As an integration expert, Flits understands that no SaaS platform can sustain itself in the long run if it doesn’t have an API that is flexible enough to accommodate integrations with multiple apps to suit the users’ needs. This blog will cover aspects of integrations from a business perspective, and why we claim that we are an expert when it comes to integrations.
Integration is not just about harnessing the power of two or various apps; they can do much more. Integrations provided by an app directly impact a merchant’s ability to serve their customers. Hence, we give a lot of importance to integrations. We have perfected the process to the extent that we can proudly claim that Flits is now an integration expert.
Before diving into why we claim that we are an expert in integrations, let’s understand the benefits, and challenges of integrations.
Benefits of an integration for a Shopify merchant
Integrations aren’t a plug and play decision, they are a marketing strategy that involves enhancing a functionality or improving the user experience or give the merchant access to a flow/data that connects multiple apps without having to operate them independently. Following are the benefits of of integrations for a Shopify merchant.
Enhanced User Experience
Most integrations are customer-centric and designed to elevate the overall user experience. These improvements span from simplifying access to creating rewarding mechanisms for customer activities.
For instance, integrating loyalty programs or personalized recommendations directly contributes to a more engaging and enjoyable shopping journey. Chances are, a single app cannot cater to this requirement; hence, merchants will need an integration.
Time and Cost Savings
Integration ensures that valuable information is not trapped in isolated silos, enabling its collection in a way that benefits both users and customers. Without integration, leveraging the full potential of multiple apps may require significant time and cost investments. Seamless integration, on the other hand, optimizes resource utilization, contributing to substantial savings over time.
Increased Productivity
App integration drastically reduces the time spent manually transferring data between different applications. Once integration is in place, data flows seamlessly, enhancing efficiency and freeing valuable time for store merchants.
Better Decision-Making with Data Insights
Certain app features may not provide meaningful insights individually, but integrating them with other apps can create a more comprehensive understanding. For example, combining customer behavior data with inventory management insights can lead to better decision-making, guiding merchants towards strategies that resonate with their audience and drive sales.
Reduced Errors and Data Duplicates
In scenarios where multiple apps interact with the same database, the risk of data duplication and errors increases. Integrations act as a cohesive solution, preventing duplicity and ensuring data accuracy.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Integration facilitates the simultaneous use of two or more apps, offering flexibility and adaptability in daily operations. Without integration, managing different tools simultaneously can become cumbersome and inefficient. With seamless integration, merchants can navigate various applications seamlessly, adapting to evolving business needs and industry standards.
Streamlined Operations
Integration streamlines operations by connecting diverse apps, creating a more cohesive and interconnected ecosystem. This interconnectedness reduces manual interventions and enhances the overall efficiency of store management.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
One of the primary goal of integration is to enhance customer satisfaction. From personalized experiences to efficient order processing, integrated apps contribute to a seamless and enjoyable shopping journey. This positive experience retains existing customers and attracts new ones, creating a loyal customer base for the Shopify merchant.
Challenges businesses face when trying to integrate various apps and systems
The biggest challenge businesses face while trying to integrate two or more two apps is the timeline and bureaucracy in larger firms while smaller firms may face workforce shortage or lack of resources to fulfill the requirements. Other challenges include API issues, loading issues post-integration, lack of communication and lack of resources (timewise or workforce-wise) from any of the apps.
Integrating multiple apps and systems is a commendable initiative for businesses seeking efficiency and streamlined operations. However, the journey towards integration is often riddled with challenges that require careful navigation.
Here, we explore the significant hurdles businesses encounter during the integration process:
Timeline Constraints
One of the foremost challenges is the constraint imposed by timelines. The urgency to integrate apps promptly, especially in dynamic business environments, can lead to rushed decisions and implementation.
Bureaucracy in Big software firms
In more giant corporations, bureaucratic processes can impede the integration process. Decision-making hierarchies, approval loops, and lengthy procedures may slow down the implementation of integration strategies.
API Issues
The backbone of any integration is the Application Programming Interface (API). API issues, such as compatibility, functionality mismatches, or limitations in API capabilities, can hinder data flow between applications.
