The Shopify integration makes the online store more efficient and make

The Shopify integration improves the operation of the online store by optimizing business processes. With them, different areas of the business, such as inventory management, communication and accounting, are seamlessly connected together, so the entrepreneur also has a better overall view of the business.

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

Shopify Integrations - What are they?

Integration means connecting different platforms, such as Shopify and the checkout system or Shopify and the ERP system, which enables seamless communication between two or more platforms.

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

In practice, custom integration creates a bridge between Shopify and the system to be integrated, and in ready-made solutions, this bridge already exists, e.g., by the ERP system or cash system provider.

Even if there is a ready-made solution, sometimes you have to build the bridge yourself, because the ready-made solution does not fully meet the individual needs of the company or the special features of the business. Custom 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 the integration of Shopify with Visma Fivaldi or Visma Nova. Accounting is automatically transferred from Shopify to financial management, and the amount of work is reduced because the entrepreneur or accountant does not have to manually enter information into different systems.

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

Why should an entrepreneur implement Shopify integration?

Entrepreneurs should implement Shopify integration for several reasons.

When, for example, the financial management program and other important systems talk to each other automatically and error-free, the entrepreneur frees up more time to focus on what is essential, i.e. growing the business. The integration of Shopify and the ERP system also provides a clear picture of the entire business, which makes it easier to manage.

In addition, integration can help create better customer experiences when business processes become more efficient and e.g. the processing of payments and orders becomes faster. This, in turn, plays a part in the company's success, reputation and long-term competitiveness.

How is the Shopify integration implemented?

At Growly, custom Shopify integration is implemented according to the following steps:

1. Mapping of needs

The first step is to understand the customer's business needs and define clear goals that the integration is expected to achieve. At this stage, we look at what information needs to be transferred between different systems and what kind of functionalities we want to include in the integration.

2. Technical planning

This step includes the technical design of the Shopify integration, which defines how data is transferred between different systems, what kind of user interfaces are needed, and how to solve potential problems.

3. Development of integration

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

4. Testing phase

The Shopify integration can work flawlessly already in the development phase, but in the testing phase thorough tests are still carried out to ensure the reliability, functionality and security of the integration. Testing aims to ensure seamless, error-free data transfer between integrated platforms and that the integration does what is promised.

5. Installation and commissioning

Once the Shopify integration has been found to be functional and error-free, it is installed in the production environment, i.e. put into use in the actual operating environment. During implementation, it is ensured again that the integration fits seamlessly with other business systems and that the whole works as expected.

6. Maintenance

A customized integration requires continuous maintenance after completion, so that it works safely, efficiently and flawlessly even in the long term. This means making updates, fixing possible malfunctions 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 of integration, so don't waste time switching to them:

1. Enhanced business processes

Shopify integration enables automation of repetitive tasks such as accounting, order processing and inventory management. This frees up the entrepreneur's time to invest in other areas of the business, e.g. growth or customer service.

2. A clear overview

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

3. Error-free data flow

The integration between ERP and Shopify ensures up-to-date and error-free information flow and thus streamlined business processes, which in turn reduces errors. This also increases customer satisfaction and loyalty, especially if the company has tended to have occasional mishaps as the rule rather than the exception.

4. Stock optimization

The integration of Shopify and inventory management makes inventory management more efficient by optimizing space usage, tracking inventory balances and facilitating timely reordering, if automatic reordering has not been chosen to be enabled.

5. Smooth management of sales channels

Custom integration can also cover a situation where, in addition to financial management and other business systems, e.g. a WordPress/WooCommerce online store is connected to Shopify, in which case the stock balances of both sales channels are automatically updated. Different target groups can be targeted with different online stores, and integration ensures their effective management and always up-to-date information on product availability.

Brick and mortar and Shopify are also possible, and of course it's worth combining if you haven't already. However, you don't need a customized solution for this, the integration takes place with the help of Shopfy POS .

Ready-made integrations offer the entrepreneur an easy and quick way to install and implement himself, especially when the things to be connected are less complicated, e.g. the connection between Shopify and HubSpot. However, custom integrations are built completely according to the company's needs, which enables an optimal and customized connection between different systems.

Implementing custom integration requires more resources, but the end result is completely customized and optimized for the company's needs.

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

Can the Shopify integration be done by myself?

It depends on the systems to be integrated and the company's needs, whether the entrepreneur can implement the Shopify integration himself.

One option is to use ready-made apps from the Shopify App Store . Appi offers entrepreneurs a functional and already tested solution, which of course saves time and resources.

However, custom integration may be necessary or necessary if an off-the-shelf App is not available, or when Shopify or the company's systems are customized. The customized integration also offers 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 using the App himself, he must carefully evaluate the company's needs and goals. The right integrations can make business processes more efficient, but the wrong solutions can lead to wasted resources.

First, you have to know how to answer the question of what is being integrated and why - that is, what the integration is aiming for and what functionalities or goals it wants to achieve.

The apps found in Shopify's App Store offer a ready-made and already tested solution for integrating services popular in the world, such as MailChimp, HubSpot or QuickBooks.

If, on the other hand, a customized financial management system is to be integrated, the ready-made app will probably not work, and in that case a custom integration will be required.

However, when implementing the integration through the App, the following must be taken into account:

What functions do you want to improve? For example, inventory management, payment processing and customer data management are central to most companies. The goal of integration can also be, for example, reducing operating costs, improving customer service, or achieving other goals that are significant from a business point of view.
Is the integration compatible with other business systems? To ensure reliable data transfer and efficient processes, the Shopify integration must work seamlessly with all key business systems, not just the systems being integrated. Make sure this is the case by performing a test before deployment.
Will the integration also serve in the future? In addition to the needs of the present, think about future plans and make sure that the app and the system meet the needs of the business in the long term as well. The same integration or business system may no longer serve effectively when the operation grows. The entrepreneur may therefore also have to make changes to the ERP or accounting system if they are not flexible with expansion plans. Ready-made apps and integrations are of course easier to replace with new ones, but of course this process also takes time and resources.
How secure is the integration? In order to protect business and customer data, Appi must invest in data security. You can already get some idea of its security by looking at the update frequency. In general, larger and more popular service providers invest in information security to a greater extent than small ones. Of course, the entrepreneur must also ensure that the Shopify integrations are up-to-date by updating them regularly, so that they work safely and as they should.
What are other entrepreneurs saying about the Shopify integration, and how long has it been talked about? Entrepreneurs should check the App Store to see what other online retailers have to say about the integration app. At the same time, of course, you should find out how long the app has existed and how often it has been updated during this time, because new services are constantly appearing 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 probably a good sign of a high-quality app in the future as well.
How much are you willing to pay? The money spent on the integration service pays for itself quickly in terms of efficiency, so it is better to choose it based on functionality and reliability rather than price. Of course, each company has its own budget and the entrepreneur's willingness to pay. We remind you here that good things don't come cheap and the most expensive option is not automatically the best. So choose a popular and well-reviewed app.
Who helps with integration testing before implementation and during use? If the entrepreneur acquires help or customized solutions for the implementation of the Shopify integration, the developer will help in these matters. If it is a ready-made solution, the entrepreneur should choose services that have good, quickly reachable customer support that helps solve the problems that arise, preferably also on Finnish time.