As smart home, fitness, and industrial IoT products gain traction, many businesses are blending hardware sales with recurring service subscriptions. Shopify — with the right architecture — supports this hybrid model beautifully.
Use Case Examples:
- Smart water purifiers with monthly filter plans
- GPS trackers with annual tracking subscriptions
- Home security hardware + cloud storage subscriptions
- Wearable fitness devices with content or analytics access
Here’s how to sell IoT devices + service subscriptions on Shopify:
1. Sell the Hardware as a Product
- List your IoT device like any physical product.
- Use variants for models (e.g., GPS tracker with 1-year/2-year plan included).
- Offer bundles via apps like Bundle Builder or Simple Bundles.
2. Attach Subscription to Device Ownership
Use:
- Appstle Subscriptions — Link monthly/annual plans to devices.
- Recharge — Handles multi-cycle billing and tiered service levels.
- Seal Subscriptions (Free) — Entry-level option for recurring services.
3. Customer Portal for IoT Management
Let users manage:
- Subscription tier (e.g., tracking frequency, features)
- Device ID linking
- Firmware update status or add-ons
Use CustomerHub or build a custom portal with Shopify + API integration.
4. Recurring Payment Gateway Support
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Shopify Payments (Stripe) — Global compatibility with subscriptions
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Razorpay Subscriptions — Ideal for India-based IoT brands
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PayPal — Integrate with Recharge or Appstle for recurring workflows
5. Trigger Fulfillment or Activations via API
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Use Shopify Flow, Mechanic, or Zapier to trigger activation on purchase
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Webhooks can call your IoT provisioning backend (e.g., to activate GPS tracking)
6. Automated Notifications
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Use Klaviyo or Omnisend for:
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Plan renewal alerts
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Device usage reports
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Service upgrade offers
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7. Warranty, Service & Upsell Flows
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Use Loop Subscriptions for extended warranty sales
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Create cross-sell workflows for accessories or replacement parts
Final Thoughts
Selling smart devices with recurring service plans is a powerful business model — and Shopify makes it manageable and scalable. With the right apps and automation, you can deliver physical and digital value seamlessly.
Want to launch your IoT commerce model on Shopify? Let CommerceBolt guide your success.