Lack of Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful integration. Lack of communication between different teams or departments involved in the integration process can lead to misunderstandings, misalignment of goals, and, ultimately, integration failures.
Lack of Resources
Integration efforts demand resources, both in terms of time and workforce. Insufficient resources allocated to the integration process can result in delays, errors, and suboptimal outcomes. Smaller firms may come across this challenge if they are working on multiple integrations.
Security Concerns
Integrating apps involves the exchange of sensitive data between systems. Security concerns, such as data breaches or vulnerabilities in integrated systems, pose significant challenges.
Resistance to Change
Employees and stakeholders may resist changes introduced by integration initiatives. Overcoming resistance to change requires effective change management strategies, comprehensive training programs, and transparent communication about the benefits of integration for all involved parties.
Flits, the integration expert
Flits is a comprehensive customer portal that acts as a central hub for enhancing customer experience and engagement. In addition to offering a user-friendly and personalized customer portal, Flits goes above and beyond by providing multiple premium tools designed to optimize customer acquisition and retention strategies.
The customer account page has multiple tabs like profile, address, recently viewed items, custom fields & an order history tab, and reorder and contact us buttons.
One of the standout features within Flits is the Store Credits or Reward Program tool. Store credit enables merchants to implement a reward system that encourages customer loyalty.
By offering store credits for purchases or specific actions, merchants can foster a positive relationship with their customer base, boosting retention rates and encouraging repeat business.
The Wishlist tool within Flits allows customers to curate a personalized list of desired products. This feature facilitates a streamlined shopping experience for customers. It serves as a valuable source of insight for merchants regarding customer preferences.
Understanding customer wishlists allows merchants to tailor their marketing strategies, promoting the items that customers have expressed a strong interest in, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful conversions.
Social Login is another powerful tool offered by Flits. By simplifying the login process through social media credentials, merchants can significantly reduce friction in the customer journey. Social Login is vital in optimizing customer onboarding and fostering a seamless and efficient user experience.
Flits also uses the Advanced Order History tool; advanced order history lets customers filter and sort their past purchases.
Flits stand out as a robust solution by consolidating these premium tools within its customer portal. By providing an intuitive and feature-rich environment, Flits empowers Shopify merchants to display relevant information and engage customers through retention-focused tools, ultimately contributing to a thriving and loyal customer base.
Flits recently changed significantly; the admin was re-designed as per Shopify Polaris. The user flows were transformed for a better user experience. We also utilized this opportunity to cover our old admin’s significant pain points.
What sets Flits apart as an integration expert
Flits is integrated with more than 35 apps with multiple use cases. One of the critical strengths of Flits lies in its ability to cater to high-traffic stores easily. The integrations established by Flits are robust and capable of handling heavy usage scenarios. It ensures that the flow of data and transactions remains smooth even in environments with a significant volume of activity.
The capability is particularly beneficial for businesses operating on the Shopify Plus platform, where demands for scalability and performance are paramount.
Furthermore, Flits has extended its integration expertise to encompass CRM software like SalesForce and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), typically characterized by extensive usage. The ability to integrate with heavy-usage software underscores Flits’ commitment to providing comprehensive solutions that meet its clientele’s diverse and demanding requirements.
Our API is highly flexible in that it can accommodate almost all requests; this is a significant factor given that Flits is not a single-feature app but rather a collection of multiple interrelated features.
Use cases for integration with Flits
As mentioned before Flits has integrated with more than 40 Shopify and third party apps. Following are a few prominent use cases-
Integration with Marketing apps like Klaviyo to send store credit mail notifications
Use case: Store credit premium tool integrated with mail apps like Klaviyo or any third-party mail apps. The integration allows users to send mail notifications to customers when store credit activities occur.
Integration with review apps like Loox Judge Me to send store credits for sharing a review
Use case: Store credit premium tool integrated with review apps like Judge. Me Loox. The integration allows users to earn store credits when they share reviews on the store.
