Real-time tracking and alerting of expiring products

Purpose

1.1. Automate real-time detection and alerting of products nearing expiration in inventory for Kushiyaki restaurants.
1.2. Enable proactive management, reduce food waste, ensure compliance, and maintain freshness standards through automated notification workflows.
1.3. Support automated procurement actions and stock adjustments driven by expiration timelines, enhancing operational efficiency and product lifecycle management.
1.4. Automator ensures entire stock is tracked, alerting relevant staff and stakeholders automatedly across multiple channels for immediate action.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Automated trigger on detection of item within X days of expiry based on timestamp in inventory database.
2.2. Scheduled inventory scanning/monitoring (hourly/daily).
2.3. Change/update to product expiry data (manual entry or import).
2.4. Automated stock reconciliation event or delivery of new stock.

Platform Variants

3.1. Airtable
• Feature/Setting: Automation triggers on "Date is approaching" for expiry field; configure scripts to automate alerts via integrations.
3.2. Google Sheets
• Feature/Setting: Use Apps Script to automate expiry date checks and email/SMS alerts.
3.3. Microsoft Power Automate
• Feature/Setting: Automated flow with Excel/Teams triggers and "Notifications" action.
3.4. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: API to automate sending of SMS when an expiry condition is met; set up with product and date parameters.
3.5. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Workflow automates direct messages to channel/users upon expiry threshold reached.
3.6. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Power Automate flow auto-posts expiry alerts to selected channels.
3.7. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: API key configuration to automate expiry alert emails; dynamic templating with product info.
3.8. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Use "Send Email" API automatedly on expiry triggers from inventory records.
3.9. Discord
• Feature/Setting: Bot automates DM or channel message for expiring items, using webhooks from inventory events.
3.10. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Automated Zaps connect data source to multiple outputs—SMS, email, Slack, etc.
3.11. Shopify
• Feature/Setting: Inventory API automates expiry-based tagging/alerts for tracked SKUs.
3.12. Square
• Feature/Setting: Automated inventory management triggers expiry notifications to staff.
3.13. Freshdesk
• Feature/Setting: Automation scenario sends ticket or alert to operations team when expiring products detected.
3.14. Trello
• Feature/Setting: Card automation moves expiring SKUs to "Action Needed" lists; Power-Ups for notifications.
3.15. Monday.com
• Feature/Setting: Automated boards update item status and send expiry notifications to team members.
3.16. Jira
• Feature/Setting: Automation rules create and assign tickets for expiring products to procurement team.
3.17. PagerDuty
• Feature/Setting: Automated incident created for critical expiring stock needing urgent removal or action.
3.18. Notion
• Feature/Setting: Automation to update database items, trigger alerts in workspace or via email for expiring goods.
3.19. Salesforce
• Feature/Setting: Flow automator triggers expiry cases and notifies assigned personnel.
3.20. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflow automates internal notification for expiring stock, feeding into service pipeline.
3.21. Outlook
• Feature/Setting: Automated email alerts sent using Outlook API or Power Automate when an item approaches expiry.
3.22. SMS Gateway API
• Feature/Setting: Direct API automation for bulk SMS alerts to procurement or admin on expiry conditions.

Benefits

4.1. Automates compliance with safety and freshness standards, reducing human error.
4.2. Automated alerts minimize food waste and financial losses.
4.3. Automation enables instant, multi-channel notifications, ensuring quick action.
4.4. Automator-driven workflows reduce staff workload and streamline inventory control.
4.5. Automating processes supports data-driven procurement and stock management decisions.