Overview
For Spirec AB, a growing in-person & e-commerce brand, we developed a deep, two-way integration between Shopify and a custom-built stock, order, and fulfillment management system. This solution automates the entire operational flow—from incoming Shopify orders to warehouse packing and shipment processing—while keeping inventory and order statuses perfectly synchronized.
The goal was to create a single internal interface that supports Spirec’s team in managing high volumes of sales efficiently, with full clarity on every order, product, and shipment across their workflow.
How it works
The integration uses Shopify’s API to pull real-time data into the internal Spirec system. Updates are bi-directional—changes made in the custom app (such as packing status or stock adjustments) are pushed back to Shopify to ensure consistency for customers and staff.
- Orders: New orders from Shopify are synced instantly, including all line items, shipping details, and notes.
- Inventory: Stock levels are tracked and updated automatically, reflecting pack-outs and returns.
- Shipments: Fulfillment statuses and tracking numbers are pushed back to Shopify once an order is packed and ready.
- Metafields: Product-specific data such as storage location and packaging instructions are used to guide the warehouse workflow.
Phase 1: Planning & Inventory Structure
We began by mapping Spirec’s warehouse logic and product catalog. A flexible data model was created to represent bins, products, bundles, and their associated Shopify SKUs.
Shopify product metafields were used to hold custom data such as storage notes or ideal packaging methods—making every step of packing smarter and faster.
Phase 2: Order Lifecycle Management
Each order is tracked from the moment it’s created in Shopify. The system supports:
- Live order queue with filtering and prioritization
- Pick list and packing slip generation
- Status updates (new, partially packed, packed, shipped)
- Real-time visibility into each order's progress
As items are marked packed, the system updates the order record and deducts the inventory. When shipping is confirmed, the tracking number is pushed back to Shopify.
Phase 3: Inventory Sync
Spirec’s internal system is the source of truth for inventory. The integration regularly pushes updated stock counts to Shopify to ensure accurate product availability.
Bulk imports, adjustments, and returns are all managed internally and reflected externally within minutes.
Phase 4: Shipment Handling
When an order is fully packed, shipping labels and tracking numbers are generated. These are synced back to Shopify to notify the customer and mark the order as fulfilled.
The internal system supports partial shipments, backorders, and merging orders from the same customer—features not natively supported by Shopify but essential for Spirec’s workflow.
Challenges & Solutions
- Handling partial fulfillments: Shopify doesn't support partial shipments out-of-the-box. We implemented a workaround where our system tracks fulfillment state and breaks updates into multiple fulfillment records.
- Stock accuracy during sales peaks: To prevent overselling, we introduced temporary stock locks and real-time inventory write-backs to Shopify.
- Metafield scalability: Shopify metafields were managed using structured namespaces to keep custom data clean and scalable.
Results
The custom integration has transformed Spirec AB’s operations. Staff now work from one streamlined system that provides real-time updates, minimizes packing errors, and handles complex logistics with ease.
With order sync, stock control, and shipment tracking now automated and aligned with Shopify, Spirec has reduced its admin workload and improved customer experience during peak campaigns.
This project demonstrates how custom systems, when deeply integrated with Shopify, can give fast-growing in-person & e-commerce businesses a competitive operational edge.