How Shopify’s PII restrictions impact ERP and private app integrations on the Basic plan
Alpar TorokHow Shopify’s PII restrictions impact ERP and Private app integrations on the Basic plan
As of January 2024, Shopify’s Basic plan limits access to personally identifiable information (PII) via API for custom or private apps. This especially affects Shopify stores using ERP systems for order fulfillment and invoicing, particularly in regions like Romania where tax reporting is mandatory.
What is PII and why does it matter?
PII includes:
- Customer’s full name,
- Shipping address,
- Email address,
- Phone number.
This data is essential for ERP systems handling invoices, shipping, or compliance. All private apps requiring PII are affected — not just ERP connectors.
Impacts on stores using ERP via private apps
- Private apps can’t retrieve PII if the store is on Basic.
- No request access workaround — upgrading the plan is the only option.
- Apps may lose critical data, causing issues in order handling and invoicing.
Case Study: Sweet Mountain
Sweet Mountain, an artisanal syrup brand in Romania, uses a B2B mobile app to manage orders and generate ANAF-compliant invoices. With the new PII restrictions, data access was at risk.
What Dalbe Digital Agency did:
- Implemented a Firebase layer to collect data, match it with Shopify and use that data.
- Synced that data to the ERP system, ensuring compliance and uninterrupted app function.
- Solution works without upgrading the plan and respects GDPR.
Recommended solutions
- Upgrade to Grow or Advanced plan
- Use middleware like Firebase to store data
- Rebuild your app logic to adapt to API changes
Risks of ignoring the changes
- Orders may not process
- Invoices could be incomplete
- Risk of penalties from tax authorities
We’re here to help
Running Shopify Basic with an ERP or custom integration? Losing data through the API?
Reach out — we’ve been through it and can help.
Official source if you would like to follow up on Shopify's recommendation:
