How to preview and test Smart Bundles

Overview

Previewing and testing Smart Bundles ensures that your bundle is configured correctly before it goes live. Because Smart Bundles use AI, goals, constraints, exclusions, and contextual rules, testing helps you confirm that:

• The AI can generate valid product combinations
• The bundle behaves correctly across different products
• Your goals and constraints produce the intended results
• Exclusions and custom rules do not block recommendations
• Display locations match the pages where the bundle should appear
• The bundle looks correct in your theme
• The shopper experience is smooth and relevant

Testing prevents empty bundles, irrelevant recommendations, or display issues on your storefront.

Open the Smart Bundles menu

Previewing and testing begins inside the Smart Bundles menu.

To access it:

1. Open the left navigation
2. Click 'Smart Bundles'
3. Select the 'Manage Bundles' tab
4. Click the bundle you want to preview and test

This opens the full bundle editor, including the simulator and configuration settings.

Use the Bundle Simulator to preview recommendations

The bundle simulator is the primary tool for previewing and testing Smart Bundles. It shows how the AI will generate recommendations based on your current settings.

In the simulator, you can:

• Preview the exact items the AI will recommend
• Test how the bundle behaves with different starting products
• See how goals and constraints influence results
• Validate that the bundle makes sense for shoppers
• Identify irrelevant or unexpected recommendations
• Adjust settings and instantly see the impact

Example:
A frequently bought together bundle should show items that customers commonly purchase with the main product.

Test multiple starting products

Bundles often behave differently depending on the product the shopper is viewing.

Testing multiple starting products helps you understand how the bundle adapts across your catalog.

To test:

1. Open the simulator
2. Select a different starting product
3. Review the recommended items
4. Repeat for several products

This is especially important for:

• Fashion bundles
• Accessory bundles
• Multi‑category stores
• Stores with large catalogues

Example:
A fashion bundle may recommend different accessories depending on the product page.

Validate Goals and Constraints

Goals and constraints shape how the AI selects products. Testing helps you confirm that these settings are producing the right results.

Check whether:

• The AI is selecting items that match your goal
• The bundle size is correct
• Price ranges are respected
• Required categories are included
• Excluded categories are avoided
• Inventory limits are respected

Example:
If your goal is to promote accessories, the simulator should prioritise accessories in the recommendations.

Check Excluded Products and Custom Rules

Exclusions and custom rules can significantly affect bundle output.
Testing helps you confirm that:

• Excluded items are not appearing
• Required items are included
• Category rules are respected
• Tag based rules are working
• No rule conflicts are blocking results

Example:
If you exclude gift cards, the simulator should never show them in the bundle.

Adjust AI Intensity and Contextual Settings

AI intensity and contextual settings influence how creative or strict the AI is when generating recommendations.

Testing helps you see:

• Whether low intensity is too restrictive
• Whether high intensity produces unexpected combinations
• Whether contextual settings match your product catalogue
• Whether the AI is using the right signals

Example:
If high intensity produces unrelated items, reduce the intensity and test again.

Confirm Display Locations

Testing also helps you confirm that your bundle will appear on the correct pages.

Check:

• Whether the bundle is set to appear on product pages, collection pages, or the cart
• Whether the bundle matches the template where the theme block is placed
• Whether the bundle is eligible for the page you are testing

Example:
If the bundle is set to appear only on product pages, it will not appear on the homepage.

Preview the Bundle in the Theme Editor

Once the simulator shows valid results, you can preview the bundle in your theme.

To preview:

1. Open Shopify admin
2. Go to Online Store → Themes
3. Click 'Edit theme'
4. Select the template where the Smart Bundle block is added
5. View the bundle in the live preview

This shows how the bundle will look to shoppers, including:

• Layout
• Styling
• Spacing
• Button text
• Product cards
• Pricing and discounts

Example:
Previewing on a product page helps you confirm that the bundle fits naturally into your layout.

Final Testing Checklist

Before activating your bundle, confirm:

• The simulator shows valid recommendations
• Goals and constraints produce the right items
• Exclusions and custom rules are correct
• AI intensity is appropriate
• Display locations match your storefront
• The theme block is added to the correct template
• The bundle looks correct in the theme preview
• The bundle behaves correctly across multiple products
• No conflicting bundles override it

Once everything is correct, activate the bundle.