And how to set them up yourself in just a few minutes.
Many Shopify retailers still rely on manual spreadsheets, reminders and notes to “check this tomorrow”. Shopify Flow provides a powerful way to automate common tasks without writing code or commissioning a custom app.
This article introduces two practical automations that can provide immediate relief in day-to-day store operations:
- Automatically tag returning customers
- Receive an automatic stock warning when a product is running low
Both workflows address common operational needs and can be imported. The ready-made .flow files are linked below.
1. Automatically tag returning customers
Many retailers manually filter for repeat buyers, although Shopify Flow can do this automatically. When a customer places their second order, Flow adds a customer tag. The tag can then be used for VIP programmes, email automation, personalised offers or internal reporting.
How the workflow works
Trigger:
Order created
Condition:
Customer orders count > 1
Action:
Add customer tag
Important:
Enter your preferred tag yourself, for example “repeat-customer”, “VIP” or “Loyalty”.
A note on Flow versions:
Field names and their presentation can differ between interface versions. The underlying check is whether the customer’s order count exceeds one.
Download:
Repeat customer workflow (.flow)
Ready to import.
2. Low stock: an automatic inventory warning
This workflow helps prevent an important product from selling out unnoticed. When a variant drops below a chosen threshold, such as five units, Flow automatically sends a message to the team or purchasing department.
Customers can also be notified when the product becomes available again, but this requires an additional app working with a separate workflow.
The stock warning saves time, helps avoid lost sales and makes it easier to keep bestsellers available.
How the workflow works
Trigger:
Product variant inventory quantity changed
This is the relevant trigger because inventory is tracked at variant level.
Condition:
Variant inventory quantity is less than your threshold.
For example: < 5
Action:
Send internal email
Important:
Enter the recipient email address yourself, such as the address of your purchasing, warehouse or store team.
The message can include variables such as:
{{ product.title }}{{ variant.title }}{{ variant.sku }}{{ variant.inventory_quantity }}
A note on Flow versions:
The wording of operators such as “equals”, “does not equal” and “is less than” can vary with the interface language and version. The intended comparison remains the same.
Download:
Low-stock warning workflow (.flow)
Ready to import.
A note on back-in-stock notifications
Retailers sometimes expect Flow alone to know which customer requested an unavailable product. That requires a system that records those requests; the inventory workflow itself does not maintain a waiting list.
Dedicated back-in-stock apps can provide this functionality. Examples include:
- Klaviyo Back-in-Stock
- Appikon Back in Stock
- BackInStock.com
- Restock Alerts
- Notify Me
These apps store the relevant customer requests and, where they support a Flow action, can be triggered by Flow.
Small workflows, a significant effect
These two automations are useful examples from the Shopify ecosystem. They save time, reduce errors and support more professional processes without requiring daily manual intervention. There are many more workflows to explore.
For many of our customers, these are the first steps towards:
- Stronger customer retention
- Cleaner data management
- More efficient inventory processes
- Broader automation across the store
More automations for your business
These examples are just a starting point. As part of ongoing maintenance or a planned move to Shopify, we develop custom automations tailored to a retailer’s catalogue, sales, marketing and internal processes.
Would you like to know which automations are possible in your store?
