5-minute setup brings OpenAI-era customer experiences to every merchant touchpoint—no code required
SASKATOON, SK – October 3, 2025 — As Shopify and OpenAI bring shopping into ChatGPT, Vendasta flips the script, today announcing a Shopify AI connector that puts store intelligence directly into customer conversations across phone, SMS, WhatsApp, and web chat.
Built on Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), Vendasta’s integration enables merchants to deploy a fully trained AI shopping assistant that works natively across the channels their customers already use — no developer resources or complex setup required.
“OpenAI and Shopify just validated everything we’ve been building,” said John Vars, CPO at Vendasta. “But customers aren’t asking businesses to send them to ChatGPT — they’re already calling, texting, or chatting on WhatsApp. This is the AI assistant that actually picks up.”
Turning Every Conversation Into Commerce
Vendasta’s Shopify MCP connector transforms AI interactions into revenue-generating conversations. It allows AI receptionists to:
- Answer product questions in real-time during phone calls, using live inventory data
- Build carts and trigger checkout links via SMS, with zero human input
- Offer personalized buying advice through WhatsApp
- Respond to web chat with full access to catalog, pricing, and availability
Unlike AI tools that live inside walled gardens like ChatGPT, Vendasta’s solution plugs into the tools merchants already use — from web widgets to call centers — without disrupting operations.
Setup is as simple as dropping in your Shopify store URL.
AI-Commerce at the Tipping Point
This announcement lands just days after OpenAI’s headline-grabbing Shopify integration, and signals that AI commerce is no longer theoretical. “Everyone’s asking how to inject AI into their customer experience,” said Brendan King, CEO at Vendasta. “We’re answering with a real product, real channels, and real customers, and it’s ready today.” Shopify data already suggests that AI-enabled merchants see higher conversion rates and faster response times. Vendasta’s solution takes those benefits beyond ChatGPT, turning phone calls and text messages into the next frontiers of AI-powered commerce.
Ease of Use
Merchants can connect their Shopify store to Vendasta’s AI employee in under five minutes — no coding, no APIs, just a store URL. From there, the AI instantly starts answering customer questions, suggesting products, and even completing checkouts via SMS, WhatsApp, phone, or web chat. The experience is seamless: a shopper can text about a product, receive a personalized link, and check out in seconds, all without human intervention.
Integration storefront.
Connecting to Shopify through code-free interface.
The connection being accessed through web chat, on our favourite and very relevant test site, Rabbit Groomers.
AI Receptionist sending the purchase link through SMS
Availability
Vendasta’s MCP connector for Shopify is available immediately to all customers using Vendasta AI Employees. To see the AI receptionist in action, visit https://www.vendasta.com/conversations-ai/ for a demo video and setup instructions.
About Vendasta
Vendasta is the leading AI software company for customer acquisition and engagement, helping businesses get more customers. And keep them. Their AI platform unifies marketing, sales, and operational workflows — eliminating the need for fragmented tools and streamlining every stage of the customer journey. With proprietary SMB data, intelligent automation, and AI employees that handle repetitive tasks, Vendasta helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers with unmatched efficiency. Vendasta’s solutions empower partners like digital marketing agencies, franchisors, and MSPs to scale operations seamlessly, optimize campaigns, and drive long-term growth.
Headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, Vendasta employs over 600 dedicated team members across offices in Saskatoon, Boca Raton, and Chennai, serving a global network of partners and SMBs.
Learn more at www.vendasta.com.
Media Contact
Nykea Behiel
Director of Brand & Experience, Vendasta
media@vendasta.com