WooCommerce Inventory Management What to do Right

Mar 30, 2022
Little figures loading a truck using WooCommerce inventory management

The management of inventory is among of the most crucial aspects of managing a company. Yet, many owners of stores do not realize how crucial it can be. WooCommerce Inventory Management Software can be.

Does WooCommerce perform well? Let's take a look at its features.

What is WooCommerce exactly?

WooCommerce plugin
WooCommerce.

WooCommerce isn't an independent E-commerce CMS as Shopify and similar and is instead an extension to WordPress It's also the most well-known WordPress E-commerce plugin. Although it's a plug-in to an even larger platform, WooCommerce could be as effective in a fully-featured software such as Shopify.

It's well-known as being simple to master as well as having a variety of extensions that can enhance its capabilities. Additionally, WooCommerce and WordPress are both absolutely free. You'll however have to pay for other things, like hosting fees as well as paid plugins. This reduces the overall cost and the barrier to entry lower.

How WooCommerce's Inventory Management Work

WooCommerce allows you to maintain a track on your inventory as well as stock. It isn't the most efficient or suitable to specific situations, however they can be created using paid and free extensions, and can be utilized by the majority of businesses.

The tracking of inventory is performed on an item-level. Stock levels will drop instantly after customers have completed their purchases as well, WooCommerce has helpful tools to track customer orders and their delivery status.

In the end, all of WooCommerce's tools are built-in components that can be enhanced through plugins. You can, for instance purchase plugins to connect with your inventory management software to update stock automatically, or manage the tracking of raw materials. WooCommerce offers the basic features each user should begin with.

Pros & Cons of WooCommerce Inventory Management

Before getting into a deeper analysis of the capabilities WooCommerce is able to do, we'll look at the pros and cons of the inventory management software.

The advantages and cons WooCommerce Inventory Management

  • An affordable and free platform.
  • Small-scale businesses may be able to access it, but sufficient is not available for bigger ones.
  • Decent, if simple inventory management instruments.
  • Monitor inventory across the globe or on a per product basis.

The cons of WooCommerce Management of Inventory:

  • It's impossible to locate the substance that is the raw.
  • Only monitor inventory in general. It does not monitor location or supplier-specific.
  • There is no stock tracking automated system that is built-in (you must manually edit things each time you see stock increase).
  • It must be expanded with extensions and plugins. The result could be unintentional startup costs as a result of the purchase of plugins.

We'll mention a few helpful WooCommerce plugins that will help with its inventory management. Before that, let's go over how you can use its tools.

How to Configure WooCommerce Inventory

On the Settings page, you will see various tabs. Choose the one that says Products then click the small inventories button is just below the tabs.

Inspect that the checkbox that allows you to allow the management of inventory is selected. This permits WooCommerce to subtract stock automatically and modify the status of stock if there is an issue with the supply. If you'd rather handle this by hand, you may not check the box.

WooCommerce Inventory settings
WooCommerce inventory Settings

There is a wide range of settings that which you ought to investigate.

  • Hold StockThe change within this code impacts the way long stocks are stored for unpaid orders before they're canceled.
  • NotificationsThe system will then deliver an email to the customer when the inventory on the product is low or is depleted. Also, it is possible to modify the thresholds to indicate out of stock and low.
  • Visibility of out-of-stock items This can be used to remove products from your store if they're out of stock.
  • Format for display of stockThe format lets you show customers exactly the total amount of stock left, however, it only turns on after a certain threshold has been reached. low stock, or shut off the display completely.

Additionally, there are individual product stock settings that you should become familiar with in case you want to change the basis of stock-by-stock. Go to products > All Products and click to alterany product. Click on the info box, then hit inventory .

Stock management settings in WooCommerce
Options for managing stocks in WooCommerce

If you wish to control the individual settings for stock Then you must determine whether you can enable control of the stock at the product level . Here's the meaning of each setting means:

  • SKUset an SKU number.
  • The stock numberManually assign numbers to stocks.
  • Backorders are allowed Customers can purchase products when they're out of inventory.
  • Low threshold for stocks - Specifically, change the threshold that is used to determine low stock that is set in the global setting screen of this particular product.
  • Sold in one transactionallow buyers to purchase only just one thing at a time.

How to Ensure Inventory is Updated

You can do this by turning off Stock management in WooCommerce's Settings , Inventory Products. Each product can turn off Management of stock to the level of productin the product's edit pages and adjust the level of stock.

Enabling product-level stock management in WooCommerce.
The ability to manage stock levels at the product level is available via WooCommerce.

WooCommerce will deduct from the above amount each whenever you have a sale or purchase, as well as making your products the cheapest available or unavailable should it is necessary.

It's a fact that you'll be required to manually update the numbers whenever there's a delivery. WooCommerce is able to only make the stock lower, but not raise their size.

This is easily rectified by adding add-ons. However, the standard tool lacks these features.

How to manage Stock Status

How do you change the status of stock? Two options are available: global or specific to each item.

