Admin Buttons allow Shopify merchants to manually trigger automations directly from the Shopify Admin. By integrating these buttons with Shopify Flow, merchants can create custom workflows that respond to specific actions, making store operations more efficient. This article will guide you through the general process of connecting an Admin Button to Shopify Flow, highlighting practical use cases and best practices.
Step 1: Create and Customize Your Admin Button
Before you can connect an Admin Button to Shopify Flow, you first need to create a button in Admin Toolkit. Buttons can be added to key Shopify Admin pages, such as order detail or product pages, giving your team the ability to trigger flows directly within the platform.
To get started, follow these steps:
Open the Admin Toolkit App: Navigate to the Admin Buttons section.
Create a New Button: You can start from scratch or use one of the templates provided in the app, such as the template for adding multiple tags to an order or creating a draft order from an existing one.
Customize the Button: Adjust the button’s name, style, and form fields to suit your needs. You might include options for specific actions, such as selecting predefined tags to apply to an order or adding discounts to a draft order.
For more detailed instructions on creating and customizing Admin Buttons, you can refer to the Add Multiple Tags to a Shopify Order at Once article.
Step 2: Integrating Your Admin Button with Shopify Flow
Once your button is created, the next step is to connect it to a Shopify Flow workflow. This allows the button to trigger a series of actions automatically whenever it’s clicked.
Open Shopify Flow: In your Shopify Admin, navigate to the Shopify Flow app.
Choose a Trigger: In the flow creation tool, select Admin Button Clicked as the trigger. This ensures that your flow will start when the button you just created is clicked.
Add Conditions and Actions: Define what happens after the button is clicked. You can add conditions to check specific inputs from the button’s form (e.g., whether certain tags were selected or a discount was applied). You can also configure actions such as creating a draft order, sending a Slack message, or updating product information.
For more guidance on building workflows in Shopify Flow, the Seven Shopify Flow Tips for Non-Developers article offers valuable insights on how to effectively use triggers, handle variables, and integrate APIs.
Step 3: Test and Activate Your Workflow
After setting up the flow, it’s important to test it to ensure everything works as expected:
Test the Button in Admin: Go to the relevant Shopify Admin page (e.g., an order or product page), and click the newly created Admin Button. Make sure the button appears in the correct place and that all form options work as intended.
Review the Flow Execution: In Shopify Flow, you can view the execution details of the workflow to ensure the data passed through correctly and the desired actions were triggered.
Activate the Flow: Once you’re satisfied with the test results, activate the flow so that it runs live whenever the Admin Button is clicked.
For an example of connecting a button to create a draft order, see the Create a Draft Order from an Existing Order article. This guide explains how a button can be used to duplicate an existing order and automatically create a draft order with optional discounts and tags.
Use Cases for Admin Buttons and Shopify Flow
Admin Buttons integrated with Shopify Flow open up numerous possibilities for automation. Here are some examples of what you can achieve:
Adding Multiple Tags to an Order: With a customized Admin Button, you can allow store staff to apply multiple predefined tags to an order with a single click. The button triggers a Shopify Flow that updates the order with all selected tags, making order management faster and more accurate.
Creating a Draft Order from an Existing Order: This use case involves creating a draft order from a completed one, with options to modify line items, apply discounts, and track redelivery or replacement orders.
Advanced Product Updates: Admin Buttons can also be used to trigger flows that update product information, such as adding or removing tags, adjusting prices, or managing inventory based on real-time conditions in your store.
Best Practices for Using Admin Buttons with Shopify Flow
To get the most out of Admin Buttons and Shopify Flow, follow these best practices:
Use Log Output Actions: When building a new flow, start by logging the output of each step. This will help you understand the data being passed through and make debugging easier.
Leverage Conditional Logic: Make sure to set up conditions in Shopify Flow to ensure that only relevant workflows are triggered. This helps prevent unwanted actions and keeps your automations streamlined.
Get Object Data When Necessary: If your workflow requires detailed data from an order or product, use the Get Object Data action to pull in all the necessary information before proceeding with further steps.
By following these steps and tips, you’ll be able to connect your Admin Buttons to Shopify Flow workflows and automate key tasks in your store, saving time and reducing manual work for your team.
Admin Buttons and Shopify Flow offer a powerful combination for customizing and automating your Shopify store’s operations. Whether you’re applying tags, creating draft orders, or updating product data, the integration of these two tools will enable you to build efficient workflows with minimal technical expertise.