5 Steps to Test Shopify Automation Workflows

Want to avoid costly automation issues in your Shopify store? Testing your workflows is the key to ensuring smooth operations, better customer experiences, and avoiding revenue loss. Here’s how you can do it in 5 simple steps:

1. Set Up a Test Environment: Create a Shopify development store to safely test workflows without affecting your live store. Use tools like test mode for payments and replicate key live store data for accurate results.
2. Plan Your Tests: Prioritize workflows that impact order processing, customer service, marketing, and inventory. Write detailed test cases with clear inputs and expected outcomes.
3. Run the Tests: Execute tests in a structured way, simulating real user behavior and tracking errors, performance, and integration issues.
4. Analyze Results: Review test data to measure workflow performance, identify problems, and optimize for better results.
5. Fix and Retest: Update workflows based on test findings, verify changes, and retest to ensure everything works as expected.

Quick Tip: Regular testing can prevent 51% of major store issues and keep your Shopify store running smoothly, even during high-traffic events like Black Friday.

For a detailed guide on each step, keep reading!

How to Automate Your Shopify Store Using Shopify Flow

Step 1: Create a Test Environment

Setting up a dedicated test environment is crucial for validating Shopify automation workflows without interfering with live store operations.

Setting Up a Development Store

The Shopify Partner program allows you to create a free development store with features similar to the Advanced Shopify plan. Here’s how to set it up:

For testing payments using the Bogus Gateway, follow these inputs:

• Enter "1" for a successful transaction.
• Enter "2" for a failed transaction.
• Enter "3" for an exception.

Once your development store is configured, replicate key data from your live store to simulate real-world conditions effectively.

Copying Live Store Data

"Having a robust test environment is essential for validating functionality and performance, as well as ensuring a seamless user experience" .

When transferring live store data:

• Protect sensitive information by masking customer details.
• Select relevant data required for testing workflows.
• Ensure data consistency by using database snapshots to maintain testing accuracy.

For instance, in March 2023, Spotify, a Mailchimp client, tested their email verification system in a controlled environment before rolling it out. This approach reduced their email bounce rate from 12.3% to 2.1% in just 60 days, boosting deliverability by 34% and generating an additional $2.3M in revenue .

Keep in mind that development stores come with some restrictions:

• Only free or Partner-friendly apps can be installed.
• Real transactions require upgrading to a paid plan.
• Password protection cannot be disabled.

Step 2: Plan Your Tests

After setting up your test environment, the next step is to refine your approach by planning your tests.

Select Priority Workflows

Start by focusing on workflows that directly affect operations and customer experience. Map out your store’s automated processes to identify critical tasks and potential trouble spots.

Using Shopify Flow’s visual workflow editor, with its trigger-condition-action design, can make it easier to identify which workflows need immediate attention .

Once you’ve set your priorities, create specific test cases for each workflow.

Write Test Cases

For each workflow, define test cases with clear inputs, expected results, and success criteria. Focus on these key areas:

• Functionality Testing
  Check integrations like payment gateways, shipping carriers, inventory updates, customer account management, and order processing.
• Performance Validation
  Evaluate factors such as page load times, transaction speeds, system behavior under heavy traffic, database query efficiency, and API response times.
• Security Verification
  Test critical features like two-factor authentication, payment data encryption, password policies, access controls, and data backup systems.

Take advantage of Shopify Flow’s pre-built templates and LambdaTest‘s case formats, customizing them to suit your store’s specific needs .

Step 3: Run the Tests

Now that your test cases are ready, it’s time to run them in your test environment to ensure each workflow functions as expected.

Test Each Workflow

Stick to a structured method by using detailed test scripts that mimic real user behavior. Focus on these two areas:

• Systematic Validation
  Create detailed test scripts that include the test case ID, a brief description, preconditions, execution steps, expected outcomes, and actual results.
• Geographic Testing
  Leverage tools like Uptime to simulate user interactions from different regions. This helps confirm that workflows perform consistently across locations.

"We were using tools to monitor our store but nothing had the ability to replicate flows, track Shopify status alerts, and notify various teams in Slack/email of a problem. Knowing, very quickly, if we have broken something is priceless."
– Michael Jankie, Founder @ Natural Patch

As you complete each workflow test, document the results immediately. This makes troubleshooting easier and more efficient.

Record All Results

After testing, log the results in a standardized system. Use testing tools to track:

• Functionality and Errors: Record any discrepancies, error messages, and their severity.
• Performance: Measure response times and how well the system handles the load.
• Integration Points: Monitor how third-party integrations operate and manage data flow.

ShopMagic’s "Send test" feature is a great option for testing automations in a controlled environment . These test runs won’t impact your analytics.

