The Shopify integration lets Katana act as your inventory and production hub while Shopify runs your storefront. The integration lets you first connect your store, then configure each part setup at your own pace, and turn on live sync when you're ready.
You can connect more than one Shopify store to the same Katana account. Each connection can be independently configured.
Before starting
You need an active Katana account and admin access to your Shopify store.
If you manage multiple Shopify stores, first sign in to your existing Katana account, then start each new connection in Katana. Creating a Katana subscription from inside a different Shopify store creates duplicate Katana accounts.
Step 1: Connecting to Shopify
You can start the connection from either Katana or Shopify:
From Katana
Navigate to the Integrations Marketplace.
Search for "Shopify" and click Connect.
Enter your Shopify store name and click Authorize.
Log in to Shopify and click Install.
From Shopify
Log in to your Shopify store.
Go to Apps > Shopify App Store.
Search for "Katana" and click Add app.
Click Install app.
Note: To connect multiple Shopify stores, your Katana account must be created via katanamrp.com/sign-up, and the first store connected from within Katana.
Always initiate new integrations from your existing Katana account rather than creating a new account for each Shopify store to avoid duplicate subscriptions.
Step 2: Integration configuration
In Katana, the Shopify configuration page is divided into tabs. You can review and edit any tab at any time — changes are saved automatically while the integration is Sync inactive or Disabled.
Products | Choose how non-physical Shopify products are imported (as a Service or Product), set the default tax rate if prices are tax-inclusive, and trigger a product import. |
Inventory | Map Shopify locations to Katana locations, turn inventory level sync on/off, and trigger an initial stock import. |
Orders | Review which orders are imported (Paid / Payment pending), shipping fees, line-item rules, order changes, returns, and fulfillment sync. |
Customers | Trigger a customer import. |
Here's an example of the order of steps a typical make-to-order manufacturer might perform to set up the integration:
Map locations (Inventory tab) — required before you can do a stock import or activate sync.
Import products (Products tab) — creates the SKU mapping table that everything else relies on.
Set up Bills of Materials, materials, and any operations for the imported products in Katana.
Import customers (Customers tab) — this is optional and can be run at any time.
Import initial stock levels (Inventory tab) — can only be done after products are imported and locations are mapped.
Note: All Shopify locations must be mapped to a Katana location before the sync can be activated.
Step 3: Manual data imports
Imports are done individually (and happen in the background). You can start them one at a time or in parallel.
During import, a yellow progress banner will be shown and once it finishes, a Completed note will appear in the relevant tab.
You don't have to perform imports in any precise order, except that products must be imported before stock levels (the stock import uses the SKU mapping created during product import).
Tip. Initial product import works best with catalogs up to ~20,000 variants. Larger catalogs can still be imported, but expect longer import times. If you're experiencing noticeable slowness, split the imports or run them overnight.
Step 4: Activate sync
When you're ready for live operation, click Activate sync in the configuration page header.
The status changes to Sync active and:
Paid Shopify orders are automatically imported into Katana.
New SOs from Shopify will automatically appear in Katana.
Changes to SOs in Shopify (e.g., refunds, cancellations) will sync to Katana.
Stock level changes in Katana push to Shopify (if inventory sync is on).
Stock sync applies only to products existing in both platforms with matching SKUs.
Inventory pushed to Shopify is calculated as
In stock − Committedper mapped location.
Fulfillment status syncs in both directions (if fulfillment sync is on).
Marking an SO as Delivered in Katana updates it to "Fulfilled" in Shopify, and vice versa.
Customers and products are added to Katana.
New customers and products from Shopify SOs will be added to Katana if they don't already exist.
You can pause the sync at any time from the header menu without disconnecting the store. Configuration changes made while the sync is active are not autosaved — they're held in your browser until you click Apply new settings.
Verify the sync. Right after activation, spot-check a few orders and stock levels in both Katana and Shopify to confirm everything is flowing as expected. If something looks off, review your Orders and Inventory tab settings before more data lands.
Managing multiple Shopify stores and 3PL operations
If you operate separate Shopify accounts for different purposes (such as third-party logistics and customer-facing operations), Katana allows you to selectively connect and manage these stores:
Only connect relevant stores: You can integrate just the necessary Shopify stores to Katana based on your operational requirements.
Independent mapping: Map specific Shopify stores to corresponding Katana locations. For example:
Map your 3PL store to a dedicated warehouse location in Katana
Configure different syncing preferences for each connected store
Selective syncing: Control which aspects of your business sync between specific stores and Katana.
This setup ensures that inventory and orders for each Shopify store are managed independently without interference.
Troubleshooting
When connecting or managing your Shopify and Katana integration, you may encounter these common issues:
A duplicate Katana account was created when connecting a second store.
This happens if you start the install from Shopify without signing in to your existing Katana account first. Cancel the install in Shopify, sign in to Katana, then start the integration again from the Integrations Marketplace.
Status is Disabled and I can't activate sync.
Check the Inventory tab — every Shopify location must be mapped to a Katana location.
Import button is greyed out.
Another import of the same type is already running. Wait for the yellow progress banner to clear.
Stock import is blocked.
Confirm products have been imported and all locations are mapped. Stock import is also blocked while sync is active — pause sync temporarily, run the import, then activate sync again.
Connection errors.
Ensure both your Shopify and Katana accounts are active and accessible
Verify that both platforms are updated to their latest versions for compatibility
Check that proper permissions are granted during the integration process
Shopify's integration statuses in the Katana Marketplace
Not Connected: Katana hasn't been installed on a Shopify store yet. Click Connect to start.
Inactive: Katana is installed, but the sync is currently paused. Click Open Configuration to manage the connection or to activate sync.
Active: sync is running. Orders, inventory, and fulfillment status are automatically synced between Katana and Shopify.
After install, the integration status shown in the page header is Sync inactive if all mandatory configuration is already in place, or Disabled if something mandatory is still missing (typically location mapping).
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