Shopify Integration Guide
For FlowPOS Clients
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audience | FlowPOS clients (non-technical) |
| Module | 026-ecommerce-integration |
| Version | v1 |
| Date | March 28, 2026 |
Summary
From the client's perspective, the process is simple — the technical complexity lives on FlowPOS's side. No technical configuration, API keys, or development knowledge is required.
Prerequisites
Before connecting Shopify with FlowPOS, the client needs:
- An active Shopify account on any paid plan (no developer account required)
- Their Shopify store already set up with products, if they want to sync existing inventory — though it is also possible to push the catalog from FlowPOS to Shopify
Decisions to Make Before Connecting
Before clicking "Connect", the client should have made the following business decisions. The FlowPOS team should walk them through these during onboarding.
1. Which store to connect?
If the client has multiple Shopify stores, they will need to choose one. In the current version, FlowPOS supports one connected store per business.
2. Product sync direction
This is a one-time decision that affects the first sync:
| Scenario | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Catalog is in FlowPOS and Shopify is empty | Push products from FlowPOS to Shopify |
| Catalog already exists in Shopify | Review with the FlowPOS team before connecting |
| Catalog exists on both sides | Manual review required before syncing |
3. Inventory source of truth
⚠️ This is the most important point.
Once the integration is active, FlowPOS is the inventory master. The client must stop editing inventory directly in Shopify. Doing so will cause sync conflicts.
Simple rule: All inventory changes happen in FlowPOS. Shopify only reflects what FlowPOS sends it.
Steps to Connect
The full process takes less than 2 minutes:
- In the FlowPOS PWA, go to Settings → Integrations
- Click Connect Shopify
- You will be redirected to Shopify's authorization screen — log in if needed and approve the requested permissions
- Click Install on the Shopify screen
- You will be redirected back to FlowPOS — the connection is active immediately
The OAuth flow handles everything automatically. The client never needs to touch API keys or any technical configuration.
What the Client Does NOT Need to Do
- Create API keys or tokens
- Configure webhooks in Shopify
- Access Shopify developer settings
- Have a Shopify Partners account
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it work with any Shopify plan? Yes. All paid Shopify plans support the permissions FlowPOS requires.
What happens if I disconnect the integration? Inventory in Shopify will stop syncing automatically. Products and history in FlowPOS are not affected.
Can I connect more than one Shopify store? In the current version, one store per business is supported. Multi-store support is on the roadmap.
What happens if I edit inventory directly in Shopify? FlowPOS will overwrite that value on the next sync. To avoid confusion, all inventory adjustments should be made from FlowPOS.
Note for the Onboarding Team
The critical point to cover with every client before activating the integration is the inventory source of truth. That is where post-activation sync conflicts happen, not during the connection itself.
It is recommended to include this as an explicit step in the integration onboarding checklist.