Shopify CDP Connector Usage

Installing CDP Connector

Once you complete the onboarding steps, CDP Connector will automatically install the Segment snippet on your store and begin collecting data.

Understanding How CDP Connector Works

CDP Connector consists of multiple modules working at different levels. While each module operates independently, all modules are required to ensure the most accurate data collection.

ScriptTag - Installs the Segment snippet on your Shopify storefront and updates the cart to include anonymous_id. Since the Segment snippet is included, it will also load your destination Device-mode integrations.
Web Pixel - Translates and sends native Shopify Standard events to Segment, including form submissions and custom events. For a full list of events, see the "Shopify Web Pixel Events" section of Shopify CDP Connector Events Spec. Can optionally fire page() calls if configured to run without ScriptTag (see "Settings" section below).
Webhook - Captures Shopify webhooks and translates them into Segment "Order" events. For a full list, see "Webhook Events" in the Shopify CDP Connector Events Spec.
UI Extension - (Optional) Updates the Shopify cart with anonymous_id when ScriptTag is disabled.

Connecting Attribution in Segment

You can connect Attribution as a destination in Segment. While this step is optional, it helps us validate correct data collection and identify any issues you might encounter. If Attribution is not connected in Segment, we will not be able to see your data since CDP Connector is a standalone application that works as a pass-through and doesn't store any data.

Identity Resolution and "anonymous_id"

CDP Connector resolves customer identity from their first visit through to purchase. The identify() call may fire multiple times along the visitor journey—on login, during checkout, and from webhook events. If a Shopify Customer ID is available, it will be used as the user_id. We attempt to keep anonymous_id consistent across the entire visitor journey, however this isn't always possible due to multiple factors such as ad blockers, customer network connection issues, and others.

By default, the Shopify cart is updated to include analytics_anonymous_id, which later becomes available on the Order object in Shopify webhook. CDP Connector then fires Order events with anonymous_id included, though this isn't always the case. The user_id is set by default (resolving to the Shopify customer ID) on all Order events. You may often see Order events without anonymous_id but with user_id. In these cases, you'll need to search for pageviews with the same user_id from the identify() call to find matching visitors.

This follows the recommended Segment approach: first try to resolve identity using user_id, then fall back to anonymous_id.

Consent Management

CDP Connector has native support for Shopify's Customer Privacy API and can translate its events into Segment Consent Management events and spec. If you use a third-party consent management system and want to integrate it with CDP Connector, you need to configure your consent management system to properly set data processing in Shopify's Customer Privacy API, and CDP Connector will work with it automatically.

By default, consent management is disabled. See the "Settings" section below for configuration options.

Shopify Headless Stores

If you're running a headless store, the only CDP Connector component that will work is "Webhook" (see above). This means you'll need to install Segment manually in your store. Additionally, your Order events will not have anonymous_id unless you set analytics_anonymous_id on cart.attributes in Shopify. If you use a combination of Shopify Storefront and a headless store, you can use the source_name property of Order events to identify where the order originated.

Manually Installing Segment Snippet

If you want to install and manage the Segment snippet manually while still capturing "Web Pixel" and "Webhook" events, you can do so by enabling "Send Pageviews from Web Pixel" in the settings. We strongly recommend also enabling "UI Extension" as it allows proper anonymous_id synchronization between your manual Segment installation and CDP Connector.

UI Extension

This is a small Shopify theme extension that updates the cart to set anonymous_id. This allows CDP Connector to maintain consistent visitor identity across the entire customer journey, required when ScriptTag is disabled or when using a manual Segment installation. Significantly improves data collection accuracy.

Settings

CDP Connector provides extensive configuration options to customize data collection and event tracking behavior. Access CDP Connector settings through the Shopify admin panel after installing the app.

Core Configuration

User ID Source

Determines which Shopify customer property is used as the user_id in tracking events:

shopify_customer_id (default) - Uses internal Shopify customer ID
email - Uses customer's email address
none - Doesn't set user_id, relies only on anonymous_id

Order Completed Trigger Topic

Determines which webhook triggers the "Order Completed" event:

orders/paid (default) - Fires when payment is received
orders/fulfilled - Fires when the order is fulfilled

Web Pixel Configuration

Web Pixel

Enables Shopify Web Pixel to fire additional ecommerce events from the storefront, capturing customer interactions in real-time.

Send Pageviews from Web Pixel

Disables ScriptTag and sends pageview events through Web Pixel instead. This disables automatic Segment snippet installation, and as a result, all events are sent using Cloud-mode.

Track Form Submitted

Enabled by default. Captures Shopify's form_submitted DOM events, useful for newsletter signups and custom forms. Implementation depends on your store's theme.

Track Custom Events

Enabled by default. Captures custom events sent via Shopify.analytics.publish() and forwards them to Attribution or Segment.

Send Raw Shopify Event Data

When enabled, attaches the original Shopify event data as shopify_event_data property on all Web Pixel events. Useful for debugging or accessing additional Shopify-specific properties.

Privacy & Consent

Customer Privacy Mode

Controls how CDP Connector handles Shopify's Customer Privacy API:

disabled (default) - Doesn't send context.consent or honor Shopify Customer Privacy settings. All events are sent regardless of customer consent preferences.
pass_through (recommended) - Attaches context.consent to all events as set in Shopify's Customer Privacy API, but still sends all events regardless of user consent preferences. This allows you to later decide in Segment how to enable the data.
strict - Fully honors Shopify Customer Privacy settings. Blocks and queues all events until customer consent is obtained. Only sends events for customers who have opted in. Attaches context.consent to all allowed events.

See the "Consent Management" section above for more details on integration with consent management platforms.

Advanced Settings

Additional Order Properties

Specify additional Shopify order fields to include in Order webhook events as properties.

Debug Mode

Enables verbose logging for troubleshooting and attaches additional properties to events.