The Shopify integration enhances e-commerce and simplifies management.

The Shopify integration enhances e-commerce operations by optimizing business processes. It seamlessly connects different areas of business, such as inventory management, communication, and accounting, providing the entrepreneur with a better overall view of the business.

But what does Shopify integration mean, how is it done, and what are the practical benefits of integration? Let's go through the matter a bit.

Shopify integrations – what are they?

Integration means the connection of different platforms, such as Shopify and a point-of-sale system or Shopify and an enterprise resource planning system, which enables seamless communication between two or more platforms.

The Shopify integration is either a solution tailored to the business needs or a ready-made software developed by a third party.

In practice, a custom integration creates a bridge between Shopify and the system to be integrated, whereas in ready-made solutions, this bridge already exists, for example, by the provider of an ERP system or a POS system.

Even if a ready-made solution exists, sometimes the bridge must still be built by oneself, as the ready-made solution does not fully meet the company's unique needs or business specificities. A customized integration offers the opportunity to tailor business processes in detail and ensure full compatibility between systems delivering different functions.

An example of the integration process is integrating Shopify with Visma Fivaldi or Visma Nova. Accounting is automatically transferred from Shopify to financial management, and the workload is reduced because the entrepreneur or accountant does not need to manually enter data into different systems.

With integration, efficiency also increases as data is transferred in real-time between the two systems without delay and without manual effort.

Why should an entrepreneur implement a Shopify integration?

An entrepreneur should implement Shopify integration for several reasons.

When, for example, the financial management software and other important systems communicate with each other automatically and flawlessly, the entrepreneur has more time to focus on the essential, namely growing the business. The integration of Shopify and the ERP system also provides a clear picture of the entire business, making it easier to manage.

Additionally, integration can help create better customer experiences as business processes become more efficient and, for example, the processing of payments and orders speeds up. This, in turn, plays a part in the company's success, reputation, and long-term competitiveness.

How is the implementation of Shopify integration carried out?

The customized Shopify integration is implemented at Growly according to the following steps:

1. Needs Assessment

The first step is to understand the customer's business needs and define clear objectives that the integration is expected to achieve. At this stage, it is examined what data needs to be transferred between different systems and what functionalities are desired to be included in the integration.

2. Technical Design

This phase includes the technical design of the Shopify integration, which defines how data will be transferred between different systems, what kind of interfaces are needed, and how potential issues will be resolved.

3. Integration Development

The development phase begins based on the drafted plan. In this phase, developers create the necessary components and interfaces, i.e., the integration that meets the business needs.

4. Testing Phase

The Shopify integration may function flawlessly already during the development phase, but during the testing phase, thorough tests are conducted to ensure the reliability, functionality, and security of the integration. The aim of testing is to ensure seamless, error-free data transfer between the integrated platforms and that the integration performs as promised.

5. Installation and Commissioning

Once the Shopify integration has been verified as functional and error-free, it is installed in the production environment, in other words, deployed in the actual operational environment. During the deployment, it is further ensured that the integration fits seamlessly with other business systems and that the overall system functions as expected.

6. Maintenance

A tailored integration requires continuous maintenance after completion to ensure it operates safely, efficiently, and flawlessly in the long term. This means making updates, fixing potential disruptions, and, if necessary, expanding or modifying the integration to meet changing business needs.

Practical benefits of Shopify integration – what are they?

There are several benefits to integration, so let's not spare time in transitioning to them:

1. Enhanced Business Processes

The Shopify integration enables the automation of recurring tasks such as accounting, order processing, and inventory management. This frees up the entrepreneur's time for other business areas, such as focusing on growth or customer service.

2. Clear overall view

The Shopify integration provides a comprehensive overview of the entire business situation. When an entrepreneur has extensive real-time information on all key areas, it enables faster, smarter, and more effective business decisions.

3. Flawless Communication

The integration between the ERP and Shopify ensures up-to-date and error-free information flow, thereby streamlining business processes, which in turn reduces errors. This also increases customer satisfaction and loyalty, especially if the company has had a tendency for occasional mishaps to occur more as a rule than an exception.

4. Warehouse Optimization

The integration of Shopify and inventory management enhances inventory control by optimizing space utilization, tracking inventory balances, and facilitating timely reordering if the reordering automation has not been chosen to be implemented.

