I am not 100% sure how strong the API of shopify is. But you depend on it. For woocommerce i can just write _bots_ that query the Database and create actions based on this. Next to the API, Monkey Patching, Plugins, Hooks and whatever else it ships with.<p>You always have more and better possibilities if you host yourself.<p>As concrete example. I am in the progress of automating a dropship business. Not sure how easy that would be with shopify.