Hook — why this matters for builders and founders
Selling on multiple channels is table stakes for scaling an ecommerce business, but juggling listings, stock, and orders across Shopify and Amazon quickly becomes error-prone. Connecting them centralizes inventory and order flow so you can focus on growth, not reconciliation. This guide walks you through a practical, developer-friendly path to link Shopify with Amazon and run it reliably.
Context: what the integration does (and what it doesn't)
When connected, Shopify can list products on Amazon, sync inventory, and import Amazon orders into your Shopify admin. That reduces duplicated manual work and avoids overselling. It’s not magic — you still need to meet Amazon’s listing rules, pay Amazon fees, and choose a fulfillment strategy (merchant-fulfilled vs FBA).
A few realities up front:
- You need an Amazon Professional Seller account (Individual plans don’t qualify).
- Not every country or category is supported by Shopify’s built-in channel.
- Third-party apps exist if the built-in channel doesn’t fit your region or workflow.
If you want a longer walkthrough with screenshots and troubleshooting, see https://prateeksha.com/blog/connect-shopify-to-amazon and browse related posts at https://prateeksha.com/blog. For background on the author and services, visit https://prateeksha.com.
Step-by-step: connect Shopify to Amazon
Follow these steps to go from zero to live:
- Check eligibility
- Confirm your Shopify plan is paid (Basic or higher) and that you’re selling in a supported region (e.g., US, Canada).
Ensure products meet Amazon’s category rules; some categories require approval.
Create or verify your Amazon Seller Central account
Sign up for a Professional Seller account and complete verification.
Have your tax and business information ready; Amazon audits accounts.
Install the Amazon sales channel in Shopify
In Shopify admin: Settings → Apps and sales channels → Shopify App Store.
Search for “Amazon” (Shopify’s built-in Amazon sales channel or apps like Codisto).
Install and follow the prompts.
Connect and authorize
Open the Amazon sales channel and click “Connect Amazon Account.”
Sign in to Seller Central and grant Shopify access (OAuth / API tokens).
Configure listings and mapping
Choose which Shopify products to publish on Amazon.
Match to existing ASINs where possible, or create new listings.
Map SKUs, attributes (title, bullet points), images, and GTIN/UPC fields.
Sync inventory and orders
Enable inventory sync and set rules (e.g., Shopify is the inventory source).
Decide how to handle orders: import to Shopify or process in Seller Central.
Test with one SKU before bulk publishing.
Review, publish, and monitor
Double-check pricing, shipping settings, and product compliance.
Publish and monitor errors or suppressed listings from Shopify and Seller Central.
Developer & implementation tips
- Use distinct SKUs across channels. A consistent SKU is the single best way to reconcile inventory and orders programmatically.
- Automate mapping: if you have many SKUs, script matching by UPC/GTIN and fallback to fuzzy title matching to reduce manual work.
- Start with a small test catalog, then bulk publish once mapping works reliably.
- Monitor rate limits and errors: if you’re using APIs or third-party apps, log API responses and set up alerts for listing failures or inventory mismatches.
- If you use FBA, tag fulfillment-channel changes in Shopify so reporting and margins remain accurate.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Missing GTIN/UPC: Amazon suppresses listings without required global identifiers. Get valid UPCs for your products before publishing.
- Pricing parity and repricing wars: set clear pricing rules and guardrails to avoid losing margin.
- Overwrites from bulk syncs: back up product data before bulk changes. Export CSVs for titles, descriptions, and images.
- Inventory loops: if two systems both think they’re the source of truth, you’ll get thrashing. Decide which system is authoritative and enforce it.
Tools and alternatives
If Shopify’s built-in channel doesn’t suit you, consider third-party integrators that offer more control:
- Codisto (works inside Shopify)
- Sellbrite (multi-channel management)
- ShoppingFeeder (feed-based publishing)
These can be better for complex catalogs, multi-market strategies, or if you need custom mapping and rules.
Quick checklist before go-live
- [ ] Verified Amazon Professional Seller account
- [ ] Product UPC/GTINs and compliant images
- [ ] Backups of Shopify product data
- [ ] One SKU tested end-to-end (listing → order import → fulfillment)
- [ ] Logging & alerts for API errors and inventory mismatches
Conclusion
Connecting Shopify to Amazon reduces manual work and lets you scale a multi-channel ecommerce business from one admin. Treat the integration like any other production system: start small, automate mapping, and put monitoring in place. If you want a deeper, step-by-step guide with examples, check https://prateeksha.com/blog/connect-shopify-to-amazon and explore related articles at https://prateeksha.com/blog. For more about the author and services, visit https://prateeksha.com.
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