Bulk product import/update automation

Purpose

1. Enable scheduled or on-demand bulk imports and updates of product data from suppliers, internal databases, or spreadsheets.

2. Automate synchronization of inventory attributes: SKUs, pricing, descriptions, images, and availability between multiple catalog sources and central inventory systems.

3. Reduce manual entry errors, accelerate time-to-market for new or updated spare parts, and improve supplier and customer satisfaction via real-time updates.

4. Ensure compliance with supply chain partners by aligning product data formats and automating transformation between supplier feeds and internal systems.

Trigger Conditions

1. Scheduled time intervals (e.g., nightly, weekly).

2. File upload to designated cloud storage location (CSV, XLSX, XML, JSON).

3. Receipt of supplier email with attachment.

4. API/webhook request from supplier portal or ERP.

5. Manual trigger via dashboard or command.

Platform Variants

1. Microsoft Power Automate

• Feature: Scheduled Flow.
  
• Setting: Configure a recurring trigger for OneDrive/SharePoint folder, then use Excel/CSV connectors to parse and update Dynamics 365 Inventory API.
  

2. Zapier

• Feature: Schedule by Zapier + Google Sheets + Webhooks.
  
• Setting: On schedule, read Google Sheets row, send parsed rows via Webhooks to inventory API endpoint.
  

3. Make (Integromat)

• Feature: Scheduled Scenario.
  
• Setting: Poll SFTP for supplier file, use “Parse CSV” and “HTTP” to update inventory records.
  

4. Google Apps Script

• Feature: Time-driven Trigger and Spreadsheet API.
  
• Setting: Script reads product sheet at intervals, posts update via HTTP request to e-commerce API.
  

5. Workato

• Feature: Scheduler and Batch Bulk Upsert.
  
• Setting: Scheduled batch jobs for CSV rows, connect to NetSuite or SAP inventory modules API.
  

6. Tray.io

• Feature: Trigger: Scheduler / File Upload + Data Mapper.
  
• Setting: When file lands in Box, transform and batch import to Shopify API.
  

7. AWS Lambda

• Feature: S3 file event trigger.
  
• Setting: On S3 upload, Lambda parses file and calls internal inventory management REST API.
  

8. Azure Logic Apps

• Feature: Recurrence trigger and Excel connector.
  
• Setting: Polls Excel files on Azure Blob Storage; updates via Dynamics 365 Inventory Connector.
  

9. Google Cloud Functions

• Feature: Cloud Storage Trigger.
  
• Setting: On bucket file upload, process file content and push to BigQuery or Inventory REST endpoint.
  

10. Boomi

• Feature: Scheduled Process + Document Processing.
  
• Setting: Scheduled get from FTP, map to XML/JSON for Oracle NetSuite API.
  

11. Salesforce Flow

• Feature: Scheduled Flow.
  
• Setting: Scheduled job calls External Services to import/update products in Product2 object.
  

12. Shopify Flow

• Feature: File Upload Trigger App.
  
• Setting: Custom trigger detects CSV import, flows parse and update Product API.
  

13. Apify

• Feature: Actor schedule.
  
• Setting: Runs on schedule, fetches latest supplier data, pushes via HTTP request to product inventory systems.
  

14. Pipedream

• Feature: Cron Scheduler + HTTP Request.
  
• Setting: Time-based event triggers CSV fetch and update to inventory endpoints.
  

15. Jitterbit

• Feature: FTP/HTTP File Polling.
  
• Setting: On new file, data transform and push to SAP Business One API.
  

16. Celigo

• Feature: Flow Scheduler.
  
• Setting: Import supplier feed from SFTP, map and post to Acumatica Inventory API.
  

17. Oracle Integration Cloud

• Feature: Scheduled Integration.
  
• Setting: Import and process product files from supplier SFTP, update Oracle Inventory Cloud.
  

18. Elastic.io

• Feature: Scheduler + File Parser + API Connector.
  
• Setting: Poll FTP, transform CSV, call WooCommerce REST API.
  

19. UiPath

• Feature: Orchestrator Time Triggers.
  
• Setting: RPA bot reads inventory Excel, inputs into SAP/ERP screens or via API.
  

20. Talend Cloud

• Feature: Scheduled Pipeline.
  
• Setting: Import raw spreadsheet, map and synchronize with on-premises inventory database or Magento API.
  

4. Benefits

1. Eliminates manual data entry and reduces human error in bulk product records.

2. Standardizes and centralizes inventory updates for consistency across channels.

3. Accelerates supplier onboarding and reduces new part catalog cycle time.

4. Improves stock level accuracy, enabling fast pricing and availability updates.

5. Ensures auditability and compliance by logging each import/update event.

6. Enables adaptability to multiple suppliers and ERP/e-commerce systems with configurable and reusable automations.