Shopware Flow Builder: How to Automate Business Logic in Shopware 6

Shopware Flow Builder is a built-in automation tool in Shopware 6 that helps merchants automate business processes using event triggers, conditions, and actions. For example, it can send order emails, apply tags, or update supported order states when specific conditions are met.

To create a workflow, open Settings → Automation → Flow Builder in the Shopware Administration. Select a trigger, define conditions using Rule Builder where needed, and configure the actions to run.

Flow Builder can support order management, customer segmentation, email notifications, and other routine eCommerce tasks. However, custom integrations and advanced business requirements may need additional development.

Businesses can also combine automation with a customized Shopware 6 theme to improve the storefront experience while streamlining operations behind the scenes.

What Is Shopware Flow Builder?

Flow Builder is an automation feature built into Shopware 6 that allows merchants to create and run customised business processes without coding. It works in conjunction with the Rule Builder to provide a dynamic system where users can combine triggers, conditions, and actions. This setup enables automation of tasks such as sending emails or modifying order statuses, offering a highly adaptable approach to process management.

Example use cases:

• Send a thank-you email when an order is placed
• Cancel orders automatically if payment fails
• Tag VIP customers based on their total purchase value

Shopware Flow Builder Components: Triggers, Conditions and Actions

1. Triggers (Events)

These are the starting points of any flow. They represent a specific Shopware event that initiates a workflow.

Examples of Core Triggers:

• contact_form.send
• newsletter.register
• checkout.customer.register
• checkout.order.placed
• state_enter.order_transaction.state.paid
• state_enter.order.state.in_progress

2. Conditions

After a trigger fires, conditions act as logical gates that determine whether subsequent actions should be executed. They allow you to define precise criteria for a flow to proceed.

Types of Conditions:

• Order-related: Order total, payment method, shipping method, customer group, specific product in order, order tags.
• Customer-related: Customer group, registration date, and last login date.
• Product-related: Product stock, price, specific category, and custom fields.
• General-related: Time of day, day of the week.
• Logic: Conditions can be combined using AND/OR operators, allowing for highly complex decision trees. You can group conditions to build sophisticated rules.

3. Actions

These are the operations performed when a flow’s conditions are met. Flow Builder offers a rich set of predefined actions, with extensive possibilities for custom extensions.

Examples of Core Actions:

• Email Sending: Send specific email templates to customers, administrators, or custom recipients.
• State Changes: Change the state of an order (e.g., checkout.order.state_machine.open -> in_progress), a product, or a customer.
• Tag Management: Add or remove tags from customers or orders. This is incredibly powerful for segmentation and subsequent automation.
• Assign Custom Field: This action allows you to dynamically set or update the value of a custom field (also known as a “custom property” in some contexts) on entities like orders, customers, or products.
• Generate Document: This action automatically creates various document types, such as invoices, delivery notes, and credit notes, based on predefined templates in Shopware.
• Stop Flow: This action terminates the current flow at that specific point.
• Assign Affiliate and Campaign Code: This action allows you to assign specific affiliate and/or campaign codes to an order.

Shopware Flow Builder Example: Automating VIP Customers

In this example, we will create a workflow that identifies high-value orders and applies VIP-related actions automatically.

Goal: When a customer places an order worth 1,000 or more in the configured store currency, assign the customer to a VIP group, add a Priority tag to the order, and send a VIP welcome email.

Trigger: checkout.order.placed

Condition: Order total is greater than or equal to 1,000.

Actions:

• Assign the customer to the VIP customer group.
• Add the Priority tag to the order.
• Send a VIP welcome email using a configured email template.

Step 1: Create a VIP Customer Group

Open the customer-group settings in Shopware Administration. Create a group named VIP and save it.

Check that the customer group has the appropriate registration, pricing, and tax settings for your store.

Step 2: Create a Priority Tag

Open the tag management settings and create a new tag named Priority.

This tag will help your team identify qualifying orders.

Step 3: Configure the Rule Builder Condition

Open Settings → Rule Builder and create a rule called High-Value VIP Order.

Configure the available order or cart-value condition to match orders worth 1,000 or more.

