Managing Retail Product Variants and Sync Behavior in ShopConnect
With the release of ShopConnect 2.8, significant improvements have been made to the system’s handling of product updates, including variant updates and barcode management. These updates streamline the syncing process, reduce manual intervention, and provide error alerts to address any issues during synchronization.
Key features of this update include:
- Support for variant updates, allowing the addition of options such as Color and Size to existing products.
- Improved barcode management, ensuring seamless synchronization even when barcodes change in MBO.
- Error alerts with instructions for resolving sync issues. (See below images)
Barcode management remains critical to maintaining seamless syncing between MBO and Shopify. Here’s how barcode changes impact syncing and how to address them effectively:
- The sync between MBO and Shopify relies on a lookup table to associate products using barcodes.
- If a barcode in MBO changes, it will no longer match the SKU in Shopify, breaking the sync.
- Manually Update the SKU in Shopify
- Update the SKU in Shopify to match the new barcode from MBO.
- Update or Remove the APIANT Reference
- Request APIANT Support to update or remove the reference for the product in your APIANT account to restore synchronization.
To simplify barcode and SKU management:
- Assign the same universal number to the Shopify SKU, and MBO barcode before syncing. If you are using the Shopify Barcode field then also update that field too.
- Note: the Shopify Barcode field is not part of the retail product sync. Only the MBO Barcode is synced to the Shopify SKU, not the Shopify Barcode.
- When syncing from MBO to Shopify for the first time, the MBO barcode will automatically populate as the SKU in Shopify.
For multiple products:
- Export all products from Shopify into a spreadsheet.
- Copy the SKU column into the barcode column.
- Re-import the updated spreadsheet into Shopify to update all barcode fields simultaneously.
Steps to Resolve:
- Manually update the SKU in Shopify to match the new barcode.
- Request APAINT Support to Update or remove the reference for the product in your APIANT account to ensure it syncs correctly.
Key Points to Note
- Once a product is synced, only price and inventory updates are supported for subsequent syncs. Fields like the title and description can only be updated if the image and description sync is enabled; otherwise, these fields remain unchanged after the initial product creation.
- Variants or options cannot be automatically added to a synced product through the system. (See details below.)
- To modify other fields, such as adding or removing variants, you must follow the specific processes outlined below.
The current release introduces support for variant updates, reducing the need for manual intervention when products require new options.
- Variants such as Color and Size can now be added directly in Shopify, and ShopConnect will sync these updates.
- If a product fails to sync, you will receive an email alert with a link to the affected product and instructions for resolving the issue. (See images below)
- No Variants Initially Product Name: Towel (no variants: no color, no size)
- Problem: Variants like color or size added later won’t auto-sync.
- Solution:
- Add missing variants in Shopify.
- Run a new sync in ShopConnect to apply updates.
- Adding Variants to an Existing Product Product Name: Towel (1 variant: color - RED)
- Problem: Additional variants (e.g., size) need to be added.
- Solution:
- Add the new variant (e.g., Size) directly in Shopify.
- Add the Size variant in MBO.
- ShopConnect will update the product with the new options during the next sync.
- Removing Variants Product Name: Towel (2 variants: color - RED, size - LARGE)
- Problem: A variant name needs to be removed. ie: removing all size variants and keeping the Color options.
- Solution:
- First, remove the variant option in Shopify ie: Size
- Set the Size variant in MBO to None.
- ShopConnect will update the product during the next sync.
ShopConnect automatically alerts users when sync errors occur:
- Example Alert: "The Shopify product named "Sweat Pants" needs a 'Color' option added."
- Resolution: Add the missing option in Shopify and retry the sync.
Alerts include direct links to the affected product and instructions for resolving the issue.
- Barcode Management
- Avoid changing barcodes in MBO unless absolutely necessary.
- Use universal numbers for barcodes and SKUs to maintain consistency.
- Variant Setup
- Plan product configurations carefully before syncing to minimize disruptions.
- For new options like Color or Size, first, add variant option names to products directly in Shopify for seamless syncing.
- Monitor Alerts
- Keep an eye on email alerts for sync errors and resolve issues promptly.
- Leverage Bulk Updates
- Use spreadsheets for bulk updates in Shopify to streamline changes to barcodes or variants.
ShopConnect update delivers powerful enhancements for managing product variants and barcodes. With automated alerts and streamlined workflows, users can minimize disruptions and maintain a smooth syncing process between MBO and Shopify.
For further assistance, feel free to reach out to our Customer Success team at [email protected].