The WooCommerce Settings > Products and Inventory pages on the WooCommerce Settings > Products and Inventory pages, you can define the thresholds for the low threshold and out of stock and change how out-of-stock products appear on the website, as well as how the inventory status appears on the store.

When you go to a the product's edit page, users have the option to create an individual low stock threshold. Then, you can check whether the item is available. WooCommerce does this after you've selected the option to enable stock management on the an specific productsetting checked.

If you do not have the worldwide enable stock managementsetting on, you'll only have the ability to update items when they are available or out of inventory. WooCommerce isn't able to do this automatically.

You may also alter the status of stocks for variants of products with variable. After you've created the variables and they're there check each variant's status in the Variations tab and change the stock number or status and also the minimum stock levels.

Setting stock variation preferences.
Set preferences for stock variations.

Other Stock Management WooCommerce Tools

Additionally, WooCommerce offers other inventory management tools offered by WooCommerce:

Bulk Management

Manually turning on stock management for products and updating their stock status can take forever But, there are integrated bulk editing tools.

On the Products section, go to on the Products All Productspage, select the checkboxes to choose different items or the top checkbox to select each one you like. Switch the mass actions menu into modify and click to apply.

Bulk managing products in WooCommerce.
Bulk handling WooCommerce products.

From the bulk editing menu which appears, choose the option Manage Stock? and then switch the selection to Yes. Your products will be managed individually enabled.

If you allow it, you'll be able to alter the stock qtysetting in bulk and then change it back to a specific number as well as incrementing or decreasing it to a set quantity.

Bulk managing stock quantities. 
Bulk managing stock quantities.

Low Stock Threshold

The low stock threshold in two locations:

In WooCommerce's Settings > Product > Inventory it is possible to alter it on a global scale. Also, you can choose if inventory numbers are available to purchasers with lower inventory or if anyone will be notified once a particular product has reached this threshold.

Selecting your low stock threshold. 
The selection of your threshold to limit stocks.

If you are working on an individual basis for a product it is possible to go to its editingscreen and then scroll through the inventory tab. Check to see if manage stockis was checked. If it is, then alter the low stock threshold.

Sold as an entire set

If you want to only sell one item at a time, head to the inventory screen on an item's editorpage. Select the Sold individuallycheckbox. It isn't necessary to turn off the management of stock at individual product level.

Adding a “sold individually” setting. 
Add to the "sold by the individual" setting.

It is also possible to enable this feature by using an editor that is big.

How can I View Stock Status Reports

WooCommerce provides a wealth of information and analysis, and these are a great way to keep a closer watch on your stock.

Find the analysis > stockpage This provides an overview look at the quantity of stock units and the status. Pick Product/Variation, SKU status or stock to arrange through these numbers. You can then repeat the process to reverse the order.

Viewing stock status reports in WooCommerce.
Verifying the status of inventory reports inside WooCommerce.

The Showmenu to restrict it to just products that have a specific availability. In this way, you will quickly see what products aren't available or have been placed on backorder.

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A process for selecting the right product

  • Simple items The Simple items are, as their name suggests The most basic kind of item that can be purchased through WooCommerce. This is an exclusive, shippable product with no distinctive variations or combinations.
  • Variable merchandise - Similar in function in basic product, however there are different versions such as size or color. Every variation is essentially its item with its stock number and SKU, however they are all part of one product.
  • Grouped items They are items of any category that are available as a collection or a bundle collection. This bundle is made up of various items that may be bought individually, and in the event that there is a shortage of the item it will be any longer in stock. This is why it's essential to track these issues using the various tools WooCommerce provides. It is different from cross-sells and upsells.
  • External or affiliate productThey can be considered to be products that aren't entirely your own and you earn a percentage off them, and part of that commission is distributed to a third-party. They are mostly available on one specific website.

You can also download products which eliminate the need for shipping and permit sellers to list items in your online store. There is a good chance that you have to be concerned regarding tracking inventory when you purchase this type of item.

16. WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugins designed for 2022

You're familiar with WooCommerce's default configurations, but how can you modify it to the specific needs of your organization? The sixteen extensions, which are free as well as paid provide additional functionalities to enhance the functionality WooCommerce can offer.

Want to handle inventory at the physical shop? Check the status of raw materials and stock within specific areas? Do you want to completely revamp the system? Consider these plugins.

ATUM Inventory Management

ATUM Inventory Management plugin
ATUM Inventory Management.

ATUM is a step up in WooCommerce's capabilities for managing inventory. It comes with all the sophisticated inventory tracking tools you're likely to needand many more features, and all at no cost. The features it offers can be locked into monthly subscription plans.

A few premium extensions can automate exports inventory, multi-supplier and multi-location monitoring, as well as billing for materials management.

If you're sure that you're going to need higher power than that WooCommerce offers, have a look an look at ATUM.

Multi-locations, Inventory Management

Multi Locations Inventory Management plugin
Multi Locations Inventory Management.

WooCommerce has some multi-location/global selling tools, but it's pretty lacking when it comes to inventory management in multiple places. Its plugin will solve that problem and also provide better control over shipping and placing orders at certain locations.

Do you require a free alternative? Check out the stock locations that are available to WooCommerce.

