Question 1

What is ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI is the operating system for Agentic Commerce. It connects your e-commerce store to the AI economy, allowing AI agents like ChatGPT, Claude, and custom business assistants to interact with your store on behalf of customers. Think of it as a bridge between your store and the world of AI-powered shopping.

Question 2

How does ZaLinkAI work?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI integrates with your existing e-commerce platform (Zid, Salla, Shopify, or WooCommerce) and creates a standardized data layer. This unified layer exposes your products, inventory, orders, and customer data through secure APIs that AI agents can access. When an AI agent wants to help a customer find a product or place an order, it communicates through ZaLinkAI using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Question 3

Who is ZaLinkAI for?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI is designed for e-commerce merchants who want to be part of the AI commerce revolution. Whether you run a small boutique on Salla or a large Shopify store, ZaLinkAI makes your products accessible to AI agents. It is especially valuable for merchants in the Middle East, with native Arabic support and Saudi VAT compliance built in.

Question 4

What platforms does ZaLinkAI support?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI currently supports four major e-commerce platforms: Zid and Salla (the leading platforms in Saudi Arabia and the GCC), Shopify (the global e-commerce leader), and WooCommerce (the most popular WordPress commerce solution). Each integration is maintained with real-time synchronization.

Question 5

Do I need technical expertise to use ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

No. ZaLinkAI is designed for merchants of all technical levels. The setup process uses one-click OAuth connections for Zid, Salla, and Shopify, or simple API key entry for WooCommerce. The dashboard is intuitive and requires no coding knowledge. For advanced use cases, we provide a comprehensive API and developer documentation.

Question 6

How do I connect my Zid store to ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

Log into your Zid dashboard, navigate to Apps, find ZaLinkAI, and click Install. You will be prompted to authorize OAuth permissions. Once authorized, your products, orders, and customer data sync automatically. The initial sync typically completes in 2-5 minutes depending on your catalog size.

Question 7

How do I connect my Salla store to ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

Open your Salla merchant panel, go to the App Store, and search for ZaLinkAI. Install the app and grant the required permissions. Your data will begin importing automatically. Enable real-time webhook synchronization from the ZaLinkAI dashboard to ensure your inventory and orders stay current.

Question 8

How do I connect my Shopify store to ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

Visit the Shopify App Store, search for ZaLinkAI, and click Install. Approve the requested API scopes when prompted. After installation, map your product categories to ZaLinkAI schemas for optimal AI discoverability. You can also activate Shopify Flow integration for automated workflows.

Question 9

How do I connect my WooCommerce store to ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

In your WordPress admin, go to WooCommerce > Settings > Advanced > REST API and generate a new API key with read/write permissions. Copy the Consumer Key and Consumer Secret into your ZaLinkAI dashboard. Optionally, install our WordPress plugin for enhanced synchronization and webhook reliability.

Question 10

What are the system requirements for using ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI is a cloud-based SaaS platform, so there are no server requirements on your end. You need an active store on one of our supported platforms (Zid, Salla, Shopify, or WooCommerce) with admin access. For WooCommerce, your store must have REST API enabled and SSL/HTTPS active. A modern web browser is needed for the merchant dashboard.

Question 11

What data can AI agents access from my store?

Accepted Answer

You have full control over what AI agents can access. At the most basic level (read-only), agents can view your product catalog, check inventory, and read descriptions. With read-write access, they can also create orders and apply discounts. Full access includes refund processing and analytics. You configure these permissions per agent from your dashboard.

Question 12

How does ZaLinkAI protect my store data?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI uses AES-256 encryption for all data at rest and TLS 1.3 for data in transit. We implement role-based access control (RBAC), maintain comprehensive audit logs, and are SOC2 Type II ready. All AI agent interactions are logged and reviewable. We also offer local cloud deployment options in Saudi Arabia for data residency compliance.

Question 13

Can I revoke AI agent access at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can revoke any AI agent's access instantly from your merchant dashboard. This immediately invalidates their access tokens, and they will no longer be able to query your store data or perform any actions. You can also temporarily suspend access without fully revoking it, which is useful during maintenance periods.

Question 14

How does customer data sharing work?

Accepted Answer

Customer data sharing uses a consent-based model. Customers explicitly opt in to share their data with AI agents. ZaLinkAI creates tokenized identities so AI agents receive scoped tokens rather than raw customer data. Each data category (order history, preferences, wishlist) is a separate scope. All access is logged in a detailed audit trail visible in your dashboard.

Question 15

Is ZaLinkAI compliant with Saudi data protection regulations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ZaLinkAI is designed with Middle East compliance as a priority. We support Saudi VAT (15%) compliance, ZATCA e-invoicing requirements, and local data residency options in KSA. Our platform adheres to the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and UAE data protection regulations. We continuously update our compliance posture as regulations evolve.

Question 16

What pricing plans does ZaLinkAI offer?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI offers 2 subscription plans designed for businesses of all sizes. Connect is ideal for getting started with AI-powered selling for 1 store. Manage is our most popular plan for growing merchants with full analytics. Need more AI Shopper Traffic? Purchase add-on packs anytime. Visit our pricing page for current plan details, features, and prices.

Question 17

How many stores can I connect?

