Updating Store Quantities Through a BSI/API Connection

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Topic summary

A company using CDK Heavy Equipment (Intellidealer) business software seeks help integrating inventory updates with their Shopify store. CDK only offers BSI connection access for inventory quantities.

Technical Challenge:

  • CDK’s integration team suggests building middleware to translate between Shopify and BSI API requests
  • Typical workflow: eCommerce site → middleware → BSI Parts Availability request → CDK software
  • The company lacks in-house developers and is uncertain about implementation approach

Guidance Provided:

  • Shopify doesn’t offer direct technical development assistance for merchants
  • Recommended path: consult Shopify Experts directory for custom app/integration developers
  • Exception: Shopify Plus merchants with dedicated Merchant Success Managers may receive developer recommendations
  • Suggested exploring whether StockSync or similar middleware vendors support their specific use case
  • Alternative options include low-code services (Zapier, Integromat) if BSI integrates with them

Current Status:
The original poster planned to consult Shopify Experts. A follow-up inquiry four years later asks whether a solution was found, indicating the discussion remains unresolved publicly.

Summarized with AI on October 23. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

We do not have a developer within our company and we are looking for assistance from Shopify or a Shopify Partner on how to implement a more integrated process for updating our Shopify store inventories from our Business System software. Our business software is called CDK Heavy Equipment (Intellidealer) which the only options they have to access the inventory quantities is through a BSI connection. Here are some notes from the CDK integration support team on what other dealers do to build an integration (I have the detailed CDK specification files I can send if needed):

  • So, typically when dealers are looking to do an eCommerce integration with a third party, BSI has been the tool that they’ve used. I know of a number of dealers who use BSI for eCommerce purposes and even some manufacturers are using it. The two services that typically are used are the Parts Availability/Pricing service. I’ve attached some detailed specs on those two services, with postman collections and PDF specifications. Oftentimes the third party (Shopify in your case) isn’t going to dedicate resources to consuming our API directly, so the dealer will have developers on staff or hire a contractor to build some middleware that translates the third party requests/responses into the BSI requests/responses. Here’s some general workflows that we’ve seen dealers do:
    • eCommerce Site (Part lookup) > Part Lookup API request >Dealer middleware > BSI Parts Availability request > CDK Business Software

I believe where we need assistance is in the comment I highlighted above to introduce some type of “middleware” between Shopify and our BSI connection to CDK. Does Shopify have technical developer teams that assist Shopify Store owners like ourselves to accomplish this? Or does Shopify have a recommended “middleware” partner that could implement this for us? One “middleware” vendor we noticed on Shopify was called StockSync and wondered if that is the tool to accomplish this.

Hoping Shopify can provide us some guidance to make our process more efficient and better customer experience.

2

Seek out consults from the experts directory to crystalize your requirements and understanding of shopify

https://experts.shopify.com/services/development-and-troubleshooting/custom-apps-integrations

Though more than likely given the uncertainty in the post you should also immediately do discovery to spec out the project either with a shopify expert or an expert on the systems your already using who is capable of making middleware.

No. Shopify has an experts & partners ecosystem of third parties for merchant to develop specific needs.

Shopify is very much a cloud platform in that it provides the resources(admin,api,checkout,etc) but you still have to provide the know how.

This is like needing a city to finish a retail stores interior plumbing. In this analogy Shopify is just providing the last mile roads,plumbing, electrical etc. your responsible for your localized specific needs.

Unless of course you are on an enterprise Shopify Plus plan with a dedicated Merchant Success Manager there is very little guidance shopify can or will provide for such an overly broad topic to fufill one businesses specific need. If you have an MSM you should connect with them for PLUS developer recommendations.

One “middleware” vendor we noticed on Shopify was called StockSync and wondered if that is the tool to accomplish this.

The best way to know is to reach out to that vendor directly for your specific use case, some apps will integrate with other ERP system or have it’s own API that may facilitate simpler middleware.

There’s also double checking if any of your BSS integrates with low code services like zapier or integromat, or other middleware services which could simplify the whole thing as they tend to either have an app for shopify or can facilitate building processes.

Barring that you would need to provide clearer technical detail about what’s needed.

For example if theres REST apis involved, or SOAP, or CSV or FTP file servers, etc.

3

Thank-you @PaulNewton ! I will proceed to look into the Shopify Experts section you provided and try consult with the experts there.

1 Like
4

I realize this post is coming up on four years old, but did you ever find a solution for this? I”m heading down a similar path.