Shopify Scheduled Import: How to Automate Recurring Product Updates
A Shopify scheduled import automatically pulls a file into your store at set times, such as every night or every hour, and applies the changes without anyone uploading it by hand. It’s the usual way to keep prices, stock levels and product data in step with a supplier feed, a shared spreadsheet or another system.
Shopify’s built-in CSV importer doesn’t offer scheduling, so scheduled imports run through apps and bulk data tools. Setting one up comes down to putting your file in a stable location, saving the import settings once and choosing a schedule that matches how often your data changes.
How Scheduled Imports Work in Shopify
Shopify’s native import handles products, customers and inventory from CSV files, but every import starts with a manual upload. There’s no option to repeat it, fetch a file from a URL or FTP server or run it at a set time.
Import apps fill that gap with a similar pattern. You keep the source file at a fixed location, such as a URL, FTP or SFTP server, Google Sheets, Google Drive or Dropbox, and save an import profile with your column mapping and update options.
On each scheduled run, the app downloads the latest version of the file, applies the saved settings and records the results in a log. Because the file is fetched fresh every time, updating the file at its source is enough for the next run to pick up the changes.
Tools for Shopify Scheduled Imports
Several import tools support scheduling, usually on paid plans. The table compares common options using details from their listings or documentation at the time of writing, so check current plans before choosing.
| Tool | Scheduling available on | Sources for scheduled imports | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matrixify | Available, with paid plans from $20 per month | URL, FTP, SFTP, Google Drive, Google Sheets and Dropbox | Large or complex imports across many data types |
| StoreRobo Import Export | Basic plan and up, from $15 per month | FTP or SFTP, public URL and WooCommerce | Product imports with simple update options |
| Firebear Import & Export Tool | Basic plan and up, from $20 per month | URL, FTP, Google Drive and Google Sheets | Varied file formats, including XLSX and XML |
| Altera | Pro plan, $15 per month | Google Sheets, Google Drive, SFTP, WebDAV and FTP | Matrixify-format files at a flat price |
| syncX: Stock Sync | Starter plan for daily runs, Expert for up to 24 runs a day | Google Sheets, FTP or SFTP, Google Drive, Dropbox and REST APIs | Supplier stock and price feeds |
| Bulkflow | Scheduled data updates available; free and paid plans | Confirm support for your file source | Recurring product updates across Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix |
Matrixify
Matrixify lets you schedule an import to start at a set date and time, repeat it at intervals for a set number of runs, or combine both. Scheduled times use your store’s time zone, and you can review or cancel upcoming jobs from its job history.
For a file in Dropbox, for example, you paste the shared link into the import section, let Matrixify analyze the file, then open Options to set the start time and repeat interval. FTP, SFTP, Google Drive and Google Sheets sources work the same way.
StoreRobo Import Export
StoreRobo, from WebToffee, schedules product imports from FTP, a public URL or WooCommerce, with daily, weekly and monthly repeat options. Its import settings let you choose whether to update existing products, skip new products and publish new products immediately, and scheduled jobs reuse those saved settings.
Firebear Import & Export Tool
Firebear’s tool saves imports as profiles with an “On Schedule” option, a time zone and hourly, daily, weekly or monthly frequency. It accepts CSV, XLSX, XML and Google Sheets files from FTP, Google Drive or URLs, and it can send notifications about each run. Its listing has few reviews and a low rating, so test it carefully.
Altera and syncX
Altera reads Matrixify-format Excel and CSV files and adds scheduled jobs on its $15 Pro plan, with automation through Google Sheets, Google Drive, SFTP, WebDAV and FTP. syncX focuses on supplier feeds, updating stock, prices and product details from CSV, XLSX, XML or JSON files, with daily runs on its Starter plan and up to 24 runs a day on its Expert plan.
Bulkflow
Bulkflow is a bulk data management tool covering import, export and updates for Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix. It supports bulk import, field mapping and scheduled data updates, so you can set up recurring updates to existing records rather than repeating the same upload each week.
Field mapping helps when your source file uses its own column names, and multi-platform support suits businesses running stores on more than one of those platforms. Bulkflow offers free and paid plans, so you can test a recurring update with your own data first.
How to Set Up a Shopify Scheduled Import
The exact screens vary by app, but most scheduled imports follow the same steps. Run the import manually once before you schedule it.
- Put the file in a stable location. Use a URL, FTP or SFTP folder, Google Sheet or cloud storage link that stays the same, and keep the file name constant so every run finds it.
- Prepare the file. Include a unique identifier, such as handle, SKU or variant ID, and only the columns you want to update, saved with UTF-8 encoding.
- Create the import in your app. Point the app at the file location and choose the data type, such as products or inventory.
- Map columns and set update options. Match file columns to Shopify fields, then choose whether to update existing items, create new ones or skip them.
- Run a manual test. Import once with a small file and check the results in your store and in the app’s log.
- Set the schedule. Choose the start time, time zone and repeat interval, and turn on notifications if the app offers them.
- Review the first scheduled runs. Check the logs after the first few runs to confirm the schedule, file and settings work together as expected.
How Often Should Imports Run?
The right schedule depends on how often the data changes and how often your source file is refreshed. Running more often than the file updates adds work without adding accuracy.
| Data | Typical schedule | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stock levels from a supplier or warehouse | Hourly to daily | Stock changes often, and overselling costs sales and goodwill |
| Prices and costs | Daily or when the supplier sends a new list | Prices change less often but must be current |
| New products | Weekly or as needed | New items usually need review before going live |
| Product content such as descriptions and images | Occasional or manual | Content changes rarely and benefits from review |
Time each run after the source file is updated. If a supplier refreshes its file at 2 a.m., schedule your import for later that night rather than just before, and run large imports during quieter hours for your store.
Keep Scheduled Imports Safe
A scheduled import runs without anyone watching, so a bad file can change many products before you notice. A few safeguards keep that risk low:
- Update only the fields you need. A stock import should change stock, not titles, descriptions or images.
- Skip new products in update jobs. Keep recurring price and stock updates from creating unexpected products.
- Watch blank cells. Check how your app treats empty values, since some tools clear existing data while others leave it unchanged.
- Turn on notifications and check logs. Review failed or skipped rows regularly instead of assuming every run succeeded.
- Keep regular backups. Schedule an export of your products so you can restore data if a run goes wrong.
- Split very large files. Smaller batches reduce timeouts and make errors easier to trace.
- Agree on file changes. Ask suppliers or teammates to tell you before renaming columns or moving the file, since either can break the schedule.
Conclusion
A Shopify scheduled import turns repeated uploads into a background task, keeping stock, prices and product data current from a file that updates at its source. Choosing a tool that supports your file location, testing the import manually and adding sensible safeguards keeps those automatic updates accurate. We hope this guide helps you set up a reliable Shopify scheduled import for your store. If you’re automating recurring product updates, you can explore Bulkflow.
