Looking for solutions.

[PopeManJim]

Hello,

I'm exploring options to enhance my store's capabilities and wanted to inquire if there is an app that could meet my needs or if custom development would be necessary.

Here's my scenario: I operate a physical box store specializing in collectibles, sourcing many items from a specific distributor. Due to space constraints, and of course money, I can't physically stock all of my distributors inventory in-store.

I'm looking to implement a system that showcases most, if not all, of my distributor's items on my website for purchase with in-store pickup only. Again, these items won't be physically present in my store. When a customer orders an item on my website and completes payment, I would then place an order with my distributor, typically receiving items the next business day is a non issue as my distributor is less than 40 minutes from my physical location.

Essentially, I aim for my online store to reflect real-time inventory levels from my distributor. If an item is out of stock with them, it should also show as out of stock on my website.

Any information or feedback would be greatly appreciated! 

[PaulNewton]

Hi @PopeManJim 👋

If time edit your post to remove the 'shopify developed apps' label, that's about apps that shopify the company developers for it's own platform features not arbitrary custom third party apps. with the exception in this context being the stocky app for POS, but while that has an api you still have to develop the other end of the equation same as using the general shopify apis.

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@PopeManJim wrote:

Essentially, I aim for my online store to reflect real-time inventory levels from my distributor.

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Doing this backwards,  this only works if a distributor supplies you with an api that has real time inventory that any importing or api can consume.

If there is an api , or even a real time CSV, from a distributor/dropshipper that's just keywords  'inventory sync' or 'inventory importing', or 'data-migration' etc etc ect and the topic of many many posts findable by searching the forums or the app store with a wide array of solutions you'll have to work through.

For highly custom scenarios see  a scriptable automation apps like mechanic or matrixify(for CSV)

https://tasks.mechanic.dev/?tags=External%20API , https://tasks.mechanic.dev/?tags=CSV , https://tasks.mechanic.dev/?tags=FTP ,

https://matrixify.app/tutorials/schedule-import-to-shopify-from-ftp-server/ etc

Or lowcode services like zapier, make.com.

[PopeManJim]

Thank you so much Mr.Newton. I will take a look and see if there is api or real time csv! Gives me a starting point. I appreciate your help!