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Automation ideas

Shopify Flow lets you build automated workflows without code. Combined with Checkout Links, you can create powerful automations that save time and drive revenue.

Shopify Flow is free for all Shopify plans. Find it in your Shopify admin under Apps > Shopify Flow.

Checkout Links creates the links — it doesn't send emails. You'll need an email platform like Klaviyo, Omnisend, or Shopify Email to deliver your checkout links to customers.

What You Can Automate

  • Customer Triggers - Send checkout links when customers do something
  • Order Triggers - Follow up after purchases with targeted links
  • Product Triggers - Create links when inventory or products change
  • Tag Triggers - Segment customers and deliver personalized links

Automation Ideas

Reorder Reminder

Send customers a one-click reorder link after enough time has passed for consumable products.

Trigger: Order created
Wait: 30 days (adjust to your product's usage cycle)
Condition: Order contains [consumable product]
Action: Send email with checkout link

Create your reorder link — In Checkout Links, create a link with the consumable product, an optional loyalty discount, and UTM: `source=flow&campaign=reorder`. Build the Flow — Go to Shopify Flow, create a new workflow with trigger "Order created", add condition "Order line items contain [product]", add wait of 30 days, then add action to send email (via your email platform) with your reorder link. Test — Create a test order and verify the flow triggers correctly.

VIP Early Access

Give VIP customers first access to new products or sales.

Trigger: Customer tags contain "VIP"
Condition: New product created OR inventory restocked
Action: Send checkout link before public launch

Create VIP link — Add the new product, enable link scheduling (active before public launch), add VIP-exclusive discount or gift, and UTM: `source=flow&campaign=vip-early-access`. Build the Flow — Trigger: "Product created" or "Inventory quantity changed". Add action: Send email to VIP segment. Include your checkout link.

The link is active for VIPs but the product isn't publicly available yet. When launch day arrives, disable the VIP link and create a public one.

Win-Back Lapsed Customers

Re-engage customers who haven't purchased in a while.

Trigger: Customer last order > 90 days ago
Condition: Customer has made at least 2 orders
Action: Send win-back email with incentive checkout link

Create win-back link — Add best-selling product or their past purchase, include win-back discount (15-20% works well), set expiration (7 days creates urgency), and UTM: `source=flow&campaign=winback`. Build the Flow — Flow can't directly trigger on "no order for X days," so use a workaround. **Option A:** Create a scheduled workflow that runs weekly, queries customers with last order > 90 days ago, and sends win-back email. **Option B:** Use a separate Flow to tag customers as "lapsed" when no order in 90 days, then trigger on "Customer tag added = lapsed".

Post-Purchase Upsell

Offer complementary products after a purchase.

Trigger: Order created
Condition: Order contains [Product A]
Action: Send checkout link for [complementary Product B]

Map product relationships — Decide which products pair together: Coffee machine > Coffee pods, Skincare serum > Moisturizer, Running shoes > Performance socks. Create upsell links — For each pairing, create a checkout link with the complementary product, a bundle discount ("Complete the set: 10% off"), and UTM: `source=flow&campaign=upsell-{product}`. Build the Flow — Trigger: "Order created". Condition: "Order contains [Product A]". Wait: 3-7 days. Action: Send email with checkout link for Product B.

Birthday/Anniversary Rewards

Celebrate customers with exclusive offers.

Trigger: Customer birthday or signup anniversary
Action: Send personalized checkout link with gift

Create celebration link — Add popular product or gift card, include birthday discount or free gift, set expiration (7 days), and UTM: `source=flow&campaign=birthday`. Build the Flow — Trigger: "Customer date field matches today". Condition: Verify customer has birthday on file. Action: Send birthday email with checkout link.

Birthday automations require customer birthdays in your database. Collect via signup forms or profile updates.

Low Stock Alert to Waitlist

Notify customers when products they want are back in stock.

Trigger: Inventory quantity changed (from 0 to >0)
Condition: Product has waitlist tag
Action: Send checkout link to waitlisted customers

Set up waitlist tracking — Use a waitlist app or custom metafield to track interested customers. Create back-in-stock link — Add the restocked product, consider a "thanks for waiting" discount, set usage limits if inventory is limited, and UTM: `source=flow&campaign=back-in-stock`. Build the Flow — Trigger: "Inventory quantity changed". Condition: Previous quantity = 0 AND new quantity > 0. Action: Send email to waitlist segment with checkout link.

Tag VIP Customers from Link Usage

Track which customers use your premium checkout links.

Trigger: Order created
Condition: Order has utm_campaign = "vip-sale"
Action: Add "vip-engaged" tag to customer

This creates a self-reinforcing VIP segment: customers who engage with VIP offers get tagged, making them eligible for future VIP campaigns.

UTM attribution requires orders to be placed through your checkout link. The UTM parameters need to flow through to the order data.

Best Practices

Name Links Clearly

Use descriptive link names that match your Flow workflows:

  • flow-reorder-coffee-30d
  • flow-vip-early-access-jan
  • flow-winback-15off

This makes it easy to track which links belong to which automations.

Use UTM Parameters

Always include UTM tracking:

  • utm_source=flow
  • utm_medium=email or sms
  • utm_campaign=[workflow-name]

Track Flow-driven revenue in your Checkout Links analytics.

Test Before Activating

  1. Create a test customer
  2. Trigger the workflow manually
  3. Verify the email sends with correct link
  4. Complete a test checkout
  5. Check attribution in analytics

Monitor Performance

Review weekly:

  • Which Flow automations drive the most revenue?
  • Are any links expiring or underperforming?
  • Does timing need adjustment?

Troubleshooting

Check that your trigger conditions match real data. Use Flow's built-in testing to simulate triggers.

Verify your email template includes the link. Check that the correct link URL is in the campaign.

UTM parameters must flow through the entire checkout. Verify your link includes UTM parameters and customers are using the link (not navigating directly).

Add a condition to check if customer already received this campaign. Use Flow's "has not received email in last X days" condition.

Related Resources

Updated March 6 2026
Shopify Flow
Dynamic Links Overview

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