Inventory & Supply Chain AutomationPurpose
1.2. Send immediate alerts to restaurant managers, kitchen leads, or procurement to avoid ingredient shortages.
1.3. Reduce manual stock checking, streamline supplier reordering, and support menu availability for Anhui cuisine.
1.4. Integrate with POS, ERP, or standalone inventory systems for granular item-level tracking and SKU-specific triggers.
1.5. Ensure compliance with food safety and freshness regulations by alerting before perishables run out.
Trigger Conditions
2.2. Scheduled inventory checks (e.g., hourly)—trigger if threshold is breached on scan.
2.3. Manual update from staff (via app/POS) indicating low stock.
2.4. Expiry or delivery cycle triggers when lead time nears and supply isn’t replenished.
2.5. Supplier API integration shows delayed or unfulfilled restock orders.
Platform Variants
3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Messaging API; Send automated low stock SMS to manager.
• Example: Configure Messaging Service; set body: "Low stock on X item, restock needed."
3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Mail Send API; Trigger email notification to procurement.
• Example: Set from/to, subject "Inventory Alert", body includes item and threshold details.
3.3. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhook; Post alert to #kitchen or #supply-chain channel.
• Example: Webhook URL; JSON payload—item, current stock, reordering action link.
3.4. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Connector/Incoming Webhook; Send alert card to purchasing group.
• Example: Webhook config; adaptive card with stock info, item images.
3.5. Telegram
• Feature/Setting: Bot API; Push inventory alerts as direct messages to staff group.
• Example: Bot token/Chat ID; method sendMessage with dynamic stock message.
3.6. WhatsApp Business API
• Feature/Setting: Message Templates; Notify on low stock with template “Inventory low: {{item}}.”
• Example: Configure API endpoint; use pre-approved messaging flow.
3.7. Gmail API
• Feature/Setting: messages.send; Email recurring alerts or escalate repeated breaches.
• Example: OAuth2 setup; JSON with recipient, subject, and detailed content.
3.8. Outlook Office 365
• Feature/Setting: Mail.Send; Automated email for low inventory from shared mailbox.
• Example: Register application; set endpoint, permissions, recipient list.
3.9. Google Sheets
• Feature/Setting: Sheets API—Append or update row if low stock detected; triggers historical tracking.
• Example: Service Account; append log with timestamp, item, quantity.
3.10. Airtable
• Feature/Setting: REST API—update ‘Low Stock’ flag in inventory base; link to restock workflow.
• Example: UpdateRecords endpoint with conditionally flagged records.
3.11. Shopify
• Feature/Setting: Inventory Level API—monitor available quantity, send Admin API webhook on threshold.
• Example: Webhook for “inventory_levels/update” event.
3.12. Square
• Feature/Setting: Inventory API—read and compare stock, trigger Restock webhook.
• Example: Inventory.Change event subscription.
3.13. Lightspeed POS
• Feature/Setting: Inventory API—fetch item stock, trigger alert on under-threshold via webhook.
• Example: Register ‘Low Inventory’ notification.
3.14. QuickBooks Online
• Feature/Setting: Reports API—run inventory report, email alert if value below X.
• Example: Schedule report with min qty check.
3.15. SAP Business One
• Feature/Setting: Service Layer API—query on-hand items; configure Event Sender on breach.
• Example: Criteria-based alert, push to procurement team.
3.16. Zoho Inventory
• Feature/Setting: Automation Rule—set Workflow for “When stock below threshold.”
• Example: Notification action—email, SMS, or webhook.
3.17. Oracle NetSuite
• Feature/Setting: Saved Search/Workflow—flag reordering/below safety stock alert.
• Example: Workflow Alert; route to inventory manager.
3.18. Xero
• Feature/Setting: Inventory API—trigger alert via connected email or Slack bot.
• Example: Periodic query and notification.
3.19. PagerDuty
• Feature/Setting: Event API v2—Send alert as incident to escalation policy on low stock.
• Example: POST event trigger; assign to responsible on-call user.
3.20. Discord
• Feature/Setting: Webhook; Push inventory alert with interactive message in staff channel.
• Example: Webhook URL; format content, mention staff role.
3.21. Zendesk
• Feature/Setting: Ticket API; Auto-create ticket for low stock scenario and assign to responsible.
• Example: POST API, set status, add low inventory tag.
3.22. SAP S/4HANA Cloud
• Feature/Setting: Inventory Management API—event notification for stock shortages.
• Example: Configure event, deliver notification to supply team.
Benefits
4.2. Reduces manual checks, saving staff time and labor.
4.3. Empowers proactive purchasing, minimizing delivery delays.
4.4. Increases confidence in supply chain transparency.
4.5. Supports regulatory compliance through meticulous documentation of stock levels and alerts.