How to Schedule Product Import Export in Shopify?

Scheduling the import export tasks in Shopify gives you more flexibility and helps you automate the task for repeated import export jobs. In this article, we will look into the step-by-step process to schedule product import and export in Shopify. 

By scheduling import/export jobs, you can automate the process of updating product information, inventory levels, and other related data. This helps save time and reduces the manual effort required for repetitive tasks.

You can focus on other important tasks while the import export jobs will run in the background as per the schedule.

Let’s dive into the details of scheduling import and export in Shopify.

Scheduled import/export refers to automating the import or export of product data at regular intervals. Instead of manually uploading or downloading files each time, you can set a schedule – daily, weekly, or monthly and Shopify (via an app) automatically runs the import or export for you.

This is especially useful for syncing product data with suppliers, updating inventory and prices, or creating regular backups.

Manual vs Scheduled Operations

Manual import/export requires you to:

• Upload or download files each time
• Reconfigure settings for every operation
• Monitor the process manually

Scheduled import/export, on the other hand:

• Runs automatically based on your chosen schedule
• Uses predefined settings and mappings
• Reduces human error and repetitive work
• Saves time for ongoing product management

In short, manual operations work well for one-time tasks, while scheduled operations are ideal for recurring updates.

To schedule import/export actions, we will use the StoreRobo Import Export Suite. The app allows you to import, export, and update products and collections in Shopify. Using this app, you can also migrate products directly from WooCommerce to Shopify.

The app is available in free and paid plans, but scheduling is only available in paid plans. You can choose any paid plan that meets your requirements and install and activate the app on your Shopify store. 

After installing the app, follow the steps:

Step 1: Choose an Export Template

From your Shopify admin account,

• Go to the Apps menu and select StoreRobo Import Export Suite. 
• Choose the export template as Shopify CSV, then click Proceed to continue.

Step 2: Select the Data You Want to Export

The app lets you export products, smart collections, and custom collections. For this tutorial, we’ll choose products only.

If you want to export product data to an FTP server, enable the “Enable FTP/SFTP for exporting file” checkbox. Let’s keep it unchecked for now. 

Step 3: Schedule the Export Job

• Click on the Schedule button, and choose a date and time for the scheduling action. You can also repeat the scheduled job at specified intervals.
• Then, click on Schedule now.

This will schedule the export job, and the app will automatically export data as per the schedule.

Once the export job is complete, you can download the export file from the app’s Log History page. 

Now, let’s see how to schedule the import process in Shopify.

We will be using the same app to import products to Shopify.

Step 1: Choose Import File Location

• Go to the Home page of the StoreRobo Product Import Export App. 
• Choose a file location to import the products. You can import files from your local storage, FTP server, public URL, or directly from WooCommerce using the WooCommerce API. 

For this tutorial, we will be importing files from our local storage.

After uploading the file, choose the data type as Products. Then, click on Upload to continue.

Step 2: Choose the Import Filters

Once the file is uploaded, the app will automatically identify the file template. You can still choose the template in case you want to import a custom CSV file.

Then, you can filter products based on product status. Choose whether you want to import Active, Draft, or Archived products.

Step 3: Select the Import Options

In this step, you can select various options to import products to Shopify.

• Choose whether to ignore the Product ID.
• Select whether you want to update the product data if products already exist in your store.
• Choose whether to skip importing new products from the CSV file.
• Choose whether to publish new products from the CSV file.

After choosing the necessary options, click on the Schedule button to schedule the import job.

The scheduling import job is similar to the one with the export job. Choose the date and time for the scheduler and select the required interval for repeated imports. 

The products will be imported to your store, and you can view the import job details from the Log History page.

And that’s it. You can schedule the import and export jobs in just three steps. The app will run the job in the background, and you don’t have to look at the progress bar.

Now, let’s see some of the benefits of the scheduling option for import and export jobs.

Here are some benefits of scheduling the import-export jobs in Shopify:

1. Saves time and effort: By scheduling, you can automate the data migration tasks on your Shopify store. It will automatically update the product data, inventory data, and other related data. This will save you time and effort, especially for repeated tasks.

2. Ensure consistency: When you sell products on multiple Shopify stores, you can ensure the consistency of your product data across all stores. You can schedule the import-export jobs at the same time. So, any update in the product data will be updated automatically across all the stores.

3. Timely updates: Scheduled tasks enable you to update your product catalog, inventory, or other data at specific times. For example, you can schedule updates during off-peak hours to minimize disruptions to your online store and ensure a smooth customer experience.

4. Reduce errors: Manually updating product data is prone to errors. Instead, you can automate the data updation by scheduling the task on your Shopify store. This will reduce the risk of mistakes that can occur when handling large volumes of data, helping to maintain accurate information in your store.

5. Integration with third-party services: If you are using external systems, suppliers, or third-party tools to manage your inventory, scheduling import/export tasks facilitates seamless integration. This ensures that your Shopify store is always up-to-date with the latest information from your suppliers or other systems.

Setting up scheduled product import and export jobs can save time and reduce manual work—but following a few best practices ensures everything runs smoothly and reliably.

Test Schedules Before Enabling Automation

Before running scheduled jobs on a recurring basis, always test the import or export manually. Start with a small dataset to confirm that mappings, filters, and update rules work as expected. This helps catch issues early and prevents incorrect data from being applied repeatedly.

Use Small Batches for Large Catalogs

For stores with large product catalogs, processing data in smaller batches helps avoid server timeouts and performance issues. Smaller batches also make it easier to identify and troubleshoot errors without affecting the entire catalog.

Monitor Logs Regularly

Scheduled jobs typically run in the background, so it’s important to review logs and status reports regularly. Monitoring logs helps you quickly spot failed jobs, skipped records, or data mismatches and take corrective action before they impact your store.

Keep Backup Exports

Always maintain regular backup exports of your product data. Having backups ensures you can restore your store quickly if something goes wrong during a scheduled import or update. Automated exports are especially useful for maintaining up-to-date backups with minimal effort.

To wrap up, scheduling the import-export process on your Shopify store can save you time and reduce errors. The Shopify Product Import Export app we mentioned in this article will help you automate the import and export of products on your Shopify store.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to schedule the import-export job in Shopify. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments section.