Stock management for online & physical stores

[Gazzza182]

We're looking to expand into an ecom + bricks and mortar store, and wondered if anyone already doing so has a solution to this potential problem:

We have a particular product that is available in store and online - with only 5 units left available.

As it's only a small amount left to sell - and we could potentially sell out of the inventory in an afternoon, I want this particular product to automatically come offline on the website if the inventory falls below a certain level, as it's possible that if someone places an order while it's still in stock, and someone buys the last one off the shop floor before we print off and pick the order, we won't be able to fulfil it.

I've reached out to Shopify support and they have suggested that I reach out here to see how other business with both ecom and physical stores handle this - so any advice greatly welcomed!

[dave_shipperhq]

Hi Gazzza182 - I suggest keeping a safety stock limit. Once the inventory goes below the limit, the item will be made unavailable on your website.

[p1Commerce]

Having a safety stock limit is really important. Calculations for such can be as simple or complex as you need.

Our clients typically address this in their ERP by only sending a stock value to shopify that is their current inventory - safety stock. i.e. if Safety Stock is 3 and Total Stock is 97 they send 97-3 = 94 to Shopify for sale.

[Gazzza182]

Thanks for getting back. We're potentially looking to use Shopify POS - so completely controlling the stock levels through Shopify. So the stock levels represented for reporting need to be accurate, but the stock sent to the actual website needs to have the safety buffer built in. 

This would be a different safety buffer per product - so for more popular products we would need to set a higher limit.

I'm surprised Shopify doesn't have this feature considering that they are offering an instore and online solution!

[Gazzza182]

Thanks - how is this done within Shopify?

[dave_shipperhq · Accepted solution]

Sure thing! To set safety stock in Shopify, you'll need to track inventory for your products. Here's how to go about it:

1. Go to Products in your Shopify admin.
2. Click the product you want to track.
3. In the Inventory section, check Track quantity.
4. Enter your safety stock amount in Quantity.
5. Click Save.

For a more detailed guide, you can go through this document- Set up inventory tracking

[Gazzza182]

Thanks so much! So.. My understanding is - If I receive 100 units of an item, but want at least 5 as safety stock, I add 100 into "Available", and then adjust 5 into the "Unavailable" field - as below:

[dave_shipperhq]

Yes that should work for you.

[VmA]

Hello,

I am wanting to do the same but to new stock (which is thousands) and existing stock.

1. Is there a way of adding this safety stock number in the csv that I import with new stock?
2. Is there a way of adding this safety stock number to existing stock as a bulk edit, i.e. exporting the stock, altering the spreadsheet and importing?

Thanks in advance
Will