A Shopify workflow is a set of automated tasks that respond to store activity in real time or on a schedule. These workflows connect triggers — like an order being placed, a customer being tagged, or inventory levels changing — with one or more actions, such as updating a product, sending a notification, or tagging a customer.
Workflows allow merchants to streamline repetitive processes without relying on custom code. They’re used to manage fulfillment, customer segmentation, inventory updates, and internal communication with speed and consistency.
In this article, we’ll break down how Shopify workflows function, what they can automate, and how to use them to build systems that scale cleanly as your store grows.
What is a Shopify workflow?
Shopify workflows operate using simple logic: when something happens, run a defined set of tasks. You choose the trigger, define the conditions, and specify the actions.
A workflow connects triggers and actions
Triggers are store events that start the workflow. This could be:
- An order is placed
- A product is updated
- A tag is added to a customer
- A scheduled time of day
Once the workflow is triggered, it runs actions based on your conditions. These actions could include sending a Slack message, tagging an order, updating inventory, or adding a customer to a marketing list.
Shopify workflows can run in real time or on a schedule
You can build workflows that react instantly — like notifying your team when a high-value order is placed — or ones that run on a schedule, such as sending a daily inventory report every morning.
The ability to combine scheduled and event-based workflows gives you flexibility to manage both proactive and reactive operations.
Workflows can be simple or complex
You can start with a single step, like tagging customers after a second purchase. Or build multi-step workflows with conditional logic, multiple outputs, and external integrations. How far you take it depends on your store’s needs — and the capabilities of your automation app.
What workflows can help automate in your store
Workflows solve problems across every part of your store — not just marketing or customer service. Once you build a few, you’ll start to see where automation can replace manual steps throughout your operation.
Fulfillment and operations
Workflows are especially helpful in fulfillment, where fast, consistent execution matters. Examples include:
- Tagging high-risk or wholesale orders
- Sending alerts to your team for orders that meet specific criteria
- Routing orders to different fulfillment locations based on tags or product types
- Updating order notes for internal handling
These workflows run silently in the background and reduce handoffs or bottlenecks during busy periods.
Customer engagement
You can also use workflows to support marketing and retention. Examples:
- Tagging VIP or loyal customers based on order history
- Triggering onboarding sequences after a first purchase
- Segmenting customers by product category or LTV for targeting
These kinds of tags and updates keep your customer data clean and ready for use in platforms like Klaviyo or your CRM.
Store maintenance
Workflows can manage catalog health and admin tasks too:
- Unpublishing or archiving products when they go out of stock
- Updating metafields or SEO data in bulk
- Removing outdated tags or status flags
- Scheduling price changes or promotional launches
These save hours over time and reduce the risk of missed details during high-volume updates.
How to build workflows in Shopify
You don’t need to be a developer to build effective workflows. Most automation apps provide a visual builder or condition-based editor that anyone on your team can use.
Start with a clear trigger
Pick something that happens regularly, like an order being placed or a product being updated. From there, define the scenario that should launch the workflow.
This could be as simple as “order created” or as specific as “customer placed third order and total is over $200.”
Add conditions to filter the logic
Conditions help the workflow run only when the right criteria are met. For example:
- Only run for orders over $100
- Only apply to products tagged with “Flash Sale”
- Only apply to customers in a certain region
These filters keep your automation precise and reduce noise in your task history.
Define the actions
Actions are the outcomes — the tasks the workflow performs. These could be:
- Tagging a customer or order
- Sending internal notifications
- Updating product fields or metafields
- Sending data to an external platform
- Triggering another system via API or webhook
Using a Shopify workflow app gives you the flexibility to build these workflows without writing code — and the visibility to monitor how they perform over time.
Conclusion: Shopify workflows help you automate what matters most
If you’ve been asking what is a Shopify workflow, the answer is this: it’s how your store runs smarter without manual input. Workflows let you build systems that react in real time, stay consistent under pressure, and scale as your business grows.
Start with the tasks you do often. Build one workflow. Let it run. Then build the next one. The more you automate the background work, the more focus you’ll have to grow your business.
If you’re looking for a Shopify workflow app that can handle advanced logic, task visibility, and real-time flexibility, Arigato Automation is a solid option worth exploring.