Getting started · Lesson 4 of 8

Connect your web shop to your customer service

You answer Where is my order? faster when the order sits next to the conversation. In this lesson you connect WooCommerce or Shopify and check that orders really come through.

12 minAvailable from Starter

What you'll learn

  • Which connection suits your web shop
  • Connect WooCommerce with a connect code
  • Connect Shopify from the Shopify admin
  • Check that new orders come through

Step by step

  1. 1

    See what fits your store

    Go to Channels and find your platform: WooCommerce, Shopify, bol.com or Lightspeed eCom. You can connect one web shop type at a time. So if you have Shopify connected and want WooCommerce, you need to disconnect Shopify first. On Starter you connect 1 WooCommerce store, on Pro up to 5.

  2. 2

    WooCommerce: create a connect code

    Go to Channels › WooCommerce and click Generate connect code under Connect via plugin (recommended). Copy the code and leave this page open, because it updates itself once the store is connected. The code expires after 15 minutes, so install the Bugalou for WooCommerce plugin first if that takes a while. If the code has expired, simply make a new one.

  3. 3

    WooCommerce: connect in WordPress

    In your WordPress admin, go to WooCommerce › Bugalou, paste the code and click Connect to Bugalou. WooCommerce shows its own approval screen: approve it. On the same page, also paste your widget key, tick Show the chat widget on my store and save, so the chat appears in your store too.

  4. 4

    Shopify: always start in Shopify

    Install Bugalou from the Shopify App Store and open Apps › Bugalou › Connect to Bugalou in your Shopify admin. Then click Connect Shopify Store in Bugalou and approve at Shopify. Starting the connection from Bugalou itself doesn't work, so don't begin on that page. Finally, under Online Store › Themes › Customize › App embeds, switch on Bugalou Chat & Banners and save.

  5. 5

    Check the connection

    For WooCommerce, your store shows under Connected Stores, with a Webhook Status. If that isn't active, click Auto-Configure, because without webhooks new orders don't come in by themselves. Sync Orders fetches earlier orders. Then place a test order and see whether it appears with that customer's conversation.

  6. 6

    Let order moments send messages

    Under Automations, choose an order event from your store as the start, which then sends an email or WhatsApp message, such as a shipping update. This works on Starter and up. For WhatsApp you need an approved template, and Meta charges for templates. Start with one moment, for example Order Shipped, and test it on yourself first.

Common mistakes

Double order confirmations

If Bugalou also sends order emails now, WooCommerce keeps sending its own unless you switch that off. The plugin has an Order emails section for this. Only switch off a WooCommerce email once Bugalou really sends that email.

Connecting manually with read-only access

If you choose Or connect manually with API keys, your Consumer Key and Secret need Read/Write permissions. With read-only access Bugalou can't create the webhooks. The plugin handles this for you, so use it if you can.

Forgetting to switch on the chat in your theme

With Shopify, the store is connected after linking, but the chat only goes live once you switch on Bugalou Chat & Banners under App embeds and save.

Expecting everything on the free plan

On the free plan, live chat in your Shopify store works. Orders in the inbox, AI answering order questions and automatic messages need a paid plan. Connecting WooCommerce starts at Starter.

Tips

  • Use a test order of your own, so you immediately see what your team sees with a real customer.
  • Also selling through other systems? Check Settings › Workspace settings › Integrations for what else is available, such as shipping connections on Pro.
  • No web shop? Skip this lesson. The other lessons apply to your business as usual.

You're done when

  • Your store shows as Connected in Bugalou
  • A test order comes through
  • The chat is live in your store
  • Customers don't get duplicate emails

Frequently asked questions

How do I connect WooCommerce to my customer service?

In Bugalou, create a connect code at Channels › WooCommerce, install the Bugalou for WooCommerce plugin, paste the code at WooCommerce › Bugalou and approve the request.

Can I connect Shopify and WooCommerce at the same time?

No, you can use one web shop type at a time. To switch, disconnect the current one first.

Do I have to share my WordPress password?

No. You give access through WooCommerce's own approval screen.