Integration with Mobile Apps to display Flits’s customer account page in the app
Use case : Integration with App builder apps. The integration allows users to display the customer account page in the app version of their store.
Point of Sale (POS) to allow using Flits’ store credits during physical as well as online shopping
Use case : Store credit premium tool integrated with Shopify PoS or any other PoS software. The integration allows customers to spend and earn store credit in a physical store, just like in an online store.
Integration with Subscription apps to display the subscription app’s tab on the customer account page
Use case: Store credit premium tool integrated with mail apps like Klaviyo or any third-party mail apps. The integration allows users to send mail notifications to customers when store credit activities occur.
Integration with Marketing apps like Contlo to use store credits’ data for marketing
Use case:, we integrate marketing apps like Contlo. The integration allows the integrated app to use data provided by Flits for marketing activities like sending notifications, targeted marketing, etc.
Integration with Order Tracking app to display order tracking information on the customer account page
Use case:, we integrate order-tracking apps. The integration allows users to display shipping-related information on the customer account page (order history).
Integration with Invoice app to display invoice in order history on customer account page
Use case:, we integrate invoice apps like Unicommerce and Order Printer Pro. The integration allows users to display order invoices in the order history.
Integration with Return Order apps to display return order option in order history
Use case: we integrate with apps that allow return/exchange of order in Shopify stores. The integration allows users to send mail notifications to customers when store credit activities occur.
What if my use case/required integration does not exist?
Flits accepts integration requests that meet the integration criterias from all of our merchants. The majority of the integrations are implemented at our merchant’s behest. Merchants can simply mail support@getflits.com with their use case for any integration request.
Flits’ Integration criteria
For Flits, integrating with other applications is guided by criteria to ensure a smooth and efficient collaboration. These criteria are crucial in establishing a smooth integration experience for the business and the developer teams of prospective integration apps. Let’s delve into the vital integration criteria set by Flits:
API Sharing Requirement: The integration process of central to Flits is necessary for the partnering app to share its API (Application Programming Interface). An API serves as the bridge that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. By sharing its API, the partnering app enables Flits to access and interact with its functionalities, facilitating the exchange of data and information.
Dedicated Integration Developer/Team
Flits emphasize the importance of a dedicated integration developer or team from the partnering app’s side. This dedicated individual or team plays a crucial role in steering the integration process effectively.
Their responsibilities include understanding Flits’ integration requirements, collaborating on API configurations, and addressing any technical intricacies that may arise during the integration journey.
A designated integration developer or team ensures a focused approach, streamlining communication channels, and expediting the resolution of integration-related challenges.
Flits’ guarantee during integration
Clear Timeline for building integrations
The timelines for building any integration depend on the API structures, use cases and priority integration cases. Our development team is often working on multiple integrations simultaneously, so we request the stores to accommodate as per the timeframes allocated to other stores.
Zero Integrations blockers
Once the feasibility of the API is evaluated, Flits integration experts will give you a clear timeline. Flits will also assign specific team members to integration projects to streamline communication.
No compromise with Data security
We follow Shopify’s data security and privacy guidelines and GDPR rules for EU regions.
Getting Started with Flits Integration
Whether you are a start-up or a Shopify Plus store with a massive volume of orders with multiple integration requirements, you can check our existing integration stack from our integrations page in our admin panel. If you have a unique use case or a new requirement for integration, you can contact our client support team via mail at support@getflits.com.
Flits stands out as an integration expert, driven by a steadfast commitment to prioritizing merchant needs and requirements. Most of our integrations and features have been developed in direct response to our cherished merchants’ requests, reflecting our dedication to enhancing their overall experience.
The emphasis on integrations is not just a strategic choice; it is deeply rooted in our belief that a flexible API is pivotal for accommodating our merchants’ diverse and specific use case requirements.
Flits recognize that seamless integration is not just about connecting apps but is a transformative journey that significantly impacts a merchant’s ability to serve customers effectively.
Our integrations, often initiated by merchant requests, contribute to an enhanced user experience, time and cost savings, increased productivity, better decision-making with data insights, and overall operational efficiency.
