Connect your systems to Shopify with external triggers
Connect external systems directly to your Shopify store with our new external triggers feature. Whether you're using warehouse management software, marketing tools, or custom applications, you can now instantly sync data and automate actions between your systems.
What are external triggers?
Think of external triggers as a direct line between your external systems and your Shopify store. They provide flexible endpoints that can be used either as API endpoints for direct calls or webhook endpoints for event-driven integrations, eliminating the need for manual updates or complex integration code. You can now automatically trigger actions in your store when events happen in other systems.
For example, you can:
- Automatically update inventory when your warehouse management system reports changes (webhook integration)
- Instantly adjust prices through direct API calls from your pricing management tool
- Create new products when your supplier catalog sends webhook notifications
- Update order statuses in real-time using API calls from your shipping carrier
How it works
External triggers provide secure endpoints that external systems can call to trigger actions in your store. Each trigger can be configured with various authentication methods to ensure your data stays secure, including Bearer Token, API Key, HTTP Basic, or HMAC authentication.
Choose your integration type based on your needs:
- Use API endpoints when you need immediate, request-response interactions or precise control over timing
- Use webhook endpoints when you want automated updates triggered by events in your external system
Setting up an external trigger is straightforward:
- Create a new hook and select "External" as the trigger type
- Choose your preferred authentication method
- Write your custom logic using our simple JavaScript hook interface
- Configure your external system to either make API calls or send webhooks to your trigger's endpoint, depending on your integration needs.
Getting started
Ready to automate your store with external triggers? Check out our detailed documentation for technical setup instructions and examples.
For inspiration on what you can build, visit our integration showcases and hook examples or reach out to our support team for guidance.