TikTok Shop and Business Central
Looking to integrate TikTok Shop with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
This comprehensive UK-focused guide explains how to sync orders, stock, and fulfilment in real-time, boosting efficiency, customer service, and sales. Learn the benefits, data flow, and what to customise for smooth integration.
Introduction
As TikTok continues its explosive rise in the UK’s (and global) e-commerce space, many small and mid-sized retailers are recognising the opportunity to sell directly via TikTok Shop.
But with new sales channels comes the challenge of managing orders, stock, and customer data efficiently across platforms. That’s where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, a powerful cloud-based ERP, comes into play.
In this blog, we explore how integrating TikTok Shop with Business Central can streamline your operations, improve fulfilment, and enhance decision-making. You’ll learn what’s involved, what to watch out for, and why this integration is a game-changer for e-commerce businesses aiming to scale.
Why Integrate TikTok Shop with Business Central?
TikTok Shop allows sellers to showcase and sell products directly within the TikTok platform. As a channel, it combines entertainment, social media, and shopping – creating a compelling opportunity for brands targeting Gen Z and millennial buyers.
But for most businesses, managing a high-velocity channel like TikTok manually can be overwhelming.
That’s where integration with Business Central makes a critical difference.
Here’s why it matters:
- Order Automation: Orders placed on TikTok Shop can be pulled automatically into Business Central, reducing admin work and eliminating manual errors.
- Real-Time Inventory Sync: Stock levels update automatically across platforms, preventing overselling and stockouts.
- Faster Fulfilment: Immediate access to order details allows your warehouse or fulfilment partner to act quickly.
- Unified Financials: Sales, VAT, discounts, and fees from TikTok orders are captured directly in your ERP, ensuring accurate financial records.
- Single Source of Truth: All data—across channels—is centralised within Business Central, making reporting, planning, and analysis easier and more accurate.
What Type of Business Will Benefit?
While TikTok Shop is a relatively new channel, it’s proving especially effective for certain business types in the UK:
- Small to mid-sized B2C retailers with trendy, visual products (e.g. fashion, beauty, homeware).
- E-commerce sellers using platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Amazon, looking to expand into social commerce.
- DTC brands that create their own content or work with influencers and TikTok creators.
- Businesses that fulfil in-house or through third-party logistics but want everything running through a central ERP.
If you’re already using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to manage inventory, sales, and finances, then integrating TikTok Shop is a logical and powerful next step.
Considerations Before You Start
Before jumping into the integration, there are several important considerations:
1. Confirm You’re Using Business Central (SaaS Version)
This integration is only available for the cloud version of Business Central. If you’re on an older NAV system or on-premises deployment, you’ll need to migrate first.
Related Article: Bridge to the Cloud 2 Offer
2. TikTok Shop Seller Centre Setup
You’ll need an active TikTok Shop seller account with access to the Partner Centre and API credentials (app key, secret). Without this, integration isn’t possible.
3. Inventory Management Structure
Consider how you manage stock. If you’re using multiple warehouses or locations, you’ll need to decide how this is handled in the sync; whether to sync a single location or roll up across sites.
4. Product Data Consistency
Ensure your product records (item numbers, SKUs, descriptions) are clean and consistent. The integration will rely on matching SKUs or unique identifiers between platforms.
5. Decide on Your Customer Handling Strategy
Will you create a new customer record in Business Central for every TikTok order? Or assign all orders to a single “TikTok” customer with separate delivery addresses?
6. Choose Your Integration Method
Several integration options exist—such as Customised connectors, iPaaS tools like Celigo or Patchworks, or custom API development. Each has different costs, features, and time-to-value.
Basic Data Flow Between TikTok Shop and Business Central
Once set up, a TikTok Shop – Business Central integration typically automates the flow of:
1. Product Listings
If enabled, product listings created in Business Central can be synced to TikTok Shop. This includes item names, descriptions, prices, and SKUs. Some integrations also support image sync.
2. Inventory Levels
Inventory quantities in Business Central update TikTok Shop stock availability in real time. This prevents overselling and improves customer experience.