Save the rule after confirming that it evaluates the correct order amount, currency, and tax basis.

Step 4: Create a Flow

Open Settings → Automation → Flow Builder and select Add Flow.

Enter the following details:

• Name: VIP Customer Upgrade
• Description: Assign VIP status and send a welcome email for qualifying orders
• Active: Enabled
• Trigger: checkout.order.placed
• Condition: High-Value VIP Order

Step 5: Configure the Actions

Under the matching condition, configure the supported actions:

1. Assign the customer group: VIP.
2. Add the order tag: Priority.
3. Send email: Select your configured VIP welcome template.

Save the flow and test it with a qualifying test order.

Step 6: Test the Automation

Place one test order below the threshold and one at or above the threshold.

Check that the flow runs only for qualifying orders, updates the correct customer and order records, and sends the intended notification.

Also confirm that duplicate emails are not sent when the workflow is triggered again.

Creating Custom Flow Actions and Triggers in Shopware 6

Want to do something Flow Builder doesn’t support out of the box? You can register custom flow actions with a Shopware plugin.

For workflows that exchange customer records, order details, or sales information with external platforms, businesses may also need CRM integration services. Custom Shopware development can help connect these systems through approved APIs and controlled data synchronization.

If your automation requires custom triggers, complex business rules, or integration with ERP and CRM systems, an experienced Shopware development company can help extend Shopware 6 Flow Builder beyond its standard capabilities.

class MyCustomFlowAction extends FlowAction
{
    public static function getName(): string
    {
        return 'my.custom.action';
    }
    public function requirements(): array
    {
        return [TagAware::class];
    }
    public function handleFlow(StorableFlow $flow): void
    {
       // Custom logic here
    }
}

If you want to add a custom trigger then you can create a custom flow trigger.

class CustomFlowEvent extends Event implements FlowEventAware
{
    public const EVENT_NAME = 'your_plugin.custom.trigger';
    private string $customValue;
    public function __construct(string $customValue)
    {
        $this->customValue = $customValue;
    }
    public function getCustomValue(): string
    {
        return $this->customValue;
    }
    public function getName(): string
    {
        return self::EVENT_NAME;
    }
    public static function getAvailableData(): array
    {
        return [
            'customValue' => [
                'type' => 'string',
                'description' => 'A custom string value passed to the flow.'
            ]
        ];
    }
}

Developer note: These PHP examples illustrate the structure of a custom Flow Builder action and trigger. They are not complete, ready-to-install Shopware plugins.

A production implementation requires the correct namespaces and imports, dependency injection, action registration, and any necessary Administration components. For plugin-based actions, Shopware’s developer documentation explains how to register a service using the flow.action tag.

Custom triggers and actions must also be tested against the installed Shopware version and supported extension architecture.

See the official Shopware custom Flow Builder action guide and custom trigger documentation.

Benefits of Shopware Flow Builder

• Less Manual Work: Automate repetitive order processing, notifications, and customer management tasks.
• More Consistent Workflows: Apply defined rules to supported business events and reduce avoidable manual steps.
• Timely Customer Communication: Trigger relevant order updates and follow-up emails.
• Improved Operational Efficiency: Help teams handle routine events without manually updating multiple records.
• Better Customer Follow-Up: Support relevant notifications and customer segmentation based on configured conditions.
• Flexible Automation: Expand or adjust workflows as your business requirements change.
• Accessible Administration: Configure supported automations without writing custom code.
• Developer Extensibility: Use plugins or supported app integrations when standard actions are not sufficient.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Shopware’s Flow Builder is more than just an automation tool; it’s a strategic asset that transforms how you manage your e-commerce business. Embrace its power and unlock a new era of efficiency, customer satisfaction, and growth. The future of intelligent, automated e-commerce is here, and it’s within your reach!

Need Help Automating Shopware 6?

If your workflows need custom triggers, ERP or CRM synchronization, or automation that Shopware does not support out of the box, our developers can help design, build, and test the required functionality.

Explore our Shopware development services for custom plugins, business integrations, and store improvements. Alternatively, you can hire a Shopware developer for dedicated technical support.

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