Inventory ManagementPurpose
1. Ensure real-time consistency of stock levels between physical and online stores for African goods shops.
2. Prevent overselling, under-stocking, and data discrepancies through continuous two-way synchronization.
3. Automate the detection of mismatches, updating records, and notifying managers or staff for critical discrepancies.
4. Integrate multiple inventory channels and suppliers for accurate, unified reporting.
Trigger Conditions
1. Manual stock count update in physical store POS.
2. Online sale or return processed via e-commerce channel.
3. Scheduled periodic reconciliation (e.g., nightly or hourly checks).
4. Integration event from supplier restock or inventory shipment.
Platform Variants
1. Shopify
- API: InventoryLevel API — configure webhook on stock change events, pull latest inventory data, POST updated counts.
2. Vend (Lightspeed Retail)
- Webhook: Inventory updates — setup webhook for each outlet, POST delta to central sync endpoint.
3. WooCommerce
- REST API: /wp-json/wc/v3/products/{id}/stock — GET/PUT stock values, connect cron for periodic polling and push.
4. Square
- Inventory API: RetrieveInventoryCount — poll for count; AdjustInventory — apply corrections via POST.
5. QuickBooks Commerce
- API: GET /stock-on-hand — read stock by location; POST /stock-adjustment for corrections.
6. Microsoft Dynamics 365
- API: InventoryJournal — automate journal posting when mismatch detected, configure Power Automate for triggers.
7. SAP Business One
- Service Layer API: StockTransfersService — configure periodic GET and PATCH to update stock levels.
8. Zoho Inventory
- API: GET /items/{item_id}; POST /inventoryadjustments for centralized stock update based on reconciled values.
9. Oracle NetSuite
- RESTlet: GET and PUT InventoryBalance — automate stock read and adjustment through SuiteScript RESTlets.
10. PrestaShop
- Webservice: stock_availables endpoint — set up server polling and update via PUT request.
11. SkuVault
- API: GET /products/quantity — reconcile and update with POST /inventory/updateQuantity.
12. TradeGecko (QuickBooks Commerce)
- API: GET /stock-on-hand, PATCH /stock-levels for multi-location adjustments.
13. Openbravo
- API: GET /Stock — fetch for online/physical delta; POST /StockAdjustment for applying corrections.
14. Odoo
- XML-RPC/REST API: stock.quant method — automate reads and create stock.quant.update when discrepancies occur.
15. Magento
- REST API: GET /V1/stockItems/{sku} — configure reconciliation via scheduled tasks, update with PUT.
16. Lightspeed eCom
- API: GET /products/{id} — fetch in-store and eCom products, PATCH inventory field to synchronize.
17. Clover POS
- API: inventory/items — GET to retrieve current stock, PUT changes as needed, configure trigger on sale.
18. BigCommerce
- API: GET /catalog/products, GET/PUT inventory_level to push synchronized numbers from master sheet.
19. Revel Systems
- API: GET /inventory — scan for mismatches, update with POST /inventory/adjustment.
20. Retail Pro
- API: GETInventory, POSTInventoryUpdate — poll and adjust as per reconciliation results.
21. Salesforce Commerce Cloud
- OCAPI: GET /inventory_records — compare, invoke PATCH on mismatch.
22. Netsuite
- SuiteTalk: InventoryAdjustment — schedule SOAP-based updates on trigger events.
23. Amazon Marketplace
- MWS API: SubmitInventoryFeed — synchronize via automated feeds when difference detected.
24. Google Sheets (for manual protocols)
- Script: periodic Apps Script GET/POST to relevant platform APIs for custom stores.
Benefits
1. Reduces manual reconciliation time and human error.
2. Provides a unified view of true stock across all channels.
3. Minimizes stockouts and over-selling situations.
4. Increases customer satisfaction through improved order accuracy.
5. Enables proactive reordering with real-time low-stock notifications.
6. Enhances reporting accuracy for business analytics and audits.
7. Frees up staff for higher-value tasks, improving operational efficiency.