Last updated: August 2025
Are you losing revenue because your birthday discount campaigns aren’t reaching all your customers? If you’re running a Shopify store with Klaviyo for email marketing, you’ve likely discovered a frustrating gap: customer birthdate data doesn’t automatically sync between these platforms, especially for in-store purchases.
The Birthday Data Synchronization Problem
Many ecommerce managers face this exact scenario: You’ve set up beautiful birthday discount campaigns in Klaviyo, but they’re only reaching customers who provided their birthdate during online checkout. Meanwhile, customers who shared their birthday information in-store or through customer service never receive these valuable offers.
This disconnect creates several business challenges:
- Lost revenue opportunities from missed birthday campaigns
- Inconsistent customer experience between online and offline channels
- Manual data entry requirements that don’t scale
- Customer frustration when some people receive birthday offers while others don’t
Why Standard Integrations Fall Short
The native Shopify-Klaviyo integration handles basic customer data like email addresses and purchase history, but birthdate synchronization requires a more sophisticated approach. Here’s why:
Different data storage methods: Shopify stores customer birthdates in metafields, while Klaviyo uses profile properties. These systems don’t automatically communicate this specific data type.
Multiple data sources: Birthdates can be collected through online forms, POS systems, customer service interactions, or directly in Klaviyo. Without proper automation, these sources remain isolated.
Timing conflicts: When the same customer updates their birthdate in multiple places, you need intelligent logic to determine which version is most current and authoritative.
Our Automated Solution: Seamless Bidirectional Sync
We developed a custom automation that eliminates these challenges entirely. Here’s how it works:
Real-Time Webhook Triggers
The system activates whenever a customer record is updated in Shopify, ensuring immediate synchronization without delays or manual intervention.
Intelligent Data Comparison
The automation compares birthdate information from both platforms and determines which source has the most recent update. This prevents data conflicts and ensures accuracy.
Bidirectional Synchronization
- Shopify → Klaviyo: Online and POS-collected birthdates automatically appear in Klaviyo profiles
- Klaviyo → Shopify: Birthdates collected through email campaigns sync back to Shopify metafields
Error Handling and Monitoring
Built-in error detection sends notifications when sync issues occur, allowing for quick resolution and maintaining data integrity.
Business Impact: What This Means for Your Revenue
Increased campaign reach: Birthday campaigns now target 100% of customers who have provided birthdate information, regardless of where they shared it.
Unified customer experience: Every customer receives consistent treatment whether they shop online, in-store, or through multiple channels.
Operational efficiency: Zero manual data entry or ongoing maintenance required once the automation is configured.
Enhanced customer lifetime value: More complete customer profiles enable better segmentation and personalized marketing campaigns.
Technical Implementation Overview
The solution uses Make.com (formerly Integromat) to create a sophisticated workflow that:
- Monitors customer updates through Shopify webhooks
- Retrieves existing birthdate data from both Klaviyo and Shopify metafields
- Compares timestamps to determine the most recent information
- Updates the appropriate platform with the current data
- Handles edge cases like missing profiles or data conflicts
This approach ensures data consistency while respecting the unique strengths of each platform.
Is This Solution Right for Your Store?
This automation is particularly valuable if you:
- Run birthday discount campaigns that drive significant revenue
- Collect customer information both online and in physical locations
- Want to improve customer experience consistency across channels
- Need to eliminate manual data management tasks
- Plan to expand your email marketing segmentation strategies
Getting Started
Implementing this type of automation requires careful planning and technical expertise. The solution must be customized for your specific:
- Shopify metafield structure
- Klaviyo profile property configuration
- Business requirements and data sources
- Error handling preferences
Next Steps
Ready to eliminate birthday data gaps and boost your campaign effectiveness? This type of custom integration typically pays for itself within the first month through increased campaign reach and customer satisfaction.
The key is working with developers who understand both platforms’ APIs and can design robust error handling for mission-critical customer data.
Need help implementing a similar solution for your Shopify and Klaviyo setup? Our team specializes in ecommerce automation that drives real business results. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements and get a custom implementation plan.
