Shopify gives you powerful tools to run your store, but running a store and running it efficiently are two different things. That’s where automation comes in.
When we talk about “flow automation,” we’re really talking about the workflows that handle repetitive tasks for you. Things like tagging a customer after they place an order, sending alerts when stock is low, or updating internal systems when a draft order is approved.
Shopify offers a built-in tool called Shopify Flow, but it’s limited. If you want automation that actually matches the complexity of your store, you’ll need something more powerful.
Let’s break down what flow automation looks like on Shopify, where Shopify Flow works (and where it doesn’t), and how you can set up flows that actually fit your business.
What is flow automation in Shopify?
A “flow” is just another word for a workflow — an automated series of actions triggered by something happening in your store.
For example:
- When a customer places an order, tag them as a repeat buyer
- When inventory drops below 10, send a Slack alert to your ops team
- When a draft order is created, push the data into your CRM for follow-up
These flows reduce manual work, eliminate errors, and help your business respond to changes in real time. Whether it’s fulfillment, customer tagging, vendor communication, or internal team updates, flow automation is how modern Shopify stores stay efficient.
What Shopify Flow can (and can’t) do
Shopify Flow is Shopify’s built-in workflow tool. It gives you a visual builder where you can string together triggers, conditions, and actions — without writing any code. You can use it to build simple logic like:
- Tagging customers after they spend a certain amount
- Archiving risky orders
- Sending an email to your team when an order meets a certain condition
And while it’s a decent place to start, it’s far from a complete solution. In fact, most growing stores run into its limitations fast.
You can’t (easily) connect Shopify Flow data to outside systems
Shopify Flow only works with apps that have built-in “Flow connectors,” — and those are limited. If your CRM, ERP, or warehouse system doesn’t have one, you’re stuck.
That means you can’t push order data to Google Sheets, sync customer info with your CRM, or trigger external processes that live outside Shopify.
You can’t run workflows on customer updates
One of the most common automation needs — “run a flow when a customer is updated” — isn’t supported in Flow.
You can’t tag customers when they change status, adjust loyalty segmentation, or trigger follow-up logic when contact info changes. That’s a major blind spot if your customer experience depends on dynamic, post-purchase interactions.
You’re on your own when something breaks
Flow is a self-serve tool. There’s no team to help if a workflow fails, a tag doesn’t apply, or something fires at the wrong time. For busy operators, that usually means hours of troubleshooting or missed opportunities.
If your automation is business-critical — and most is — relying on trial and error support can slow you down when speed matters most.
How to run powerful flow automations with the right tool
If your store requires more flexibility, control, or reliability, purpose-built Shopify workflow automation apps like Arigato enable you to build flows that accurately reflect the way your business operates.
You can trigger workflows from nearly any Shopify event — including customer updates, metafield changes, draft order actions, and more. You can send fully styled HTML emails, schedule workflows for future dates, and sync Shopify data with other platforms in real time.
Arigato supports complex logic: loops, filters, condition branches, delays, data cleanup, and fallbacks. You can automate internal team actions, external communications, or just clean up your back-end operations — all without needing to code or cobble together third-party tools.
Use templates to build flows faster
Building advanced workflows doesn’t mean starting from scratch.
Arigato includes a massive workflow template library with over 300 examples you can install and customize in minutes. These templates span use cases like fulfillment, customer tagging, internal alerts, order routing, loyalty programs, and more.
Templates help you move faster and build smarter workflows with less guesswork.
Conclusion: real flow automation needs real flexibility
Shopify Flow is better than nothing, but if you’re running a store with real operational complexity, it’s not enough.
Whether you’re trying to automate post-purchase follow-up, sync customer tags to your CRM, or route internal alerts across systems, your flows should match your business, not be limited by your tools.
Apps like Arigato make that possible. You get the control, reliability, and depth to automate confidently across your store, your team, and the rest of your stack.
If you’re ready to go beyond the basics, Arigato Automation gives you the freedom to build workflows that actually work — at any scale.