What Zapier Does
Zapier is an automation platform that connects apps via pre-built connectors called Zaps. Each Zap has a trigger (something that happens in one app) and one or more actions (things that happen in other apps as a result).
For Shopify, triggers include: new order, order paid, order fulfilled, new customer, and product added. Actions include: create a row in Google Sheets, send a Slack message, add a subscriber to Mailchimp, or create a task in Asana.
Connecting Shopify
Create a Zapier account and go to the Zap editor. Click the trigger step, search for Shopify, and connect your store. You will be redirected to authorise Zapier's access to your Shopify store. Once connected, select your trigger event.
Zapier supports around 15 Shopify triggers covering orders, customers, products, and inventory. For triggers not available natively, use Shopify's webhooks as a Custom Webhook trigger in Zapier.
Popular Zaps
New order to Google Sheets: log every order to a spreadsheet for team visibility or custom reporting. New order to Slack: notify your team in a Slack channel when orders above a certain value arrive. New customer to CRM: add new Shopify customers as contacts in HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive.
Order Notification Zaps
Build order notification Zaps to keep teams informed without manual checks. Examples: high-value orders (filter for order total above £500) trigger a Slack message to your VIP fulfilment channel, international orders trigger a Slack notification to your logistics team, and orders with specific product tags trigger emails to relevant departments.
Customer Data Zaps
Use Zaps to keep customer data consistent across systems. New Shopify customer creates a HubSpot contact. Customer who places second order gets tagged in Mailchimp. A customer tag added in Shopify via Flow triggers a Zapier action to update records in a connected CRM.
Limitations
Zapier introduces latency: Zaps typically run within 1-15 minutes, not in real time. For time-sensitive operations (like stock alerts), this delay may be unacceptable.
Zapier's free plan is limited to 100 tasks per month and single-step Zaps. For meaningful Shopify automation, expect to pay £20-£50/month for a plan that covers your task volume.
When to Use Native Integrations
Zapier is excellent for lightweight, occasional automations and connecting niche tools without their own Shopify integrations. For high-volume or mission-critical workflows (accounting, inventory, email marketing), use native integrations: they are more reliable, faster, and usually offer better error handling.
