hopify Purchase Order API: Developer Guide (2026)

Shopify doesn't have a native Purchase Order API. If you're building a PO app for Shopify, you need to work with Products, Inventory, and Locations APIs to create your own PO system. Here's how PODesk does it.

The Challenge: No Native PO API

As of 2026, Shopify's Admin API does not include a dedicated Purchase Order endpoint. This means every PO app (including PODesk, Stocky, Prediko, and Inventory Planner) builds its own PO system on top of Shopify's core APIs.

What You Need from Shopify's API

1. Products & Variants (GraphQL)

# Fetch products with variants and inventory
query {
  products(first: 50) {
    edges {
      node {
        id
        title
        variants(first: 10) {
          edges {
            node {
              id
              sku
              title
              inventoryItem {
                id
                inventoryLevels(first: 5) {
                  edges {
                    node {
                      location { name }
                      available
                    }
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

2. Inventory Levels (GraphQL)

# Get inventory levels per location
query {
  inventoryItems(first: 50) {
    edges {
      node {
        id
        sku
        inventoryLevels(first: 5) {
          edges {
            node {
              location { id name }
              available
              incoming
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Locations (GraphQL)

# Fetch all fulfillment locations
query {
  locations(first: 10) {
    edges {
      node {
        id
        name
        isActive
        address {
          city
          country
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

4. Order History (for Sales Velocity)

# Calculate 30-day sales velocity
query {
  orders(first: 250, query: "created_at:>=2026-07-26") {
    edges {
      node {
        lineItems(first: 50) {
          edges {
            node {
              variant { id sku }
              quantity
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Building Your Own PO System

Here's the architecture PODesk uses:

1. Database: PostgreSQL via Prisma ORM with 16 models
2. PO Lifecycle: Draft → Sent → Confirmed → Received
3. Sync Engine: GraphQL-based inventory sync with rate limiting
4. Receiving: In-transaction validation prevents over-receiving
5. Email: Dual provider (SMTP + Resend) for PO delivery

Key Considerations

• Rate Limiting: Shopify limits to 50 points/second. Use batching and caching.
• Webhooks: Subscribe to inventory changes for real-time updates.
• Multi-tenancy: Every query must be scoped to the authenticated store.
• Idempotency: Webhooks can fire multiple times. Handle gracefully.

PODesk's Tech Stack

If you're building a similar app, here's what PODesk uses:

• Framework: React Router v7
• Database: PostgreSQL + Prisma ORM
• Cache: Upstash Redis
• Email: Resend + Nodemailer
• Encryption: AES-256-GCM
• Deployment: Vercel

Why Not Just Use PODesk?

If you're a merchant (not a developer), you don't need to build this. PODesk does it all — free for 250 SKUs.

FAQ

Does Shopify have a Purchase Order API?

No. Shopify does not have a native PO API. You must build your own using Products, Inventory, and Locations APIs.

Can I create purchase orders via Shopify API?

Not directly. You can read products, variants, and inventory levels, then build your own PO database on top.

What's the best way to manage POs in Shopify?

Use a third-party app like PODesk that handles the PO lifecycle, supplier management, and inventory sync.