An Inside Look into Shopify Custom Reports

Shopify Reports is the go-to tool for your store data, but what if you only need specific data for the task at hand? For that, there’s Shopify Custom Reports. This neat feature lets you create reports your way by adding your own data columns, filters, and other options.

We'll explore everything Shopify's custom reports offer in this article, from setup instructions to limitations and solutions. Let's dive in!

What is Shopify Custom Reporting?

Shopify custom reporting is the ability to modify certain default Shopify reports to tailor them for your specific business needs. This is possible via options like adding or removing data columns and applying filters. You can use dedicated templates for custom report creation or customize existing reports.

Shopify lets you customize an existing report if it belongs to any of these types:

• Acquisition

• Customers

• Sales

• Inventory

• Marketing

• Behavior

• Retail Sales

Note: Shopify doesn’t allow you to customize some categories of reports or certain reports within a category. These are mentioned later.

Every custom report comes with a standard set of data fields. You can swap these out or get rid of them as you see fit. Adding or removing the data columns is simple - just check or uncheck the boxes next to them, respectively. You also have the ability to add multiple filters to your custom reports.

The Available Custom Report Templates

If you choose to create custom reports via templates, you have the following options:

Note that your choice of report category is set in stone once created. You can only create a new custom report under the desired category.

Steps to Create Shopify Custom Reports

How you create Shopify custom reports depends on whether you’re using templates or modifying existing reports.

Here are instructions for both methods:

Creating Custom Reports Using Templates

• In your Shopify admin page, click on Analytics and then Reports in the left navigation panel.
• Click on Create Custom Report.
• In the pop-up box that opens, add the following details:

1. In the Report Title field, enter the report name.
2. Under Report Template, choose the category of your custom report from the available options.

• Now click on Create Custom Report.
• Select the data fields and filters that’ll display the data you want in your custom report.
• Once done, click Save Report.

Creating Custom Reports by Modifying Existing or Duplicate Reports

1. In your Shopify admin page, click on Analytics and then Reports in the left navigation panel.
2. From the list of available default reports, choose the one you want to customize.
3. Edit the data columns and filters to view the data you desire.
4. Click Save as. In the Save Custom Report dialog box, give a name for this modified report.
5. Click Save.

To create and customize duplicate reports:

1. After choosing the report you want modified, click on Save as.
2. Enter a descriptive name for the file in the Save Custom Report dialog box and click Save.
3. Edit the data columns and filters to view the data you desire.
4. Click Save.

Your saved reports can be found in the reports list visible when you click on Reports.

What Shopify Custom Reports Can’t Do for You

Despite Shopify's flexibility in custom reporting, it falls short in several areas.

Here are its limitations:

• Limited Template Options

Custom reports are restricted to just five templates across four categories. If you're hoping for a report tailored specifically to shipping, you're out of luck.

• Limited Number of Data Fields

Just like with templates, Shopify isn’t generous with the number of data fields you can add to your custom report. You can’t add custom fields with your own formula, for example.

• Lack of Export Options

You can only download your custom report file in CSV format to your internal storage. You can’t send it to destinations like Google Drive and email, or choose a different format like PDF, Excel, etc.

• No Automated Report Delivery

There’s no “set it and forget it” when it comes to custom Shopify reports. If you want your report file, you have to manually download it.

• Missing Support for Custom Reports

There's no option to request additional custom report formats from customer support. Plus, certain reports can't be modified at all - here are the details:

1. All reports in the Finance category except the US Sales Tax report.
2. Default reports in the Fraud category.
3. Most default reports under Orders, with the exceptions being Shipping Labels (filter and column editing allowed) and Shipping labels over Time (can edit filters) reports.
4. The Web Performance and Online store cart analysis reports.

• Plan-based Access

Custom reports are only available to users on the Advanced Shopify plan or higher.

The solution? You can get around this restriction and others with a third-party reporting app solution like Report Pundit, which offers features and flexibility that Shopify lacks, providing a comprehensive custom reporting experience.

Summing Up

Shopify custom reports offer tailored insights that empower your business to make informed decisions swiftly. By providing precise data, they enhance your store's data management, allowing for flexible filtering across categories.

Precise custom data is at the heart of impactful decision-making for a business, and Shopify custom reporting is a great tool for it. It helps you get valuable insights into your store performance via multiple data filtering options for added flexibility, despite a few shortcomings.

However, if you find Shopify’s custom report offering insufficient for your needs, particularly as your business grows, consider a third-party app like Report Pundit. With it, you can take full control of your custom data reporting and keep your growth on track.

How Report Pundit Helps

Report Pundit offers customizable multi-category report templates, automated scheduled report delivery, diverse file format and export destination options, and a dedicated expert support team available 24/5 to assist with custom report creation—all at no additional cost. With these features and more, Report Pundit is equipped to meet all your custom reporting needs.

Try it out and experience firsthand how Report Pundit enhances your search for custom Shopify data.

Start Your 14-day Free Trial Today!