Fewer apps, better connected, less re-typing
Most Shopify stores collect apps over the years: some overlap, some nobody uses, and some slow the store down. Meanwhile orders still get copied into the accounting software by hand. We help you choose the right apps, set them up properly, connect Shopify to the rest of your business, and build custom apps and automations where nothing off the shelf fits.
Consultants In A Box is an independent consultancy. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Shopify. Shopify is a trademark of Shopify Inc.
From choosing apps to building your own
Practical help wherever your store is today, whether that is too many apps, the wrong ones, or data that never reaches the rest of your tools.
App audit & consolidation
A full list of your apps with what each costs, loads and can access, and a clear recommendation to keep, replace, combine or remove.
See moreChoosing the right apps
A shortlist for the job you need done, checked for reviews, support, pricing, data access and speed impact, before you install anything.
See moreSetup & configuration
Apps configured around how your store actually works, tested end to end, and documented so your team knows what each one does.
See moreCRM, ERP & accounting
Orders, customers, inventory and payouts flowing between Shopify and the systems you run the business on, with no copying by hand.
See moreShopify Flow & automations
Tagging, routing, alerts and follow-ups that run on their own, built in Shopify Flow or with connected automation tools.
See moreCustom & private apps
Small custom apps built on the Admin API and webhooks for the jobs no app store app does well, owned by you and installed only on your store.
See moreWhat we check for every app
Six questions for each app on your store. The answers make the keep, replace or remove decision straightforward.
- What it doesThe job each app is meant to do, and whether anyone still relies on it.
- What it costsMonthly fees, usage charges and the plan you are actually on.
- What it loadsScripts, styles and widgets it adds to your storefront, and how much they slow it down.
- What it can accessThe data and permissions it was granted: customers, orders, products, themes.
- What overlapsApps doing the same job, and apps a built-in Shopify feature could replace.
- What it left behindCode and snippets from apps that were uninstalled but never cleaned out of the theme.
Storefront apps are also the most common reason a store is slow. See Shopify speed optimization.
Connecting Shopify to the rest of the business
Examples of the tools merchants most often connect. We work with whatever you already use, and will recommend options if you are still choosing.
CRM
Customers, orders and lifetime value in front of your sales and service team.
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Zoho CRM
- Pipedrive
ERP & inventory
Stock levels, purchase orders and fulfillment kept in step across channels and warehouses.
- NetSuite
- Cin7
- Katana
- Brightpearl
Accounting
Orders, payouts, fees, refunds and sales tax recorded properly instead of re-typed.
- QuickBooks Online
- Xero
Email & SMS
Clean customer data, segments and abandoned-cart flows that run on accurate order events.
- Klaviyo
- Mailchimp
- Shopify Email
- Attentive
Reviews & loyalty
Review requests after delivery, reviews on product pages and in search results, and repeat-purchase rewards.
- Judge.me
- Yotpo
- Okendo
- Smile.io
Support & shipping
Order details inside your helpdesk, and labels, tracking and returns handled in one place.
- Gorgias
- Zendesk
- ShipStation
- Loop Returns
Product names are trademarks of their owners and are listed as examples only.
When no app does quite what you need
Shopify gives us three solid building blocks. We pick the simplest one that does the job reliably.
Shopify Flow
Shopify's built-in automation: when an order, customer or product changes, run a set of steps. Good for tagging, alerts, holds and routing, and easy for your team to read later.
Webhooks
Shopify notifies another system the moment something happens, such as an order being paid or refunded, so your CRM, ERP or warehouse is updated in seconds rather than overnight.
Admin API & custom apps
A small app installed only on your store that reads and writes products, orders, customers and inventory, for jobs that are specific to how your business works.
Automations that span many tools beyond Shopify are covered on workflow automation & integrations.
An app clean-up, step by step
No big bang. Changes go in one at a time, so you always know what changed and why.
- InventoryWe list every app, integration, script and automation on the store, with cost, purpose, permissions and storefront impact.
- DecideTogether we agree what to keep, replace, combine or remove, and which integrations matter most to your team.
- Configure & connectWe set up and connect the chosen apps and integrations on a test basis first, then switch them on with your team.
- Clean upRemoved apps are uninstalled properly, leftover theme code is cleaned out, and permissions are tidied.
- Document & hand overYou get a plain list of what runs where, who owns it and what it costs, plus training for the people who use it.
Other ways we help Shopify stores
Apps touch both speed and the storefront itself.
Questions about Shopify apps and integrations
How many apps is too many?
There is no magic number. The question is whether each app is earning its place: is it used, is it worth what it costs, and is it slowing the store down? We often find apps doing overlapping jobs, apps nobody remembers installing, and jobs Shopify now does natively.
Does uninstalling an app remove everything it added?
Not always. Some apps leave code snippets, scripts or theme sections behind after they are uninstalled, and that code can keep loading and slowing the store. We check for leftovers and remove them as part of every clean-up.
Can you connect Shopify to QuickBooks or Xero?
Yes. We set up the connection so orders, payouts, fees, refunds and sales tax are recorded the way your accountant wants them, using a well-supported app or a custom integration where needed, and we test it against a real month of orders.
What is Shopify Flow?
Shopify Flow is Shopify's own automation tool. It runs workflows when something happens in your store, such as tagging high-value customers, alerting the team when stock runs low or holding risky orders for review. Availability depends on your Shopify plan, and we will check what yours includes.
When do you build a custom app instead of using one from the app store?
When no existing app does the job well, when the only options are expensive for a simple need, or when you need logic specific to your business. Custom apps use Shopify's Admin API and webhooks, are installed only on your store and are owned by you.
Is it safe to give you access to our store?
We ask for staff or collaborator access with only the permissions the work needs, and you can remove it at any time. Custom apps request only the data scopes they use, and we document what each one can access.
Can you connect Shopify to tools that are not in the app store?
Usually, yes. If a tool has an API, we can connect it to Shopify through webhooks and the Admin API, or with automation tools such as Make, Zapier or n8n.
Get your Shopify apps under control
Start with the free business analysis. It looks at your site and the tools behind it and builds a plan with prices, then you can talk it through with us.