"Love this app. Really cool way to automate testing on your website. Super easy to set up and the test flows can monitor every nook and cranny of your website. It can even monitor 3rd party app outages. Has everything you need in a QA tool!"
– Nathan, eCommerce Manager @ Linus Bikes

For instance, automated testing once flagged an issue on a collections page where customers couldn’t add items to their cart. The team quickly fixed it by redirecting users to an alternative landing page, avoiding substantial revenue loss .

Work closely with your development team to resolve issues quickly and refine your test scripts based on the results . This ongoing process ensures your workflows improve as you move toward analyzing the outcomes.

Step 4: Check Test Results

Once you’ve gathered all your test results, it’s time to dive into a detailed analysis of your store’s performance.

Measure Performance

Use your test data to evaluate key metrics like conversion rates (CTR, Add-to-Cart, Conversion Rate, Revenue per Visitor), order performance (Average Order Value, total Revenue), and customer journey insights (Visitors, Clicks, Bounce Rate). Make sure to analyze data from at least three days and a minimum of 30 orders per variant .

Fix Common Problems

While reviewing the results, you might encounter some common issues. Here’s how to handle them:

Script Errors: Use the Script Editor’s built-in tools and Console box to identify and fix any errors .

Customer Journey Issues: Tools like uptime monitors can help you catch disruptions early. For example, Yanal, Founder of The Peace Collective, shared:

"The Shopify Cart API outage had a huge effect on us. Customers were unable to add products to cart. Uptime notified our team about the issue, which allowed us to stop pulling our hair out and focus on what we could control. It’s our own personal Shopify down detector."

Workflow Optimization Tips

Here are some quick tips to streamline your process:

• Use automated tools to generate performance reports .
• Keep an eye on store metrics to spot irregularities .
• Check the "Recent runs" section in Shopify Flow for any flagged issues .
• Duplicate scripts to test and debug more effectively .

For more complex challenges, consider reaching out to experts like the E-commerce Dev Group, who specialize in Shopify optimization and custom development (https://scaleshopify.com).

"Uptime is a must-have for anyone running paid ads. If your site goes down you’re literally burning money. Happened to us twice last year and each time we burned several thousand dollars because it took hours to realize Shopify was down." – Mehul Patel, Founder @ Uproot Clean

Tackle these issues quickly, update your workflows, and retest to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Step 5: Fix and Test Again

Update Workflows

Head over to Shopify Flow, identify workflows that need adjustments, and tweak them based on your test results.

When making updates to workflows, focus on these areas:

• Review Trigger Events
  Double-check triggers like inventory thresholds to ensure they fire as expected.
• Fine-Tune Conditions
  Align workflow conditions with your business rules. For example, if you’re using tools like Arigato Workflow Automation for managing inventory, make sure metafield updates reflect accurate stock levels .
• Adjust Actions
  Customize workflow actions to suit your needs. If you’re using pre-built templates from platforms like Pandaflow, adapt them while keeping the essential functionality intact .

Verify Changes

After updating workflows, test them immediately to confirm everything works as intended.

• Simulate Real Scenarios
  Use a bogus gateway to mimic real business operations, review "Recent runs", and confirm that workflows complete successfully .
• Track Performance
  Use Shopify Flow’s built-in analytics to monitor completion rates, identify errors, measure execution times, and check condition evaluations .

For workflows that involve multiple apps or complex conditions, it’s helpful to create a testing matrix to keep everything organized:

Conclusion

Summary

Regular testing is key to keeping your store running smoothly and avoiding revenue loss. Research shows that identifying issues early can prevent 51% of major store problems . With the typical Shopify Plus store relying on over six apps and facing about four app outages each month , having a structured testing process is a must. By following a clear plan, you can address problems quickly, keep operations steady during busy periods, ensure apps work well together, and protect your revenue.

A five-step testing process helps maintain dependable workflows, which is especially important since 30% of customers leave stores after a bad experience . Consistent testing and monitoring not only keep your store running but also safeguard its long-term success.

For businesses looking to improve their workflows, expert support is available to help.

E-commerce Dev Group Services

To keep your store performing at its best, professional help can make a big difference. E-commerce Dev Group provides services designed to optimize Shopify workflows, including:

"If you’re running ads and your site goes down you’re literally burning money. Happened to us twice last year and each time we burned several thousand dollars because it took us hours to realize that our site was broken. So having Uptime is an absolute must have." – Mehul, Founder @ Uproot Clean

Partnering with skilled developers ensures proper testing and monitoring of your automation workflows, helping you avoid costly disruptions and maintain top-tier store performance.

Related Blog Posts

• Pre-Launch Checklist: 15 Steps Before Going Live on Shopify
• 10 Shopify Flow Examples for E-commerce Automation
• Shopify Flow: Automation Features Explained
• Checklist for Shopify Responsive Theme Setup