The roadmap
The same four phases apply whether it's one workflow or a larger connected system.
1Discovery
Map the operation and scope the first build
Week 1We walk through how the Shopify operation actually runs today, find the workflow costing the most manual time, and scope exactly what the first build will do and measure.
- Review current Shopify setup, apps, and manual workflows
- Identify the highest-leverage workflow to automate first
- Agree on a specific, measurable success metric
- Confirm data access and API scopes needed
2Development
Build against real data, not a demo
Weeks 2-4The workflow gets built directly against your Shopify store and connected tools, tested on real orders and edge cases as it goes, not a sanitized sample.
- Build the integration against live Shopify and connected-tool data
- Test against real orders, tickets, or inventory scenarios
- Handle edge cases and exceptions explicitly
- Review progress together before final launch
3Deployment
Launch, monitor, and document
Week 4-5The workflow goes live with a supervised rollout, gets monitored for the first cycles, and every piece of logic gets documented so it isn't a black box.
- Launch with a human review step where it matters
- Monitor real results against the agreed success metric
- Document the workflow logic, triggers, and failure points
- Hand off access and documentation to your team
4Support
Ownership handoff and ongoing refinement
OngoingYou own what's built: the access, the logic, and the documentation. Ongoing refinement or the next workflow is available, but nothing here depends on a retainer to keep running.
- Team retains full access and documentation
- Optional ongoing refinement as the business changes
- No dependency lock-in if the engagement ends
- Clear path to scope the next highest-leverage workflow