Managing Cross-Product Variants and Inventory in Shopify

[Ziadm]

Hello guys, how are you all doing? 

I want to ask if it is possible to achieve this through Shopify. I have a framing shop website where I sell a cross-product variant across multiple products. For example, a black frame in 15x21 size variants should be available for multiple products.

I know I can create variants for each product, but is there a better way to create add-on variants and track the inventory quantity through Shopify?

[K_Br4]

Hi,

I can only suggest that you can speed up the process of adding variants for each product with a spreadsheet editor or a bulk editor

[Ziadm]

hmm, you mean using something like an excel spreadsheet to track my inventory? 

[K_Br4]

Yes, you can use a spreadsheet-like app to track inventory. And do e.g. Inventory adjustments from an Excel-like format.

And also you can copy-paste the variant you want to replicate for each product - at least it will be done faster within a spreadsheet, compared to the Shopify admin

[Ziadm]

Yes, but the process will not be automated, and all updates will be done manually.  😕 right? 

[Ziadm]

Could you please recommend some app examples for that? 

[K_Br4]

The spreadsheet app I have in mind has Excel-like formulas. Perhaps you can do VLOOKUP and work with it?

Orders are automatically pulled into the spreadsheet.

If some data is not automatically synced, you can simply click a Sync now button and the data is pulled.

[Joe47 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ziadm,

Our app Material Manager can assist you with this. It allows you to track inventory of raw materials that is shared across multiple variants.

For your example you would add a black 15x21 frame as a raw material in the app. Then you would assign every Shopify variant that uses the frame to that material. Then when one of those variants is sold the frames inventory will be updated in the app and the app will update the inventory of every variant that is linked to it.

[Ziadm]

That’s sounds promising. Is this a vid link to see exactly what you mean
please?

[Joe47]

Unfortunately, we do not currently have a video. Our quick start guide gives a brief overview of how it works here: https://www.omatic.app/materialmanager/material-manager-quickstart/

There is also a free plan if you want to test it out with a couple raw materials.

[Ziadm]

Yeah, I understand now,
I have a slightly different case
I have different variants for each variant (check the image)
How can I implement this?

What happens if a customer cancels their order?

[image: image.png]

[Joe47]

Looks like the image didn't make it. If an order is cancelled or returned with the "Restock inventory" option checked then the raw materials inventory will go back up. If it is not then it wont.

[Ziadm]

That's the image, how to do that with the app? 

[Joe47]

In Material Manager you would need to create a material for each combination. For example: "15x21 / White", "20x30 / White"..., "15x21 / Black", "20x30 /Black"...

You would then link each variant to the materials it requires. You can do this on the material page.

You can use the csv import feature to do this quickly. After you add one material click on the "Export" button in the top right. Add your new materials to that spreadsheet then click the "Import" button in the top right to import the changes.

Optionally, if a lot of your products have the same variants you can copy the raw materials from one product to others. You would first need to create the raw materials, then link each variant from one product to the appropriate material. Then you can use the copy feature using the product you set up as the source and then selecting as many products as you need as the target. This will match any variants that are the same between the source and the targets and automatically apply the raw materials needed to them. You can read more about this feature here: https://www.omatic.app/materialmanager/shopify-copy-raw-materials/

[Ziadm]

ok, everything is clear now. I have tried a test order and it's working as intended.

Thanks so much for this.

one last question if I may: I can only check the inventory from the app? is there a way to check it from the Shopify mobile app?  

[Joe47]

Awesome, glad to hear it's working for you! In the Shopify mobile app if you hit the menu button in the bottom right "Material Manager" will be listed in the apps section.

[Ziadm]

Great, great 😄
If the quantity reaches zero and a customer orders from that material ID,
what will happen?

[Joe47]

If the Shopify option on the product called "Continue selling when out of stock" is checked then the customer will still be able to order it. If it's not then the customer will not be able to.

[Ziadm]

This isn't working as intended😐.
I've ticked OFF "Continue selling when out of stock" for some items, and
although I set the app zero as material, I can still place an order.

Am I doing something wrong?

[Joe47]

We can help you troubleshoot. Can you please send us an email at support@omatic.app? Include the link to the out of stock product that you are still able to purchase.

[EasifyApps]

Hi @Ziadm,

The Easify Inventory Sync app can solve your problem easily. Here's how it works 🤗:

• Keep all your products with the current variant setup, including the Black frame in 15x21 size variants.

• Use the app to create an Inventory group, then add all the Black frame in 15x21 size variants from your products to that group. Set a mutual inventory for all of them, and you’re done.

As a result, when any Black frame in the 15x21 size variant from a product in the group is purchased, it will automatically deduct the same inventory from the other variants in the group, keeping your inventory in sync.

Hope you give the app a try!