Shopify Flowchart Frustration? Mastering Conditional Splits and Event Reconnections

Decoding Shopify Flow: Making the Most of Splits and Connections

Hey everyone! I was browsing the Shopify Community forums the other day and came across a really interesting discussion about Shopify Flow, specifically around conditional splits and reconnecting events. It seems like a few of you are running into similar challenges, so I thought I'd break down the key takeaways and offer some solutions based on the community's insights.

The original poster, caribuziak234, was trying to replicate a Klaviyo flow in Shopify Flow, aiming to send a reminder email with a discount code to customers who hadn't yet placed an order. The goal was to split the flow based on order history, send the reminder if needed, and then have the flow converge and continue. Here's the image they shared of their Klaviyo setup:

And here's the Shopify Flow setup they were having trouble with:

The Challenge: Converging Conditional Splits

The core problem? Shopify Flow doesn't allow you to directly merge branches after a conditional split. As Tim_1 pointed out in the thread, Flow uses a "tree model," meaning once you split, you can't rejoin those branches later on. It's a limitation that can be frustrating, especially if you're used to other marketing automation platforms.

The Solution: Rethinking Your Flow Structure

So, how do you work around this limitation? Tim_1 suggested a clever workaround: adjust the position of your conditional split. Instead of splitting *after* a certain event, split *before* the conditional check. This way, you can create a separate branch specifically for customers who haven't placed an order and send them the reminder email. The main flow continues for everyone else.

Here's a visual representation of Tim_1's suggestion:

In essence, you're creating a dedicated path for the "no orders" scenario, allowing the primary flow to continue without needing to merge branches.

Reconnecting Snipped Events

Caribuziak234 also asked about reconnecting events if you accidentally disconnect them. This is a common oops moment! Luckily, Shopify Flow makes it pretty easy to fix. Tim_1 explained that you can simply drag a new connector from the gray "bump" at the bottom or top of the step you want to reconnect.

Just click and drag from that gray circle to the next step in your flow, and you're back in business.

Key Takeaways and Tips for Shopify Flow

• Plan your flows carefully: Due to the tree model, think about the overall structure *before* you start building.
• Embrace the split: Understand that you can’t merge branches after a split. Restructure your flow to accommodate this.
• Master the reconnect: Know how to reconnect events if you accidentally snip a connection.
• Leverage conditions: Use conditions to create personalized experiences for your customers.

Shopify Flow can be a powerful tool for automating tasks and improving customer experience. While the inability to merge branches can be a bit limiting, understanding the underlying model and applying these workarounds can help you build effective and efficient workflows. It's all about adapting your approach to the platform's strengths and limitations, something that comes with experience and sharing tips within the community. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep those flows running smoothly!