How to integrate product meta data and stock to a Google spreadsheet

Keeping track of your product information and stock levels is essential for any online business. One practical way to manage this data is by integrating your product metadata and stock information into Google Spreadsheets. This approach gives you a clear overview of your inventory and makes it easier to analyse your product performance. In this guide, we’ll walk through the simple steps to connect your Shopify product data with Google Sheets.

How to implement the process

Exporting product data from Shopify

The first step is to get your product information out of Shopify. To do this, you’ll need to log in to your Shopify admin panel and navigate to the Products section. Once there, look for the Export option which allows you to download all your product information as a CSV file. This file will contain important details like product names, descriptions, prices, and current stock levels.

Importing your data into Google Sheets

After you’ve downloaded the CSV file from Shopify, you’ll need to bring that information into Google Sheets. Open a new spreadsheet in Google Sheets, then go to the File menu and select Import. You can then upload the CSV file you exported from Shopify. Google Sheets will ask you how you want to import the data, and you can follow the prompts to add everything to your spreadsheet.

Setting up automatic updates

If you want to save time and ensure your spreadsheet always has the most current information, you can set up automatic updates. There are two main ways to do this.

The first option is to use Google Apps Script, which is a coding platform built into Google Sheets. You can access it by going to Extensions and then Apps Script in your Google Sheet. Once there, you can write a script that connects to Shopify using their API and pulls in your product data. The script can be scheduled to run daily or at whatever frequency you prefer, keeping your spreadsheet up to date.

Using Google Apps Script

First, you’ll need to open Google Sheets and create a fresh spreadsheet. This will serve as the destination for all your Shopify product information.

With your spreadsheet open, navigate to the “Extensions” menu at the top of the screen and select “Apps Script” from the dropdown options. This will open the Script Editor in a new browser tab.

In the Script Editor, you’ll need to paste the following script which connects to the Shopify API and pulls your product data:

function fetchShopifyData() {
  const shopifyStore = 'your-store-name'; // Replace with your store name
  const apiKey = 'your-api-key'; // Replace with your API key
  const password = 'your-password'; // Replace with your password
  const url = `https://${apiKey}:${password}@${shopifyStore}.myshopify.com/admin/api/2023-01/products.json`;

  const response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
  const data = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());

  const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  sheet.clear();

  // Set headers
  const headers = ['ID', 'Title', 'Stock'];
  sheet.appendRow(headers);

  // Append product data
  data.products.forEach(product => {
    const row = [product.id, product.title, product.variants.inventory_quantity];
    sheet.appendRow(row);
  });
}

This script works by first establishing a connection to your Shopify store using your store name, API key, and password. It then fetches your product data using the Shopify API, clears the current content of your spreadsheet, and adds column headers for ID, Title, and Stock. Finally, it loops through each product and adds its details as a new row in your spreadsheet.

Make sure to replace ‘your-store-name’, ‘your-api-key’, and ‘your-password’ with your actual Shopify store details for the script to work properly.

To automate the process, you’ll need to set up a trigger that runs the script automatically. In the Apps Script editor, click on the clock icon to open the triggers menu. From there, you can create a new trigger that will run your fetchShopifyData function on a schedule.

You can configure the trigger to run at your preferred frequency, such as daily, to ensure your spreadsheet always contains the most current product information from your Shopify store.

The second option is to use third-party apps like Zapier or Integromat. These services can create connections between Shopify and Google Sheets without requiring any coding knowledge. You can set up “Zaps” or “Scenarios” that automatically update your Google Sheet whenever there are changes to your products in Shopify.

Using Shopify apps for integration

Zapier: You can use Zapier to create a “Zap” that connects Shopify to Google Sheets. This can automate the process of updating your spreadsheet whenever there are changes in your Shopify store.

Integromat: Similar to Zapier, Integromat allows you to create scenarios that can automate data transfer between Shopify and Google Sheets.

Conclusion

Integrating your product metadata and stock information into Google Spreadsheets gives you a powerful tool for managing your inventory and analysing your business performance. Whether you choose to manually export and import data, use Google Apps Script for automation, rely on third-party services like Zapier, or install a dedicated Shopify app, the process can be tailored to fit your technical comfort level and business needs. With your product data organised in Google Sheets, you’ll have better visibility into your inventory and be able to make more informed decisions for your online shop.