Use app intents for your discount app
Source: Shopify Dev Changelog
What Changed
Shopify now supports app intents for discount apps built with Shopify Functions. Apps that create custom discount types can register a shopify/Discount app intent, which allows Sidekick, Shopify’s admin assistant, to surface these apps directly when merchants ask to create or edit discounts. Registered apps can also appear in the disambiguation picker when multiple apps offer similar discount functionality.
Developers can register an intent using one of two targets. The admin.app.intent.link target navigates merchants to an existing page within a React Router app, reusing current admin UI flows. The admin.app.intent.render target renders a focused Admin UI extension inline within the Sidekick interface. This second option requires API version 2026-04 or later and is designed for apps using Discounts UI extensions.
Why This Matters
Discount apps built on Shopify Functions previously had no direct way to integrate with Sidekick’s conversational interface. Merchants asking Sidekick to create a discount had no path to third-party discount logic unless they manually navigated to the app. App intents close this gap, giving custom discount types a native entry point inside Shopify’s AI-assisted admin experience.
For developers, this creates a new discovery channel. Instead of relying solely on the Shopify App Store or merchant familiarity, discount apps can now be invoked contextually when merchants express intent to create or modify a discount.
Practical Implications
Developers maintaining discount apps should evaluate which target fits their architecture. Apps with existing React Router admin pages can adopt admin.app.intent.link with minimal rework. Apps built around Discounts UI extensions should plan for admin.app.intent.render, which requires upgrading to API version 2026-04 or later. Teams should also test how their app appears in the disambiguation picker when multiple discount apps are installed, since this affects merchant-facing presentation and discoverability.