How to Automate Shopify Data Export (No API Required)

Introduction

Shopify stores provide extensive order and payment data. While Shopify offers APIs, browser automation can serve as an effective alternative for exporting comprehensive reports, accessing analytics dashboards, and automating regular data collection from Shopify Payments.

Benefits of Browser Automation for Shopify Data

• Complete Order History: Export all orders without API pagination limits
• Analytics Dashboard Access: Capture visual analytics and reports
• Custom Report Generation: Create reports with specific filters and formats
• Product Performance Data: Export product sales and performance metrics
• Customer Analytics: Collect customer behavior and purchase data

Automating Shopify Data Export

import { chromium } from 'playwright';

const setupShopifyAutomation = async () => {
  const response = await fetch("https://api.anchorbrowser.io/api/sessions", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "anchor-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({'headless': false}),
  });

  const { id } = await response.json();
  const connectionString = `wss://connect.anchorbrowser.io?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY&sessionId=${id}`;

  const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(connectionString);
  const context = browser.contexts()[0];
  const ai = context.serviceWorkers()[0];
  const page = context.pages()[0];

  await page.goto("https://admin.shopify.com/store/YOUR_STORE/login");
  
  return { page, ai };
};

Exporting Order Data

const exportShopifyOrders = async (page, ai, filters) => {
  // Navigate to Orders
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Log in to Shopify admin and navigate to the Orders section'
  }));
  
  // Apply filters
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Apply filters: date range ${filters.startDate} to ${filters.endDate}, fulfillment status: ${filters.fulfillmentStatus}, payment status: ${filters.paymentStatus}`
  }));
  
  // Export
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Click Export, select all order fields, choose CSV format, and download'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Collecting Revenue Analytics

const collectRevenueAnalytics = async (page, ai, period) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Analytics section in Shopify admin'
  }));
  
  // Select revenue report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Select Revenue report for ${period} and wait for data to load`
  }));
  
  // Extract metrics
  const metrics = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract the following metrics: total revenue, orders count, average order value, refunds, and net revenue. Return as structured JSON data.'
  }));
  
  return metrics;
};

Product Performance Export

const exportProductPerformance = async (page, ai) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to Analytics → Products section'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export product performance data including: product name, units sold, revenue, and conversion rate'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Customer Data Collection

const exportCustomerData = async (page, ai) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to Customers section and export the complete customer list'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Click Export, select all customer fields including purchase history, and download as CSV'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Resources

• Anchor Browser Documentation - Complete API reference and guides
• Anchor Browser Playground - Try browser automation in your browser

Conclusion

Browser automation provides a flexible approach to Shopify data export, enabling comprehensive collection of order, revenue, product, and customer data that complements or extends Shopify's API capabilities.