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Using Shopify Tags to Apply Xero Tracking Options
Post to Xero by Hyve can apply Xero tracking options to invoice lines automatically by reading Shopify tags. This lets your sales be categorised correctly in Xero without manual updates.
Important: This configuration cannot be done from the app. If you want tracking to be applied using Shopify tags, please contact Hyve Support to request the setup.
If you only want one tracking category applied to every invoice, you can turn on Default tracking category on the Setup - Advanced page and choose it there - you can add up to two. The category must already exist in Xero before you can select it. If custom tag rules like the ones below are set up, those are used instead of the default.
How it works:
During the sync, the app reads Shopify tags and — when a matching rule is configured — applies the corresponding Xero tracking option to every invoice line. Tracking can be driven from either:
- Order tags (tags on the order), or
- Customer tags (tags on the Shopify customer record), or
- Product tags (tags on the Shopify product).
Option 1: Apply tracking based on order tags
Best when classification changes by order.
How it works:
- If an order has a Shopify tag such as
ROI,IntercoorWholesale, the app reads that tag during sync. - It matches the tag to a configured Xero tracking option and applies that single tracking option to every line on the invoice.
Example: Order tag ROI → mapped → Xero tracking ROI → all invoice lines posted with ROI.
Option 2: Apply tracking based on customer tags
Best when each customer always belongs to a fixed category.
How it works:
- The app reads the customer’s Shopify tags at invoice creation and applies the configured Xero tracking option to all invoices for that customer.
Example: Customer tag Distributor → mapped → Xero tracking Distributor → all invoices for that customer posted with Distributor.
Option 3: Apply tracking based on product tags
Best when the category belongs to what was sold rather than who bought it.
How it works:
- The app reads the tags on each product as the invoice is built and applies the matching Xero tracking option to that product’s line.
- Because it is worked out product by product, one invoice can carry different tracking options on different lines.
Example: Product tag Coffee → mapped → Xero tracking Coffee → only the lines for tagged products post with Coffee.
Product tags can also name the tracking option outright, without a mapping. Tags in the form XeroTrackingCategory:Sales Region and XeroTrackingOption:ROI on the product are read directly.
Option 4: Mapping tags to specific Xero tracking options:
Explicit mapping: you tell the app which Shopify tags to use, what Xero tracking option each tag maps to, and whether the rule should use order or customer tags.
When you contact Hyve Support, provide:
- The list of Shopify tag names to use.
- The Xero tracking category and option each tag should map to.
- Whether the mapping should use order tags, customer tags or product tags.
Example mapping table
| Shopify tag | Use rule | Xero tracking category | Xero tracking option |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROI | Order | Sales Region | ROI |
| Distributor | Customer | Sales Channel | Distributor |
| Interco | Order | Transaction Type | Interco |
Behaviour notes & limitations
- Order tags take priority. If both customer and order tags exist, the app will prioritise order tags.
- Order and customer tag rules cover the whole invoice. Every line on the invoice gets the same tracking option. Product tag rules are the exception — they are worked out per product, so lines on one invoice can differ.
- No match → no tracking. If no matching tag is found, no tracking option will be applied.
- Tag matching: Ensure Shopify tag names match exactly (including spacing/punctuation). If you use multiple synonyms, include each variant in the mapping.