Katana

Katana plugin
Katana.

Katana is described as a highly efficient production enterprise tool specifically designed to offer you complete control over the inventory you have.

It also comes with numerous integrations with other tools for business and an API to allow you to build the integrations you want to build. Additionally, you have access to Katana's standard inventory management functions.

WooCommerce Cart Stock Reducer

WooCommerce Cart Stock Reducer plugin
WooCommerce Cart Stock Reducer.

Import and Export Exports from the Products

Product Import Export for WooCommerce plugin
Import Export Export of WooCommerce products.

Through this plug-in it's possible to save and import CSV documents, not only for your own items however, you can also download images reviews from your customers as well as other attributes or tags. The only drawback is that the free version isn't able to permit the use of variable product types.

WooCommerce Attribute Stock

WooCommerce Attribute Stock plugin
WooCommerce attribute stock.

This Attribute Stock plugin will give WooCommerce's stock tracking tools greater capability. If you're unhappy with the fact that the default doesn't support particular use cases for the industry you work in, there's a plugin that will most likely solve this issue. It lets you track attributes and share stock across different product lines.

An excellent example is a store that sells necklaces using this plugin. You can track separately the number of chains as well as pendants on offer. If you are out of certain sizes of chains, it'll be out of stock on the entire necklace.

StockUpp Inventory Management

StockUpp Inventory Management plugin
StockUpp Inventory Management.

If you're looking for an inventory management ERP however, it's a bit smaller in the scale, then try StockUpp. It comes with useful features such as greater stock management capabilities suppliers tracking, stock management, as well as bulk lot tons. But, it's neither costly nor difficult to use.

Smart Manager for WooCommerce

Smart Manager for WooCommerce plugin
Smart Manager for WooCommerce.

The plug-in could be useful, not just in the area of stock control, but also for the entire store. It lets you manage every aspect of your product and inventory from an Excel-like screen which is more user-friendly and comes with an extensive editing menu. This will surely help you save a significant amount of time.

Integration with WooCommerce as well as Zoho CRM

Integration for WooCommerce and Zoho CRM plugin
Integration of WooCommerce along with Zoho CRM plugin.

Zoho is a collection of business-level software, from Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory and much more. Thanks to this plug-in it's possible to access the complete range of functions available in WooCommerce. Once you have set up your plugin, the whole system will be automatized and synchronized.

Stock Manager for WooCommerce

Stock Manager for WooCommerce plugin
Stock Manager for WooCommerce.

If you're thinking of managing all your inventory from one location, and then you can organize them, modify them, and then export them the Stock Manager software. It's absolutely free, and does not have limitations on the premium features. What you see is the product you get.

WooCommerce Quickbooks Connector

WooCommerce Quickbooks Connector plugin
It is part of the WooCommerce Quickbooks Connector.

QuickBooks accounting software is a popular option for firms this is the reason the integration with WooCommerce is beneficial. This way, all data is synced between both platforms in both directions. Additionally, it is fully compatible with other inventory management tools.

Stock Synchronization in WooCommerce

Stock Synchronization for WooCommerce plugin
Stock Synchronization in WooCommerce.

If you track your inventory by using an external CSV data file supplied by your provider it is the best option. It helps keep your stock on track, which means it doesn't require you to update the file manually each time you get an additional shipment.

Advanced Notifications

Advanced Notifications extension
Advanced Notifications.

Even though WooCommerce provides a basic notification system for status of stocks, it's not enough for many stores. Advanced Notifications lets you have greater control over the way you utilize the system . You can send email notifications to other parties, and also alter the items they're notified concerning.

WooCommerce Central Stock WooCommerce

Central Stock for WooCommerce extension
Central Stock is the central inventory for the WooCommerce extension.

Establishing multiple stores made up from the same stock warehouse could be challenging, but this Central Stock plugin will make the process much simpler. Now you can sync stock across multiple websites part of the same network.

WooPOS

WooPOS plugin
WooPOS.

If you've got an actual retail store, along with an online version The process of synchronizing inventory can be a challenge. WooPOS is the software for point of sale and CRM, and an efficient inventory management software. The entire suite is accessible in a variety of stores, including on multiple physical and online shops.

The Bulk Table Editor for WooCommerce

Bulk Table Editor for WooCommerce extension
Bulk Table Editor for WooCommerce.

If your shop grows big with thousandsor hundreds of thousands of products and products, then a bulk editor is one of your best investments. Utilizing this tool, managing the SKUs and inventory of your store won't be an issue.

Summary

WooCommerce may appear as an easy device initially however, there are thousands of extensions and more that can help it be more efficient than you may expect.

In the absence of the plug-ins, WooCommerce has all the instruments to control inventory in order to begin. If you add on add-ons to the platform that allow you to accomplish almost everything. While some of these add-ons can cost money, WooCommerce itself is free in comparison to other e-commerce CMS'.

Compared to similar tools like Shopify, WooCommerce may not be as efficient at the start to manage inventory. But, a couple of additional features are all you need to be on the path to making a simple, organized, and effective method.

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