We designed and built a custom Shopify app that gives the TopGlas team one place to manage order-based customer communication. The app connects directly to Shopify, keeps order data in sync, and turns order tags into automated email workflows.
The challenge
Customer emails were tied to individual orders, and every one meant repetitive manual work. The team needed a faster way to find a customer, send a consistent message, schedule a feedback request, and see what communication had already happened.
The solution
We built an embedded Shopify application that pulls order management, reusable email templates, automation, and communication history into a single workflow.
Shopify webhooks keep new and updated orders in sync with the app. A team member can search for an order, review its details, add an internal note, and send a prepared email without leaving Shopify.
Templates connect to Shopify order tags too. When a matching tag is added, the app sends the right message on its own. Feedback emails run on a separate workflow, and they can be scheduled to go out 45 days after the event that triggered them.
Key features
- Real-time order sync through Shopify webhooks
- A searchable, paginated order dashboard
- Order details, customer information, totals, and internal notes
- Rich-text email template management
- Personalised Liquid variables for customer name, email, and order number
- Manual email sending straight from the order workspace
- Tag-triggered email automation
- Scheduled post-purchase feedback emails
- Separate sending accounts for operational and feedback email
- Email history with send counts and timestamps
- Automatic Shopify order tagging after manual communication
- Direct navigation between the app and Shopify Admin
The result
The app replaced a fragmented process with a repeatable workflow built around Shopify orders. The team responds faster, keeps messaging consistent, automates follow-ups, and can see each customer’s communication history at a glance.
Technology
Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, Shopify API and App Bridge, Shopify webhooks, Sidekiq, Action Mailer, Action Text, Liquid, Bootstrap, and pg_search.