Skip to main content

Shopify - Set up and connection

A step-by-step guide to connecting your Shopify store to Optiply using the REST API. Learn how to enable custom app development, configure API permissions, and establish your connection.

Written by Ricardo Guerreiro
Updated over a week ago

🔗 Shopify: Setup & Connection Guide

Connecting Optiply to your Shopify store relies on a custom app connection via the Shopify REST API. Because of Shopify's security settings, you must first generate specific API credentials within your Shopify admin dashboard before you can link your account in Optiply.

Here is your step-by-step guide to getting connected

Phase 1: Enable Custom App Development in Shopify

Before you can create a custom app for your store, you must enable custom app development.

Note: You must be the store owner or a staff member with the "Enable app development" permission to do this.

  1. Log in to your Shopify Admin panel.

  2. Navigate to Settings > Apps and sales channels.

  3. Click on Develop apps.

  4. Click Allow custom app development.

  5. Read the warning and information provided by Shopify, and then click Allow custom app development again to confirm.

Phase 2: Create & Configure the Custom App

Now that custom apps are allowed, you need to create the app that will act as the bridge to Optiply.

  1. Create the App: On the Develop apps screen, click Create an App. Input a recognisable name (e.g., "Optiply Integration") and click Create app.

  2. Configure API Scopes: Click on Configure Admin API scopes. This tells Shopify what data Optiply is allowed to see.

  3. Set Permissions: Scroll through the list and grant Read Access to the following scopes:

    • Inventory

    • Locations

    • Orders

    • Product listings

    • Products

    • Shop locale

  4. Save: Click Save at the bottom or top of the screen.

  5. Install the App: Once saved, click Install app at the top right, and then click Install on the modal window that pops up.

Phase 3: Gather Your Credentials & Location ID

With the app installed, you need to copy the necessary connection details.

⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT: Shopify will only show this Admin API access token one time. You must copy this and save it in a safe location immediately. If you lose it, you will have to generate a completely new token.

  1. Reveal the Token: Go to the API Credentials tab and click on Reveal token once.

  2. Gather Remaining Info: Ensure you also have the following information ready for the Optiply connection:

    • Shopify Shop Name

    • Shopify API Key (found on the API credentials page)

    • Shopify Example URL (your standard .myshopify.com store URL)

      5dd0c99a-1aca-4591-b1d5-

  3. Find your Location ID: Identify the specific Location ID of the Shopify warehouse/location you want to connect to Optiply.

Phase 4: Connect & Configure in Optiply

Once you have all the necessary information and the correct permissions from Shopify, you can finalise the setup in Optiply.

  1. Navigate to Integrations: Log in to your Optiply account, go to Settings in the left-hand menu, select Data management, and click on Integrations.

  2. Add the Source: Click the Add a source button.

  3. Select Shopify: Choose Shopify from the list of integrations and click Next.

  4. Enter Credentials: Fill in the API credentials, token, and Location ID you gathered in Phase 3.

  5. Select Options: From the available options, select exactly what data you want to sync from Shopify to Optiply.

  6. Connect: Click Next (or Connect).

That is it! Your connection is now established, and the synchronisation process will begin importing your data.

💡 Note on Suppliers: Native 'Supplier' and 'Supplier Products' entities do not exist in Shopify. However, if you need that information, Optiply can automatically grab the Vendor field from your Shopify products to populate your supplier lists!

💬 Need Help?

If you run into any permission errors in Shopify or have questions about your data mapping, please reach out to us at support@optiply.nl or send us a quick chat message. We are more than happy to help you get up and running!

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why can't I click "Allow custom app development" in Shopify?

For security reasons, Shopify restricts this action. You must be the primary store owner or a staff member who has explicitly been granted the "Enable app development" permission in your Shopify staff settings to create the connection app.

I forgot to copy the Admin API Access Token and now it's hidden. What do I do?

Shopify only displays the Admin API Access Token once to protect your store's security. If you navigated away before saving it, you cannot retrieve it. You will need to go back into the API Credentials tab in Shopify, uninstall the app, and generate a completely new token.

How does Optiply handle suppliers since Shopify doesn't have a "Supplier" feature?

Even though Shopify natively lacks a dedicated supplier entity, Optiply has a workaround! When you sync your data, Optiply can automatically pull the text from the "Vendor" field on your Shopify product pages and use that to build your supplier list.

Where exactly do I find my Shopify Location ID?

To find your Location ID, log in to your Shopify Admin and go to Settings > Locations. Click on the specific location you want to connect to Optiply. Once that location page loads, look at the URL in your browser's address bar. The Location ID is the string of numbers at the very end of that URL (e.g., .../locations/123456789).

Did this answer your question?