How to build automations with Shopify Flow on Shopify

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Shopify Flow allows you to automate business processes by creating workflows with triggers, conditions, and actions. Access Flow from your admin panel, select a trigger event, add conditions to filter when the workflow runs, and configure actions to execute automatically.

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Prerequisites

Active Shopify Plus account
Basic understanding of workflow logic
Admin access to your Shopify store
Familiarity with Shopify orders and customer data

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access Shopify Flow

From your Shopify admin dashboard, navigate to Settings in the bottom left corner. Click on Apps and sales channels, then find and click Flow in the list of installed apps. If Flow isn't installed, go to the Shopify App Store and install it first.

Flow is only available for Shopify Plus merchants and some specific Shopify plans

Create a new workflow

In the Flow dashboard, click the Create workflow button in the top right corner. You can either start from a template by clicking Browse templates or create a custom workflow by selecting Start from scratch. Choose a descriptive name for your workflow and click Create workflow.

Templates are great starting points for common automation scenarios like inventory management or customer segmentation

Set up the trigger

Click the + Add trigger button in the workflow builder. Select from available triggers such as Order created, Customer created, Product updated, or Inventory level changed. Configure any specific trigger settings if prompted, then click Save.

Choose triggers that align with the specific business event you want to automate

Add conditions (optional)

Click the + Add condition button below your trigger. Select the data field you want to evaluate, such as Order total or Customer tags. Choose an operator like is equal to, is greater than, or contains. Enter the value to compare against and click Save. You can add multiple conditions using AND or OR logic.

Conditions help ensure your automation only runs when specific criteria are met, preventing unwanted actions

Configure actions

Click + Add action in the workflow path where you want the automation to execute. Choose from actions like Add customer tag, Send email, Update order, or Create task. Fill in the required fields for your selected action, using dynamic data from previous steps by clicking the Insert variable button.

You can add multiple actions to a single workflow to perform complex automation sequences

Test your workflow

Click the Test workflow button in the top right corner of the workflow builder. Select a recent order, customer, or product that matches your trigger criteria. Review the test results to ensure your conditions and actions work as expected. Make any necessary adjustments to the logic or action configurations.

Always test with real data from your store to ensure the workflow behaves correctly in production

Activate the workflow

Once testing is complete, click the Turn on toggle switch at the top of your workflow. The workflow status will change to Active and it will begin monitoring for trigger events. You can monitor workflow performance from the Flow dashboard's Activity section.

Monitor your workflows regularly during the first few days to ensure they're performing as expected

Monitor and optimize

Return to the Flow dashboard and click on your workflow to view its performance. Check the Activity tab to see recent runs, success rates, and any errors. Use the Analytics section to track how often the workflow triggers and which paths are most common. Update conditions or actions as needed based on performance data.

Set up regular reviews of your workflows to ensure they remain relevant as your business needs change

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Workflow not triggering

Check that your trigger conditions are correctly configured and that test data actually meets the criteria. Verify the workflow is Active and review the Activity log for any error messages.

Actions not executing properly

Ensure all required fields in your actions are properly filled out. Check that dynamic variables are correctly mapped and that you have necessary permissions for the actions being performed.

Flow app not available

Shopify Flow is only available for Shopify Plus merchants and select plans. Contact Shopify support to confirm your plan includes Flow access, or consider upgrading your subscription.

Workflow running too frequently

Add more specific conditions to limit when the workflow triggers. Consider using AND conditions to create more restrictive criteria, or add time-based conditions to prevent excessive runs.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Shopify website before purchasing.

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