Accepted Answer

Each subscription allows you to connect one store. If you have multiple stores, you will need a separate subscription for each store. For example, 3 stores require 3 subscriptions. We offer volume discounts: 5% off for 3+ subscriptions and 10% off for 5+ subscriptions.

Question 18

What happens when I reach my store limit?

Accepted Answer

When you try to connect a store and all your subscription slots are in use, you will be prompted to purchase an additional subscription. You can manage your stores and subscriptions from your dashboard. The system will show you which slots are occupied and guide you through the upgrade process.

Question 19

Can I pause a store?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can pause a store from your dashboard. Paused stores stop processing requests but retain all data and settings. You can resume them anytime. Note that paused stores still occupy a subscription slot, so you will continue to be billed for them.

Question 20

How is billing calculated for multiple stores?

Accepted Answer

Each store requires its own subscription. Volume discounts apply automatically: 5% off for 3+ subscriptions and 10% off for 5+ subscriptions. All subscriptions share the same billing cycle. Visit our pricing page for current rates.

Question 21

What happens if I delete a store?

Accepted Answer

Deleting a store starts a 30-day soft delete period. During this time, the store is hidden but can be recovered from your dashboard. After 30 days, the store is permanently deleted and all data is removed. Deleting a store frees up a subscription slot immediately, so you can connect a new store right away.

Question 22

Can I transfer a store between subscriptions?

Accepted Answer

Not directly. Each subscription is tied to one specific store. To move to a different store, you would need to delete the current store (freeing the slot) and connect the new store to that subscription. Remember that deleted stores can be recovered within 30 days if you change your mind.

Question 23

Is there a free plan?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI does not offer a free tier. Our most affordable plan is Connect. We believe that monthly billing IS the trial — you can try Connect for a month at minimal cost and upgrade anytime. Your data and configurations are preserved regardless of which plan you choose. Visit our pricing page for current rates.

Question 24

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), as well as regional payment methods including mada (Saudi debit network) and Apple Pay. All payments are processed securely through our PCI-compliant payment infrastructure powered by Moyasar.

Question 25

Can I change my plan at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time from your account settings. Upgrades take effect immediately, and you will be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your billing cycle. Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle, so you retain your current plan features until then.

Question 26

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer refunds. Monthly billing lets you try the service risk-free with no long-term commitment — cancel anytime with no penalty. We guarantee your store will be live on AI platforms (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) within 24 hours of connecting. If not, we will fix it or extend your subscription at no charge.

Question 27

What are add-on packs?

Accepted Answer

If you need more AI Shopper Traffic beyond your plan's monthly quota, purchase an add-on pack: +1K (10 SAR), +3K (27 SAR), or +10K (80 SAR). Packs are consumed on a first-in-first-out basis and expire at the end of your billing period.

Question 28

What is auto top-up?

Accepted Answer

Auto top-up automatically purchases an add-on pack when your usage reaches 80% of your quota. You control the pack size and monthly spend cap. Enable it in your billing settings.

Question 29

Does ZaLinkAI provide a REST API?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ZaLinkAI provides a comprehensive REST API that allows you to programmatically manage your integration, access analytics, configure permissions, and more. The API uses JWT authentication, supports pagination and filtering, and returns JSON responses. Full API documentation with interactive examples is available at docs.zalinkai.com/api.

Question 30

What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how does ZaLinkAI use it?

Accepted Answer

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard for connecting AI models to external data sources and tools. ZaLinkAI implements a native MCP server, which means any MCP-compatible AI agent (such as Claude) can connect to your store seamlessly. The protocol handles authentication, data access, and tool execution in a standardized way, making your store accessible to the broadest range of AI agents.

Question 31

How do webhooks work in ZaLinkAI?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI uses webhooks for real-time data synchronization. When events occur in your store (new order, inventory change, price update), your e-commerce platform sends a webhook to ZaLinkAI, which processes it instantly. You can also configure outbound webhooks from ZaLinkAI to your own systems. Webhooks use HMAC-SHA256 signatures for security and support automatic retries with exponential backoff.

Question 32

What are the API rate limits?

Accepted Answer

API rate limits vary by plan. Connect allows 1,500 AI Shopper Traffic requests per month and Manage allows 15,000. If you need more, purchase add-on packs (+10K, +50K, or +500K). Rate limits apply per API key. If you exceed the per-minute limit, you will receive a 429 status code with a Retry-After header. Webhook deliveries are not counted against your rate limit.

Question 33

Can I use ZaLinkAI with custom AI models?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While ZaLinkAI works out of the box with popular AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude, you can also connect custom AI models. Our MCP server and REST API are model-agnostic. You can integrate any LLM or AI system that can make HTTP requests or implement the MCP client protocol. We provide SDKs for Python and Node.js to accelerate custom integrations.

Question 34

How does ZaLinkAI handle data conflicts between platforms?

Accepted Answer

ZaLinkAI uses a "source of truth" conflict resolution model. Your e-commerce platform (Zid, Salla, Shopify, or WooCommerce) is always the authoritative source. If a conflict arises between the platform data and ZaLinkAI cached data, the platform data wins. For multi-platform merchants, you can designate a primary platform. All conflict resolutions are logged in your audit trail.

Frequently Asked Questions