5. Seamless Management of Sales Channels

Customized integration can also cover a situation where, in addition to financial management and other business systems, for example, a WordPress/WooCommerce online store is connected to Shopify, allowing the inventory balances of both sales channels to be updated automatically. Different online stores can target different audiences, and integration ensures their efficient management and always up-to-date information on product availability.

It is also possible and certainly advisable to combine brick-and-mortar and Shopify, if this has not yet been done. However, a customized solution is not needed for this, as the integration is done using Shopify POS.

"Ready-made integrations offer entrepreneurs an easy and quick way to install and implement them independently, especially when the things to be connected are less complex, e.g., the connection between Shopify and HubSpot. However, custom integrations are built entirely according to the company's needs, which enables an optimal and tailored connection between different systems."

Implementing a customized integration, on the other hand, requires more resources, but the end result is fully tailored and optimized to the company's needs.

In other words, while ready-made solutions are sometimes agile, a customized integration ensures that all business needs are met and that the integration best serves the specific business environment.

Can the Shopify integration be implemented by oneself?

The ability of an entrepreneur to implement a Shopify integration themselves depends on the integrated systems and the company's needs.

One option indeed is to use ready-made apps from the Shopify App Store. The app provides the entrepreneur with a functional and pre-tested solution, which of course saves time and resources.

However, a custom integration may be necessary or essential if a ready-made app is not available or when Shopify or the company's systems are customized. A custom integration also provides exactly the features and connections that the business requires.

It is important to choose a method that best serves the company's needs and enables efficient business management.

What should be considered if the Shopify integration is implemented using the app itself?

When an entrepreneur implements a single integration themselves using the app, they must carefully assess the company's needs and objectives. Properly chosen integrations can streamline business processes, but incorrect solutions can lead to wasted resources.

First, one must be able to answer the question of what is being integrated and why – in other words, what the integration aims to achieve and what functionalities or objectives are desired.

The apps available in the Shopify App Store offer a ready and pre-tested solution for integrating popular global services such as MailChimp, HubSpot, or QuickBooks.

If the system to be integrated is a customized financial management system, a ready-made app is unlikely to work, and in that case, building a custom integration is required.

However, the following aspects must be considered when implementing the integration through the app:

What functions do you want to enhance? For example, inventory management, payment processing, and customer data management are central to most businesses. The goal of integration can also be, for instance, to reduce operating costs, improve customer service, or achieve other significant business objectives.
Is the integration compatible with other business systems? To ensure reliable data transfer and efficient processes, the Shopify integration should work seamlessly with all key business systems, not just the systems being integrated. Ensure this is truly the case by conducting testing before deployment.
Will the integration serve in the future as well? Consider not only the current needs but also future plans and ensure that the app and system meet the business needs in the long term. The same integration or enterprise system may no longer serve effectively as operations grow. An entrepreneur may therefore need to make changes to the ERP or accounting system if they do not adapt to expansion plans. Ready-made apps and integrations are, of course, easier to replace with new ones, but naturally, this process also takes time and resources.
How secure is the integration? To protect business and customer data, the app must invest in security. You can get some idea of its security by looking at the update frequency. Generally, larger and more popular service providers invest in security more extensively than smaller ones. Of course, the entrepreneur must also ensure the up-to-dateness of Shopify integrations by updating them regularly, so they function securely and as they should.
What do other entrepreneurs say about the Shopify integration, and how long has it been discussed? An entrepreneur should check the App Store to see what other online retailers say about the integration app. At the same time, it is of course worth finding out how long the app has been in existence and how often it has been updated during this time, as new services are constantly emerging in the technology sector, and there is no guarantee that they will be developed and maintained in the future. Positive reviews over several years are a good sign of a likely high-quality app in the future as well.
How much are you willing to pay? The money spent on integration services quickly pays for itself in efficiency, so it is better to choose based on functionality and reliability rather than price. Of course, every company has its own budget and the entrepreneur has a willingness to pay. We remind you at this point that you don't get good quality cheaply, and the most expensive option is not automatically the best. So choose a popular app with good reviews.
Who assists with integration testing before deployment and during use? If the entrepreneur seeks help or customized solutions for implementing a Shopify integration, the developer assists with these matters. If it is a ready-made solution, the entrepreneur should choose services that have good, easily reachable customer support, preferably available during Finnish business hours, to help resolve any issues that arise.

If you need help selecting the right Shopify integrations or implementing a customized solution for your business, Growly can assist you. Contact us here.