Every Shopify store has a customer lifecycle — from the first-time buyer who just discovered your brand to the loyal customer who keeps coming back, to the ones who drop off without a word.
At each stage, there’s an opportunity to engage, reward, or recover that customer. But doing it all manually? Not scalable.
That’s where Shopify customer automation comes in. In Part 2 of our What You Should Automate in Shopify series, we’re breaking down the Workflows that help you tag, segment, and follow up with customers — automatically — so you can build loyalty and boost retention without adding to your task list.
Automations to support new and returning customers
One of the most effective ways to improve retention is to respond differently to different types of customers. With automation, that starts the moment they place an order.
Tag first-time buyers
The first order is your chance to make an impression — and it’s also the perfect time to trigger your first Shopify Workflow.
Examples:
- Tag all new customers as “New Customer” (and remove the tag after the second order)
- Trigger a welcome email sequence or onboarding flow
- Segment new customers who create an account by tagging them for post-purchase surveys or future discounts
Once they’re tagged, you can personalize content, support, and follow-up without having to check order history manually.
Identify repeat or VIP customers
As customers return, automation helps you recognize and reward them at scale.
Examples:
- Tag customers after an order multiple (eg., 5th order)
- Add “VIP” or “Loyalty” tags based on order tiers
- Send early access to product drops or exclusive offers
You can also use these tags to create white-glove support experiences or to trigger personalized recommendations based on past behavior.
Segment based on product or category behavior
Not all customers shop the same way. Use product-level logic to personalize future marketing and support.
Examples:
- Tag customers who purchase from a specific collection
- Segment based on product type (e.g., gifting vs. subscriptions)
- Tag customer for future cross-sell or upsell Workflows based on what they’ve already bought
These kinds of segments help your marketing team send better campaigns and your support team anticipate future needs.
Automations for post-purchase retention
The customer journey doesn’t end after checkout. Automation helps you stay present — and relevant — after the sale.
Follow up based on delivery timing
Delivery is the next major moment in the lifecycle. Automations can use fulfillment status and timing to trigger post-purchase touchpoints.
Examples:
- Trigger a follow-up email 3 and 5 days after purchase
- Request a product review after the product has been delivered
These touches show customers you’re still invested — and help encourage repeat purchases with smart timing.
Automate loyalty rewards and reminders
You don’t need a loyalty app to recognize loyal customers. With tagging and conditional logic, you can build lightweight loyalty Workflows directly into your store’s automation system.
Examples:
- Tag customers when they qualify for a loyalty perk
- Send customers a discount code when they reach purchase milestones
These Workflows run behind the scenes but create consistent, personalized experiences that drive retention.
Automations to re-engage at-risk or inactive customers
Even loyal customers fall off over time. The key is knowing when it happens — and acting quickly.
Tag and track customer inactivity
Start by setting up Workflows that monitor time since the last order.
Examples:
- Segment based on time since last purchased and order count and send reengagement email
- Trigger email for customers who haven’t ordered in 6 months
These tags give you better control over who receives what, and help prevent waste in your marketing budget.
Not every customer comes back — but the ones who do are often worth the effort.
Conclusion: Shopify customer automation helps you stay close — without constant effort
Your customers are always moving — discovering new products, becoming loyal fans, or drifting away. Manual systems can’t keep up. But automation can.
By setting up smart, event-driven Workflows across the entire customer lifecycle, you’ll stay engaged, build better segments, and recover more lost revenue, all without spending more time in your admin.
If you’re looking for a Shopify Workflow app to help automate customer tagging, segmentation, loyalty Workflows, and retention logic, Arigato Automation gives you the flexibility to do it all — without writing code or juggling multiple apps.