How We Automated a Shopify Store Using AI, Make.com & Custom Workflows
Running a successful Shopify store means managing product updates, order flows, customer service, and marketing — all at once.
In this case study, we show how we helped a fast-growing e-commerce brand automate their operations, personalize their marketing, and reduce manual workload — using a custom AI-powered automation stack integrated with Shopify.
The Challenge
Our client ran a high-traffic Shopify store with:
- Hundreds of SKUs
- Seasonal product launches
- Manual inventory updates
- Repetitive customer support
- Limited insight into buyer behavior
They were using Shopify’s native features and a few apps, but kept hitting walls:
- Marketing automation lacked personalization
- Customer service was repetitive and slow
- Operations required constant spreadsheet syncing
- Their team was overwhelmed with manual tasks
The Solution: A Smart Automation Stack for Shopify
We implemented a lean, modular automation system using:
- Shopify Admin & Storefront APIs for deep integration
- Make.com as the orchestration layer for workflows
- OpenAI + Claude for content generation and smart responses
- Airtable as the data hub for tracking, tagging, and reporting
- Optional: Klaviyo & Slack for messaging and internal alerts
Key Workflows We Built
1. AI-Generated Product Descriptions
- Pull new product data from Shopify
- Auto-generate SEO-friendly descriptions using OpenAI
- Send for manual approval or push directly to product detail pages
2. Automated Order Monitoring + Exception Alerts
- Monitor all new orders via webhook
- Flag issues like missing shipping info or high-risk payments
- Alert the team via Slack or email with contextual data
3. Customer Support AI Assistant
- Use AI to respond to common inquiries (e.g. order status, shipping delays)
- Pull real-time data from Shopify via API
- Auto-draft replies for human approval or send directly via Helpdesk integration
4. AI-Powered Email Campaigns (via Klaviyo)
- Segment customers based on purchase history and behavior
- Generate dynamic subject lines and product recommendations with AI
- Automate monthly campaigns with zero manual copywriting
5. Inventory Syncing with Suppliers
- Automatically sync stock levels from Google Sheets or CSV via Airtable
- Update Shopify inventory every 30 minutes
- Reduce overselling and manual errors
Results After 45 Days
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Time spent on content updates | 10+ hours/week | <1 hour/week |
| Support tickets auto-handled | 0% | 38% |
| Campaign creation time | ~4 hours | ~20 minutes |
| Order error rate | 4.7% | <1.2% |
| Monthly Shopify app costs | $500+ | $120 |
By combining Shopify’s flexibility with automation and AI, the store became faster, smarter, and leaner — without adding headcount.
Why This Worked
- AI removed bottlenecks in content and support
- Make.com created the glue between Shopify and other systems
- Airtable served as the control panel for tracking and dynamic logic
- Everything stayed lightweight — no heavy apps or plugins
The system grew with their business — without becoming a new problem to manage.
Want to Automate Your Shopify Operations?
We help stores build intelligent workflows that save time, improve CX, and scale seamlessly — without drowning in apps or spreadsheets.