# Key Concepts

**Channels** are secure entry points for external data in Flow Plus. They provide unique URLs where third-party services can send information via webhooks.

**Webhooks** are messages sent from external systems to your Flow Plus channels. They carry specific information, like "a new order in your ERP" or "a customer status change in your CRM".

A **workflow** in Flow Plus combines a webhook with actions in Shopify Flow. For example: "When a new order comes from the ERP, update Shopify inventory and notify the fulfillment team."

**Templates** are pre-built workflows for common Shopify Plus scenarios. They're ready to use or can be customized to fit your needs.

In a workflow:

* The webhook acts as the **trigger**, starting the process.
* **Actions** are the steps in Shopify Flow that follow, processing the external data.

When a channel receives a matching webhook, it starts a workflow. We call each run of a workflow an **automation run**.

Flow Plus handles **enterprise-scale automation**, processing millions of events monthly without API limits.

The power of Flow Plus is in connecting **external systems** to Shopify workflows without coding. It brings your external data directly into your Shopify Plus store's automation ecosystem.