“If you are in the business of selling matrix items that have sizes, colors, styles, or configurations, you already know the truth:”
Where the breakdown in integration tends to happen is in the matrix items.
Variants have generally been considered an afterthought by most GP Shopify integrations. ERPs flattened, SKUs replicated, or manual implementation in Shopify by teams. x2x takes a completely different approach.
As a Native Module of Microsoft Dynamics GP, x2x integration now also brings with it a new ‘Matrix Item Definition’ module that has been incorporated right into the integration itself and is designed specifically with the task of translating the defined item concepts of GP into a scalable Shopify Variant in mind.
Matrix Item Problem in Classic Integrations
In Microsoft Dynamics GP, there is not a concept of variants and x2x introduces a complete module in integration to define variants and also parent items that can directly go to Shopify store.
x2x: A Native GP Module with Matrix Intelligence
Since x2x is developed fully inside Dynamics GP, it recognizes the following:
- Parent-child item relationships
- Matrix attributes (such as size and colour)
- Inventory, pricing, and availability at the variant level
- GP item master rules & validations
In addition to this, x2x ‘introduces an entire Matrix Item Module into the integration layer with the exclusive purpose of specifying how GP Matrix Items shall be represented in Shopify. This is not a workaround; it is a first-class feature.
Listing Matrix Items in Shopify–Inside the Integration
In x2x, the values of the matrices are not assumed or guessed. They are defined using structured rules. By using this module, you can:
- Identify matrix parents in GP
- Assign GP attributes (Size, Color, Fit, etc.) to Shopify Variant Options
- Naming and ordering for options regarding control (e.g., “Size” before “Color”)
- Manage SKU, Price, and Inventory by Variant
All this reasoning happens under x2x, which comes from GP data, not done through Shopify. What This Means in Practice
1. Clean Shopify Variant Structures
- One parent product.
- Clear options
- Consistent variant logic.
No more duplicated products and confusing option sets.
2. Control of variants Based
Changes in GP flow naturally:
- New sizes/colors → new Shopify variants
- Discontinued child items → variants removed or hidden
- Price/Inventory Change → Synchronize at Variant level
Shopify mirrors ERP reality automatically.
3. Scalable for Large Catalogues
Whether you have:
1.10 styles & 3 sizes
or 5,000 styles with multiple attributes
The module that defines matrices does not introduce scaling costs.
4. Fewer Errors and Rapid Deployment
No need for manual variant configuration.
No mismatched SKU
Also, new items can be deployed to the matrix quicker.
Why Native Matters for Matrix Items
The matrix is intimately connected with the logic of the ERP. It is simply not the “SKUs,” as seems to often happen. Moreover, as x2x is a native GP module, it is:
Consistent with the GP item hierarchy
Imposes consistency in variants
Prevents duplicate or / or conflicting definitions.
Ensures that GP is the sole source of truth.
This is not something that can ever be replicated by an external middleware service. With the introduction of the specific matrix item definition module in x2x, variant management becomes an organized and repeatable endeavor, rather than an endless clean-up project.
Final Thoughts
If your business is dependent on matrix items, your integration must communicate information, but it must understand structure.
In the case of native GP Shopify integration offered by x2x with Matrix elements, stay organized. Variants remain stable which reflects the fact that the company not only spends more time on selling but also less time on fixing data.
So, this isn’t just better integration.
Its variant management done right.