3. Orders
When a customer places an order on TikTok Shop, the integration pulls the order into Business Central and creates a new sales order. This includes all line items, quantities, totals, and delivery information.
4. Customer Data
Each TikTok order contains customer delivery info (name, address, postcode). This is either used to create a new customer in Business Central or linked to a generic online sales customer.
5. Payment and Fees
TikTok collects the payment from the buyer. The integration can bring in payment status and even apply platform fees as charges against the order, depending on the level of configuration.
6. Shipping Updates
Once an order is fulfilled in Business Central, the shipment and tracking number (if provided) can be sent back to TikTok Shop, keeping customers informed.
What Works Out of the Box (And What Doesn’t)
Most third-party connectors provide basic, out-of-the-box flows for syncing:
- Order creation
- Customer information
- Inventory updates
- Basic product details
However, there are still areas where customisation or configuration is required:
1. Handling TikTok Fees and Payouts
TikTok deducts commissions and platform fees before paying sellers. Most standard integrations don’t handle this automatically, so accounting for these will require custom item charges or manual journal entries.
2. Multi-Warehouse Support
If you operate from more than one stock location, you’ll need to configure how inventory is synced. Out-of-the-box integrations usually assume one default location. If you have multiple physical or even virtual location additional customisation will be required.
3. Product Variants and Rich Content
TikTok Shop supports size/colour variants and multimedia content. Business Central doesn’t natively manage images or videos, so this may require additional PIM (product information management) systems or manual upload.
4. Promotion Handling
If you’re running special TikTok discounts or bundles, you’ll need to ensure these promotions are correctly applied and Business Central receives the net amount after discount.
5. VAT and Compliance
TikTok handles VAT collection on your behalf. You’ll need to decide how to record these correctly in Business Central’s VAT reports, which may involve mapping a specific VAT posting group or general ledger code.
Popular Integration Tools
Several vendors support this integration specifically for UK sellers:
1. Custom Connector
A TikTok Shop connector built natively for Business Central (SaaS). Easy to install, relatively quick to configure, and works with the standard BC sales and item tables.
2. Patchworks
A UK-based integration platform that offers visual data flow mapping and strong support for e-commerce tools. Great for businesses also selling via Shopify, Amazon, or other marketplaces.
3. Celigo
Provides a robust, flexible connector with pre-built templates and extensive mapping options. Ideal if you need to connect other apps as well (CRM, 3PL, etc.).
4. Beehexa
An integration middleware that syncs TikTok Shop with Business Central and other ERPs. Good for real-time flows and large data volumes.
Benefits of Connecting TikTok Shop to Business Central
When your integration is fully live, the benefits to your business are measurable and immediate:
1. Centralised Operations
All orders—regardless of channel—land in Business Central, streamlining fulfilment, accounting, and stock management.
2. Real-Time Inventory Management
Product availability is synced in real-time, reducing overselling and negative reviews from disappointed customers.
3. Faster Order Processing
Orders from TikTok are ready to pick, pack, and ship the moment they’re placed automatically.
4. More Accurate Financials
Sales, refunds, fees, and VAT are recorded in the right ledgers and dimensions. You avoid messy spreadsheets and reconciliation headaches.
5. Better Reporting
Because TikTok Shop orders sit within Business Central, you can run financial, inventory, and sales reports that include TikTok data without any additional work.
6. Scalable Growth
As TikTok Shop order volumes increase, your back-end can handle them without needing to hire more staff—because automation takes care of the admin.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a UK e-commerce business using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, TikTok Shop is a sales channel that shouldn’t be overlooked.
But to truly succeed on TikTok, you need back-office systems that can handle speed, volume, and variability and that’s exactly what integration offers.
With the right connector or integration platform, syncing TikTok Shop with Business Central isn’t just possible, it’s transformational. You’ll save hours of manual work, avoid costly errors, and gain insights to drive faster, smarter decisions.
Whether you sell skincare, apparel, homeware, or niche products to a TikTok-savvy audience, this integration can help you sell more, serve faster, and grow leaner.
Next Steps:
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