How to Connect WhatsApp with Shopify Flow Using Dondy: The Complete Automation Guide
- Dondy
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
8 min read · Shopify · WhatsApp Business API · Automation Works for all Shopify plans
Shopify Flow is one of the most powerful automation tools built into Shopify. Dondy is the leading WhatsApp marketing and automation platform for Shopify brands. Together, they let you send the right WhatsApp message to the right customer at exactly the right moment, automatically. This guide shows you how to connect both, step by step, with no coding required.
98%
WhatsApp message open rate vs 20% for email
45%
Average abandoned cart recovery rate with WhatsApp
3x
Higher click-through rate vs email campaigns
What you'll learn
Shopify Flow is a built-in automation builder available on all Shopify plans. It lets you create automated workflows triggered by events in your store: an order placed, a customer tag added, a product going out of stock, a refund requested, and dozens more. Until recently, the only actions you could take in Flow were internal: add a tag, send an email, update a record.
Connecting Shopify Flow to WhatsApp via Dondy changes that entirely. Every Flow trigger can now send a personalized WhatsApp message directly to your customer's phone, through the official WhatsApp Business API, with open rates that email simply cannot match.
WhatsApp messages sent through an approved API platform like Dondy are not spam. They are opt-in, template-approved, and delivered through Meta's infrastructure, which means they land in the main WhatsApp inbox, not a filtered folder.
Before you start building, here are the highest-impact automations you can create with Dondy and Shopify Flow:
Size sold out alert to your buying team Trigger: Variant inventory hits zero for a specific size (e.g. M, 38) When a size sells out, Shopify Flow detects it and Dondy instantly sends a WhatsApp message to your buying or warehouse team. Great for fast fashion drops where restocking decisions need to happen within hours.
High-value order alert to sales manager Trigger: Order total exceeds a set threshold (e.g. $500+) Every time a large order comes in, your sales manager gets a WhatsApp ping with the customer name, order value, and items purchased. They can personally follow up, offer white-glove service, or flag it for a gift.
New wholesale customer onboarding Trigger: Customer tagged "wholesale" by your team When you manually tag a new wholesale buyer in Shopify, Flow triggers a Dondy WhatsApp sequence: a welcome message, your lookbook link, a price list, and a prompt to book a call. All automatic, all on WhatsApp.
Refund requested - team escalation Trigger: Refund created on a high-value or repeat customer order When a VIP customer requests a refund, your customer success lead gets an instant WhatsApp alert with the order details so they can step in before the refund is processed.
Seasonal collection early access Trigger: Customer tag "early-access" added before a collection drop Tag your top customers in Shopify before a new season launch. Dondy sends them a personal WhatsApp with a private early-access link 24 hours before the public drop. Feels exclusive, costs nothing extra.
First purchase from a new market Trigger: Order shipping country is a new market for your store When your first order arrives from a country you are expanding into, Dondy alerts your growth or ops team on WhatsApp. A real-time signal that a new market is activating, not something you find in a weekly report.
Loyalty tier upgrade message Trigger: Customer tag updated to "gold" or "vip" by your loyalty app When a customer crosses into a new loyalty tier, Dondy sends a congratulations WhatsApp with their new benefits. Personal, instant, and far more effective than an automated email.
Stylist follow-up after in-store purchase Trigger: POS order tagged with stylist name in Shopify Tag in-store orders with the stylist who assisted. Dondy sends the customer a WhatsApp with outfit completion suggestions and a direct link back to your store. Turns a one-time visit into a long-term relationship.
Once Dondy is installed and your WhatsApp number is connected, you can start building automated flows. Here is how to set up:
1.Go to Dondy Automation Page:
2.Press Create Automation flow:
Choose Flow type: Shopify flow Marketing/Operation/Internal Based on your flow idea:
Write the copy for your message, choose how many parameters you would like to add, and insert a "Shopify Flow variable" wherever you want the parameter to appear in your text. Press Create Flow.
Copy the template id:
Create your flow in Shopify flow: https://apps.shopify.com/flow
Select your trigger or browse templates, then add an action and choose Dondy as the action.
Paste the template and add parameters from the "Add Variable" section. Make sure to add the same number of parameters that you added in your Dondy template.
Turn on the flow and make sure the template is live in Dondy — your automation is now running.
Now that you know how to connect Dondy with Shopify Flow, you understand that you can create your dream automation for any use case or specific need for your business.
The combination of Shopify Flow's logic engine and Dondy's WhatsApp delivery opens up endless possibilities -from notifying your team about high-value orders to sending your VIP customers a personal message the moment they unlock a new loyalty tier.
Every store is different. Your triggers, your customers, and your workflows are unique to your brand. That is exactly why this integration is so powerful - it is not a one-size-fits-all tool. It is a flexible system you can shape around the way your business actually operates. Start with one flow, see the results, and keep building from there.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect Shopify Flow to WhatsApp without coding?
Yes. Dondy connects directly to Shopify Flow with no coding required. You select your trigger in the Dondy flow builder, choose or create a WhatsApp template, and activate the automation. The entire setup takes under 10 minutes.
Do I need a WhatsApp Business API account to use Dondy with Shopify Flow?
Yes. Automated WhatsApp messages require an official WhatsApp Business API number. Dondy helps you set this up through a guided stepper or a free onboarding session with their support team. You cannot send automated messages from a personal WhatsApp or a regular WhatsApp Business app.
What Shopify Flow triggers work with Dondy?
Dondy supports the most important Shopify Flow triggers including abandoned checkout, order created, order fulfilled, customer tag added, and time-based delays after fulfillment. This covers the full post-purchase and re-engagement customer journey.
Is it legal to send WhatsApp messages to customers automatically?
Yes, provided customers have opted in to receive WhatsApp communications. Dondy manages opt-in collection through your Shopify checkout and complies with Meta's WhatsApp Business Policy and GDPR requirements. Never send to customers who have not explicitly opted in.
How long does WhatsApp template approval take?
Meta typically approves WhatsApp message templates within a few hours, and often in under 30 minutes. Dondy submits templates on your behalf and notifies you once they are approved and the flow is live.
Which Dondy plan do I need for Shopify Flow integration?
The Shopify Flow integration is available on Dondy's Power Automation and Elite plans. Both include a 7-day free trial so you can test all flows before committing to a subscription.
Can Dondy handle customer replies to automated WhatsApp messages?
Yes. Dondy includes an AI-powered inbox that can automatically respond to customer replies, answer common questions, and escalate to a human agent when needed. This turns one-way notifications into two-way conversations at scale.
What is the difference between Shopify Flow and Dondy flows?
Shopify Flow is Shopify's native automation builder that handles internal store logic: tagging customers, updating records, and triggering events. Dondy flows handle the WhatsApp communication layer. When connected, Shopify Flow events become WhatsApp message triggers in Dondy, combining internal logic with direct customer messaging.