Shopify Flow is a built-in automation tool available on Shopify and Shopify Plus plans that lets you create automated workflows without writing any code. Think of it as “if this happens, do that” logic for your store operations. When set up well, Flow handles tasks that would otherwise require manual checking every day — saving hours and preventing operational errors at scale.
How Shopify Flow Works
Every Flow automation has three parts: a Trigger (the event that starts the workflow, e.g., “Order is placed”), one or more Conditions (criteria the trigger must meet, e.g., “Order value is over £200”), and an Action (what happens as a result, e.g., “Tag this customer as VIP”). You build these visually in the Flow editor — no code, just a drag-and-connect interface.
Automation 1: Low Inventory Alerts
Trigger: Inventory level changes. Condition: Inventory drops below [X] units. Action: Send email to admin with product name and current stock level. This replaces the habit of manually checking inventory levels daily and ensures you never accidentally sell out without notice. Set your threshold based on your supplier lead time — typically 2 to 3 weeks of average daily sales.
Automation 2: Tag High-Value Customers Automatically
Trigger: Order is paid. Condition: Customer’s total spend exceeds £500 (or ₹10,000). Action: Add tag “VIP” to customer. This creates a segmented list in Shopify of your highest-value customers — you can then send them exclusive early access, personalised offers, and priority support automatically. Combined with an email platform like Klaviyo, tagged VIP customers receive different email flows than standard customers.
Automation 3: Flag Potentially Fraudulent Orders
Trigger: Order is placed. Condition: Shopify’s fraud risk score is “high.” Action: Add tag “Review-required” to order and send email alert to admin. This surfaces suspicious orders for manual review before fulfilment, preventing chargebacks on orders where someone has used stolen card details. Catching even one £200 fraud order per month pays for significant time investment in setting up this automation.
Automation 4: Hide Out-of-Stock Products
Trigger: Inventory level changes. Condition: Inventory equals 0. Action: Unpublish product (or add “Sold Out” tag). This prevents out-of-stock products from appearing in search results and collections, which frustrates customers who click through expecting to buy. Reverse it with a paired workflow: Trigger: Inventory level changes. Condition: Inventory is greater than 0. Action: Publish product and remove “Sold Out” tag.
Automation 5: Send Loyalty Reward After Repeat Purchases
Trigger: Order is paid. Condition: Customer has placed 5 or more orders. Action: Add tag “Loyalty-reward-eligible” and send thank-you email with a unique 15% discount code. This automates a personal loyalty gesture that would be impossible to execute manually at scale but creates significant repeat purchase rates when customers feel recognised and appreciated.
Getting Started With Shopify Flow
Find Shopify Flow in your Shopify Admin under Apps → Flow. Shopify provides 50+ pre-built workflow templates that you can install and customise in minutes — you do not need to build from scratch. Start with the template library, activate 3 to 5 workflows that address your most common manual tasks, and build custom workflows as you become more familiar with the interface.
OneOnic sets up Shopify Flow automations as part of store builds for clients who want operational efficiency from launch. See our Shopify work or contact our team to discuss automating your store operations.
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