Import orders from the ERP

Shopify Plus

Topic summary

Goal: consolidate client orders from an external ERP into Shopify Plus so all sales (including non-website channels) appear in Shopify order history, a common B2B need.

Constraints/concerns: author is new to Shopify and wants a performant, reliable method that avoids unintended inventory impacts.

Options considered:

  • Draft Orders for ERP-originating sales; concerned about potential performance issues and that completing drafts affects inventory levels.
  • Order APIs to import/create orders programmatically within Shopify.

Notes: Draft Orders are pending orders that can be converted into actual orders (which can deduct inventory). Order APIs create orders directly via Shopify’s backend.

Ask: guidance on the best approach to import ERP orders into Shopify with good performance and controlled inventory behavior.

Status: no answers or decisions yet; the request remains open.

Summarized with AI on December 10. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello, I am new to Shopify and want to understand the best way to achieve this.

We need to integrate (import) orders from an ERP into Shopify Plus. Not all the sales are done on the website (Shopify), and many of these have other sales channels but integrated into the ERP. So, we want to consolidate the client orders into Shopify to see them in the order history. It’s a common use case in the B2B.

We were researching, and it seems an option is creating draft orders for the ones from the ERP, but it seems there will be performance issues. Also, when completing it, the inventory is affected. Another option seems to be with order APIs. Could you please provide some guidance on the best way to achieve this?

Thank you.

Polo

2

Hi @polo.jimenez

Great question — this is indeed a common B2B scenario, and you’re right to think carefully about the approach.

First, what ERP are you currently using? The answer will influence your best path forward, as some ERPs have more mature Shopify integrations than others.

Here are a few approaches to consider:

1. Native ERP Integrations (Recommended starting point)

Shopify Plus now offers direct integrations with several major ERPs. These native integrations handle order sync, inventory, and customer data bidirectionally: Shopify B2B External Integrations Guide

2. If your customers send orders via PDF/email

If part of your workflow involves customers submitting orders outside Shopify (common in B2B), you might also find LevelOps PDF to Order useful — it automates order entry from PDF purchase orders directly into Shopify.

Let us know what ERP you’re working with and we can point you toward more specific guidance!