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How to setup workflows

How to automate your Shopify translations with Polydata Workflows

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Written by Polydata app
Updated over 2 months ago

1. What are Workflows?

Workflows in Polydata let you automate translations for your Shopify store.

You can decide what content gets translated, when it happens, and how it’s handled by AI — ensuring every update stays consistent, accurate, and on-brand.

2. When to Use Workflows

Use workflows to:

  • Automatically translate new or updated products.

  • Keep all multilingual content current.

  • Apply different translation rules per market or language.

  • Save time by automating repetitive translation tasks.

3. Accessing Workflows

  1. In your Shopify admin, open Apps → Polydata.

  2. Go to the Workflows tab.

  3. Click Create Workflow or select an existing one to edit.

4. Basic Configuration

This section defines what your workflow translates and when it runs.

  • Resource Type → Choose what to translate (e.g. Product, Collection, Blog Post, Metaobject).

  • Trigger → Select On Update to automatically run translations when content changes.

    • Its possible to run on create or on-update.

  • Override Existing Translation → Turn this on if you want to replace existing translations automatically.

5. Conditions (Optional)

Control which items get translated.

You can filter products by:

  • Tags → Example: only translate products tagged with translate_description.

  • Metafields → Example: only translate products with a certain custom metafield.

💡 Tip: Use tags to easily control which products enter your workflow.

7. Glossary Integration (Optional)

Upload or connect a glossary to make sure brand terms, product names, and keywords stay consistent across all translations.

8. Fields to Translate

Choose which Shopify fields should be automatically translated. Common fields include:

  • Title

  • Description

  • Meta Title / Meta Description

  • Product Type

9. Metafields (Optional)

If your store uses custom metafields (e.g. custom.color), add them here so they are included in translations.

10. Post Actions

After a translation completes, you can:

  • Remove Tags → Example: automatically remove the tag translate_description once done.

  • Update Metafields → Automatically update metafield values after translation.

11. Review the Workflow Summary

At the bottom, you’ll see a summary of all your settings.

It confirms:

  • Which products are affected

  • Which tags or triggers are used

  • What AI model and fields are included

  • What happens after translation

Double-check everything before saving.

12. Activate the Workflow

  1. Give your workflow a clear name (e.g. Product Descriptions – EN/FR/DE).

  2. Set Status to Active.

  3. Click Save.

Your workflow is now live! 🎉

Whenever a tagged product is updated, Polydata will automatically translate it according to your rules.

13. Managing and Monitoring

  • You can pause or edit any workflow at any time.

  • The Activity Log (if available) shows when translations were last triggered.

  • To test, update a product with the selected tag and confirm the translations appear.

14. Best Practices

✅ Use different workflows for each language

✅ Add clear prompts to maintain tone and style.

✅ Avoid overlapping rules to keep automation clean.

✅ Review translations occasionally for quality assurance.

15. Troubleshooting

Nothing is translating?

  • Make sure your workflow is Active.

  • Verify the product includes the correct tag or condition.

  • Check that your source and target languages are set correctly.

  • Confirm the selected AI model has translation access.


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