Expiry date monitoring and reporting for perishable goods

Purpose

1.1. Automatically maintain real-time oversight of perishable inventory expiration dates, reducing waste and health risk by alerting stakeholders before items become unsellable or unsafe.
1.2. Generate summary and item-specific expiry reports for compliance, operations, and vendor management, ensuring proactive replenishment and optimal use.
1.3. Integrate data feeds from inventory management, POS, and supplier records, centralizing expiry tracking across channels and stock locations.
1.4. Initiate corrective actions (such as reorder, markdown, or removal) when expiry thresholds approach to maximize profitability and regulatory compliance.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Daily scheduled review of inventory database for SKU expiry fields.
2.2. Inventory receipt event, scanning, or manual update.
2.3. Custom threshold met (e.g., item expiring within X days).
2.4. Stock movement event (transfer, sale, or write-off).
2.5. User-initiated audit or report request.

Platform Variants

3.1. Salesforce
• Function: Process Builder/Flow + Inventory object expiry field monitor; automate task creation or email alert.
3.2. Zapier
• Feature: Scheduled Zap + Filter + Email/SMS/Slack; trigger on date field logic.
3.3. Airtable
• Feature: Automations -> “When record matches conditions” on expiry field + notification via email/slack.
3.4. Google Sheets
• API: Apps Script time-driven trigger; scan expiry columns, push row to a log/report sheet, and email summary.
3.5. Microsoft Power Automate
• Setting: Schedule flow; query Excel/Dataverse/SharePoint expiry columns, conditional notification step.
3.6. Shopify
• API: Webhooks or app for products expiring soon; auto-email warehouse/POS/user-defined group.
3.7. Monday.com
• Feature: Date column automation; custom notification/integration recipe for expiry alerts.
3.8. Slack
• API: Incoming Webhooks; expiry approaching message to channel/user group.
3.9. Twilio SMS
• Feature: Programmable SMS API; send SMS on soon-to-expire goods detection.
3.10. SendGrid
• Function: Transactional email API; expiry alert emails using dynamic templates.
3.11. Amazon SNS
• Feature: Publish to notification topics on item expiry event for various endpoints (SMS, mobile push, email).
3.12. Google Calendar
• API: Add event/reminder for expiry dates pulled from system, assign to staff/manager.
3.13. Freshservice
• Feature: Service item expiring triggers ticket or alert inside service desk for action logging.
3.14. Trello
• Setting: Butler automation; card creation or comment for items expiring within custom time window.
3.15. Asana
• Feature: Rules for task/project creation when expiry date matches set criteria.
3.16. Odoo
• Function: Automated action on Inventory > Product Expiry, trigger internal message/email.
3.17. QuickBooks Online
• API: Scheduled reports via Inventory API; expiration field filtering, auto-email report to user.
3.18. HubSpot
• Setting: Workflow automation; expiry property triggers internal communication or ticket creation.
3.19. Smartsheet
• Automation: Alert or request update rule when perishable goods reach expiry threshold.
3.20. Notion
• Feature: Database filter on expiry date, scheduled integration automates task/list for expiring items.
3.21. Netsuite
• SuiteScript scheduled script or workflow triggers on inventory’s expiry date field, dispatching alerts.
3.22. Mailgun
• API: Expiry event triggers email notification through programmable messaging.

Benefits

4.1. Enables proactive waste reduction and cost savings by acting before products expire.
4.2. Enhances transparency and accountability in inventory handling, supporting health and safety standards.
4.3. Streamlines compliance reporting for regulators and supply partners.
4.4. Optimizes stock rotation, ordering, and promotions to maximize sales and minimize unsellable inventory.
4.5. Automates routine monitoring for staff, reducing manual workload and error rates.