Before You Start

This guide targets E-commerce directors, controllers, and IT managers at enterprise-level retail companies. You will need active Shopify Plus and NetSuite subscriptions, along with a budget for a third-party integration platform.

Overview

60 min
Setup Time
Expert
Difficulty
Daily
Maintenance

What You’ll Learn

  • How to automate order-to-cash, inventory, and fulfillment processes
  • Configuring a pre-built connector for robust data synchronization
  • Strategies for managing high-volume data transfers between platforms
  • Ensuring data accuracy and maintaining system integrity across your ERP and e-commerce
  • Optimizing NetSuite for scalable Shopify Plus e-commerce operations

1. Preparation Steps

Before connecting your systems, define key data points and prepare NetSuite for integration:

Required Data Objects & Mappings

  • Sales Orders (Shopify Plus to NetSuite)
  • Customer Records (Shopify Plus to NetSuite)
  • Item Records (NetSuite to Shopify Plus)
  • Inventory Adjustments (NetSuite to Shopify Plus)

Optional (but recommended)

  • Returns and Refunds (Shopify Plus to NetSuite)
  • Gift Certificates/Cards (Shopify Plus to NetSuite)
  • Promotions and Discounts (Shopify Plus to NetSuite)
  • Price Lists (NetSuite to Shopify Plus)

2. Choosing Your Integration Strategy

You have two main approaches for a robust ERP integration.

Method A: Custom-Built Integration

This involves developing an integration from scratch using APIs.

Pros:
  • Ultimate control over data flow.
  • Tailored to unique business logic.
  • Can precisely match legacy systems.
Cons:
  • High development cost and time.
  • Significant ongoing maintenance burden.
  • Requires specialized technical expertise.

Method B: Pre-Built Connectors (Celigo, Boomi, Workato)

These are established, paid platforms offering managed integration solutions.

Expert Tip: For enterprise-level Shopify Plus to NetSuite integration, we strongly recommend using a pre-built connector like Celigo. These platforms offer reliability, scalability, faster deployment, and significantly reduce long-term maintenance overhead compared to custom solutions.

3. High-Level Connector Workflow

Here is how data typically flows with a pre-built integration connector.

Here is a sample code block to show how a NetSuite Sales Order might be represented for integration.

{
  "external_id": "SHOPIFY-ORDER-12345",
  "entity": {
    "internalid": "6789"
  },
  "trandate": "2025-10-29",
  "memo": "Shopify Plus Order",
  "item": {
    "items": [
      {
        "item": {
          "internalid": "ITEM-SKU-A"
        },
        "quantity": 2,
        "amount": 19.99
      },
      {
        "item": {
          "internalid": "ITEM-SKU-B"
        },
        "quantity": 1,
        "amount": 49.99
      }
    ]
  },
  "salesrep": {
    "internalid": "123"
  },
  "location": {
    "internalid": "456"
  }
}

4. Setting Up Your Connector

  1. 1

    Connect Shopify Plus to Connector

    Authorize your chosen connector to access your Shopify Plus store via API credentials. Ensure appropriate permissions are granted for data extraction and updates.

  2. 2

    Connect NetSuite to Connector

    Establish a secure connection between your connector and NetSuite. This typically involves setting up NetSuite roles, users, and enabling token-based authentication (TBA) or similar API access.

  3. 3

    Configure Integration Flows

    Map fields for critical data flows like Orders, Items, Customers, Inventory, Fulfillment, and Financials. Define synchronization schedules (e.g., real-time, hourly, daily) and error handling procedures.

Common Error: Data Inconsistencies

Ensure all required custom fields in NetSuite have corresponding mappings from Shopify Plus data. Mismatched data types or missing fields are common culprits for failed syncs and data integrity issues.

5. Testing and Validation

Integration Validation Checklist

  • Process multiple end-to-end test orders with various scenarios (discounts, multiple items, new customers)
  • Verify inventory levels update correctly in Shopify Plus after fulfillment in NetSuite
  • Confirm customer record synchronization, including updates to existing records
  • Validate all financial transactions (sales, taxes, shipping, fees) are correctly posted to NetSuite GL accounts
  • Test error handling and notification mechanisms for failed syncs

Need Help?

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Implementing an enterprise-level integration can be complex. Our expert team can provide guidance and troubleshoot your specific workflow.

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