The Shopify integration listens to Shopify cart webhooks and tracks them in Bloomreach as the cart_update event.
Shopify sends a cart_update event with action = empty when:
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Customer clears the cart
When a customer removes all items from their cart, Shopify sends a cart update for an empty cart. Bloomreach tracks this as a cart_update event with action = empty. -
Third‑party apps update the cart
Interference from third-party Shopify plugins can result in additional cart_update events. These plugins might cause Shopify to send a cart_update webhook, generating events with the action = empty.For example, some third-party apps can simulate updating the cart, which causes Shopify to send the cart_update webhook.
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Shopify cart persistence
Shopify often keeps the cart object alive even after the shopper removes all items. When the shopper returns to the site, Shopify can reactivate the existing empty cart instead of creating a new one.This reactivation sends another cart update for an empty cart, which you see as the cart_update event with action = empty.
Since these behaviors originate from Shopify and the installed apps, Bloomreach isn't able to prevent Shopify from sending these webhooks in a standard out-of-the-box integration.
Short answer
Empty cart_update events are expected for Shopify projects. Shopify sends them whenever the cart becomes or remains empty, and Bloomreach only tracks what Shopify sends. You don't need to "fix" the connector. Instead, you should:
- Understand when these events fire
- Adjust your analytics and scenarios to ignore noise
- Review third‑party apps that update the cart object
For more information about configuring the integration, see our Shopify and Shopify Plus overview.