseller sold out after the fact. (See inventory management.)
3. Hold risky orders
When Shopify's fraud analysis flags an order as high risk, hold fulfilment and notify you to review it before shipping. (See security and fraud prevention.)
4. Tag orders for fulfilment
Tag orders by shipping method, region or product type, so your team or 3PL can process them correctly and faster. (See fulfilment.)
5. Hide out-of-stock products (or show them)
Automatically hide products when they sell out and republish when restocked, or keep them visible with a back-in-stock option, whichever suits your strategy.
Tips for good workflows
- Start small. One reliable automation beats ten half-working ones.
- Test before trusting. Run a workflow on a test order or product before relying on it.
- Name and document them so you (and future team members) know what runs and why.
- Review periodically. As your store changes, some workflows need updating or retiring.
When you need a developer
Most Flow workflows are point-and-click. A developer is useful for complex logic, connecting external systems, or custom actions, and for designing automations that fit how your whole store operates.
The takeaway
Shopify Flow turns repetitive store tasks into automatic workflows: trigger, condition, action. Start with high-value customer tags, low-stock alerts, risky-order holds and fulfilment tagging, test each one, and build from there. A few small automations can give you back hours every week.
Want Flow automations set up around how your store actually runs? Get in touch.
Want this done on your store?
I build and optimise Shopify and WordPress stores that load fast and convert. Tell me what you are working on and I'll give you an honest plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shopify Flow?
Shopify Flow is Shopify's automation tool. You build workflows from a trigger (something happens), conditions (only if certain things are true) and actions (what Shopify does automatically), so routine tasks run without manual work.
Is Shopify Flow free?
Flow is included with most paid Shopify plans at no extra cost. Check your plan in the admin, since availability and some advanced features can vary by plan.
Do I need a developer to use Shopify Flow?
No for most workflows. Flow is visual and comes with templates, so you can build common automations yourself. Complex workflows, custom integrations or code-based actions are where a developer helps.
What should I automate first?
Start with tasks you repeat weekly: tagging high-value customers, low-stock alerts, holding risky orders for review, and tagging orders for fulfilment. Small automations save surprising amounts of time.