Shopify Webhooks

Overview

Webhooks are a tool for retrieving data based on certain events. They allow you to register a URL where the event data can be stored in JSON or XML formats. Webhooks are commonly used for getting order information or changing a product's price. Some of the benefits are faster inventory updates, prevention of overselling, and automatic updates on fulfillment status. Sellercloud can use Shopify Webhooks to receive immediate notifications whenever an order is created on Shopify prior to the order being paid or confirmed in order to reserve the product quantity. The notification will then trigger an inventory update for the ordered item.

Shopify Webhooks

Sellercloud uses Shopify Webhooks to identify new orders placed on the website. Once the information comes in, the following events occur:

• A Pending Order is created. Because the order identified by the Webhook is usually not finalized on the marketplace, Sellercloud stores the information about it in the backend and deducts a Pending Order Reserve from the order item's available inventory.

• Due to the change in Available Inventory, Sellercloud triggers a quantity update to Shopify in order to prevent overselling. If the Pending Orders are Cancelled, those reserves are released to your Aggregate Inventory.

• Webhooks can also identify and update a pending order, including:

  • Changes in the order items.
  • The order’s fulfillment can be created or updated.
  • Order payment.
  • Changes to the shipping address.

Orders from the Webhook are accounted for as they impact your inventory. Sellercloud stores the information in the backend calculates the available inventory, and updates the item on Shopify.

Webhooks only create Pending Orders in Sellercloud, which are not visible in the interface. A new Order will only be created in Sellercloud with the regular order download feeds.

Configure Shopify Webhooks

1. Create a Shopify webhook following the Shopify instructions.
2. The Webhook Event drop-down - Refers to Order Creation.
3. The format type drop-down - Refers to XML.
4. Webhook URL - https://___.cwa.sellercloud.com/shopifywebhookreceiver.aspx, where underscore (___) is your server ID. The webhook URL should be configured exactly as shown above to work properly.
5. After the webhook is created, a verification ID appears at the bottom of Shopify’s Notifications page and is used to confirm that the notification is coming from your Shopify account.
6. Copy the ID.
7. In Sellercloud, navigate to Settings > Manage Companies > select your company.
8. Go to Toolbox > Website > Sellercloud Integrated Website > Shopify General.
9. Click Edit > Paste the ID into the API Verification Key field.
10. Save.