How To Implement Criteo Tags with Shopify via GTM & Server-Side API
Elevar powers your data layer and server-side tracking needed to connect Criteo and Shopify.

Integration Specs
- Channel Accuracy Monitoring
- Requires Elevar Data Layer
- GTM server-side client customizable
- Chrome Extension
- Elevar Server-Side
- GTM Server-Side
- GTM Web Container
What's Included
Events
What customer events are tracked in this integration
- Product View
- Add To Cart
- Initiate Checkout
- Loader File
- Homepage
- Listing Page
- Purchase
Customer Parameters
What customer parameters are tracked in this integration
- customer id
Steps to Implement
Step 1: Prerequisites
Before you can enable your Criteo API Destination, you will need to:
- Install Elevar’s Data Layer on your store or ensure you are on Elevar Data Layer Version 2.33+. This can be done inside your Elevar Dashboard > Data Layer
- Install Elevar’s Shopify Notifications to add Webhook listeners to your store for purchases
Plus, Criteo recommends adding their client-side tracking in parallel with server-side tracking. So if you would like to implement this then follow this step included below as well.
Step 2: Import the Criteo (for Server-Side) Pre-Built Container into Google Tag Manager Web
Criteo requires you to have a User Identification Tag in your GTM Web Container to set the ID for your server events. To set this up:
- Click here to be taken to the Pre-Built Criteo (for Server-Side) container
- Add in your Criteo Caller ID > Select Download Container
- Log into Google Tag Manager > Select your desired Web GTM Container
- Navigate to Admin > Import Container > Upload the file you just downloaded from Elevar
- Select New under Choose Workspace > titled it Elevar Criteo API
- Select Merge > Then select Overwrite > Then Confirm
- [Optional] QA the newly uploaded tag using Google Tag Manager’s Preview Mode
- Once you’re ready to publish, navigate to the Elevar Criteo API Workspace > Select Submit at the top right > Then Publish
Step 3: Navigate to the Criteo Server-Side Install Wizard in your Elevar App
1. In your Elevar App, navigate to Server-Side > Select Add Destination > Find and select Criteo.
2. You’ll be taken to an Overview Page, select Get Started
Step 4: Select Your Events
In this first step you are simply choosing what events you want enabled for your Criteo API.
By default, we’ve already selected the standard recommended events for you! Most likely, you won’t need to adjust anything and can just select Save to continue to the next step.
Step 5: Block Transactions
This step allows you to control exactly what purchase events are sent to Criteo’s API. You can block orders based on Source Channel Names, Order Tags or Order Gateways.
Two common scenarios where you may want to block orders are: recurring orders & offline orders. Learn how to block these orders in this guide.
Not sure if you need to block orders? Look at what Sales Channels you have in Shopify!
Step 6: Add in Your Criteo API IDs
You’ll need to add in your Criteo Application ID, Partner ID, and Caller ID into the Elevar Install Wizard. Here’s how you can get all three API IDs.
Once you’ve inputted all three IDs, select Save & Continue.
Step 7: Push the Tracking Live
Select Go Live on the Overview Page to launch your new Criteo tracking.
Then remove your previous Criteo tracking.
Step 8: Monitor Accuracy in Real Time
Once you are live then you can view transactions in real-time including all attribution data for the order.
You’ll see the destinations that the order was delivered to at the bottom (you will want to see Criteo here after you go live).
And you can also view your conversion accuracy over time. Here’s an example of what this report looks like using TikTok as an example:
Step 1: Install Data Layer to Your Store
In order to deploy Criteo tracking via Google Tag Manager tags, you need to have a data layer implemented on your Shopify store that pushes customer, product, and order data that Criteo’s tags require.
If you don’t have a data layer for your Shopify store yet, then you can utilize Elevar’s data layer for Shopify. It’s a 1-click installation into your theme.
Step 2: Download Container for GTM
Inside of your Elevar account, go to Pre Built Tags > Criteo
Update your Criteo Partner ID in the tag settings shown below.
Download the container and save to your computer.
Step 3: Import Container to GTM
Next up, go to your Google Tag Manager container > Admin > Import.
Be sure to select Merge container, not overwrite.
Once you’ve imported, verify your Partner ID variable is accurate.
Step 4: QA & Publish
Once you’re ready to go live then put GTM into preview mode.
You can navigate the site and place an order to verify your TikTok tags trigger as expected.
Remember that the data layer from step 1 needs to be live on your store in order for the variables – like revenue and order id – to populate.
Step 5: Follow Up With Criteo Rep
Typically once you go live then Criteo will want to verify tracking is working as expected. You’ll need to let your Criteo rep know that your tracking is now live.
Compatible Data Sources

Data Layer
FAQs
View common integration questions