I have a client who wants to collaborate with a partner from a different country. The client wants to grant the partner permission to access only their inventory without being able to see or access the entire shop. I have multiple locations and inventories set up, but the current permissions settings don’t offer the required specificity to achieve this.
I’m wondering if there is an API or any other method available that would allow me to interface with the rules and permissions system to grant the collaborator access to only their designated inventory while restricting access to other products and inventories.
I would appreciate any guidance or suggestions on how to accomplish this level of granularity in permissions.
As you’ve discovered there’s no native way to block staff access to specific collections or location inventories. It’s possible that you could create a custom app for managing collaborator accounts, that would act as an intermediary between your client’s Shopify store and the collaborator.
The Shopify API itself does not provide specific endpoints for managing user roles and permissions within your custom application, but you could setup a database for different roles and permissions, then create backend logic that would handle user authentication and assign the appropriate role based on the user’s credentials. The authorization logic you’d set up would checks the user’s role and permissions before allowing them to perform specific actions related to inventory. You’d likely work with the InventoryItem object for this part.
I know this post is from a few years ago, but wanted to reply as I am running into the same location based permission limitations on Shopify. Currently there is no solution in Oct 2025 either.
I am looking into WooCommerce or Odoo. It’s too bad because I think Shopify’s POS and online store integration is the most seamless and best out there. I may have to switch platform just because of some permission settings not being customizable.
This limitation is holding me back from opening my 3rd store because I need a location-specific-role-permission setting to place a Branch-Manager who deals with most aspects of the store like orders and inventory, but does not have access to other store locations or critical admin settings.
HEAR US OUT SHOPIFY. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR SUCCESSFUL STORES AS CLIENTS.