Expiry date tracking for perishable ingredients

Purpose

1. Automate tracking of expiry dates for perishable ingredients to minimize food waste and regulatory risks.

2. Automated reminders and reporting for timely replenishment, usage, or disposal of expiring stock.

3. Automatable syncing of inventory systems with supplier deliveries and outgoing dishes.

4. Ensuring compliance with food safety standards through continuous, automated inventory monitoring specific to Armenian cuisine.

Trigger Conditions

1. New inventory batch entry with expiry dates.

2. Scheduled automated checks for ingredients nearing expiry (e.g., 7/3/1 days in advance).

3. Manual adjustment or correction of inventory data.

4. API call or webhook activation by connected PoS or delivery systems.

5. Stock level threshold—when ingredients drop below automatable minimum levels.

Platform Variants

1. Google Sheets

• Feature: Script automation for expiry date comparison; triggers on new row or scheduled basis.
  
• Sample: Use Apps Script “onEdit” and “time-driven” triggers for expiry reminders.
  

2. Airtable

• Feature: Built-in automations for record monitoring with expiry formulas.
  
• Sample: Configure automation to send notification when [Expiry Date] = TODAY+7.
  

3. Microsoft Power Automate

• Feature: Scheduled flow scans inventory tables; sends Teams/Outlook notifications.
  
• Sample: Recurrence trigger + “Get Rows” (Excel/SQL) + “Condition” for expiry threshold.
  

4. Zapier

• Feature: Trigger on new/updated inventory item; filter for expiry field; multi-channel notification.
  
• Sample: Inventory system > Filter by expiry date > Gmail/Slack/Sheets action.
  

5. Slack (Workflow Builder)

• Feature: Automated Slack reminders to channel for ingredients X days pre-expiry.
  
• Sample: Scheduled workflow step, custom date field as input.
  

6. Twilio SMS

• Feature: Automated SMS alerts for expiring ingredients to kitchen staff or procurement.
  
• Sample: Schedule-triggered REST API call for message sending.
  

7. RFID/Barcode Inventory Systems (e.g., Zebra, Honeywell)

• Feature: API-based scan event triggers automated expiry data sync to cloud.
  
• Sample: Inventory app POSTs batch info to ERP/inventory DB, automating further checks.
  

8. Zoho Inventory

• Feature: Automated expiry tracking using custom fields and scheduled reports.
  
• Sample: Workflow “On Date/Field Update” triggers expiry alerts.
  

9. Oracle NetSuite

• Feature: Automated expiry monitoring with SuiteScript, scheduled saved searches.
  
• Sample: SuiteScript scheduled script processing expiry within item records.
  

10. Shopify (with inventory add-ons)

• Feature: Automated email/SMS notification on nearing expiry for restaurant e-commerce.
  
• Sample: App webhook triggers on expiry-rule match for backend staff.
  

11. Trello (via automation)

• Feature: Card due dates as expiry; automatic moving/labeling on due date proximity.
  
• Sample: Butler automation rule for due date minus X days notification.
  

12. Monday.com

• Feature: Automate expiry alerts using “date arrives” automation on inventory boards.
  
• Sample: Automation recipe triggers alert 3 days before expiry.
  

13. Notion

• Feature: Database view filters for upcoming expiry; auto-generated reminders.
  
• Sample: Filter on expiry property and scheduled integration with email/Slack.
  

14. Asana

• Feature: Task creation for soon-to-expire ingredients with assigned owners.
  
• Sample: “Rules” based on custom date fields for automated task assignment.
  

15. Salesforce

• Feature: Flow Builder triggers alert and task based on expiry custom field.
  
• Sample: Scheduled “Platform Events” automating notification workflows.
  

16. SendGrid

• Feature: Automated email delivery of expiry reports or urgent reminders.
  
• Sample: API call configured with dynamic content for expiring items.
  

17. Google Calendar

• Feature: Automated event creation for each expiry date; reminder notifications.
  
• Sample: Calendar API used to create events X days before expiry via automation.
  

18. Outlook 365

• Feature: Automated emails and calendar events upon approaching expiry.
  
• Sample: Power Automate integration for reminders and auto-scheduling.
  

19. QuickBooks Commerce

• Feature: Automated order/inventory workflow for expiry tracking.
  
• Sample: Workflow triggers when expiry field in inventory table meets rule.
  

20. SAP Business One

• Feature: Automated batch/serial expiry field processing with custom alerts.
  
• Sample: Query generator configured to alert via internal messaging or email.
  

Benefits

1. Automates proactive wastage reduction and cost control.

2. Automated compliance with food safety and Armenian restaurant regulations.

3. Reduces manual labor, automates up-to-date inventory visibility.

4. Enables automating supplier reordering and usage optimization.

5. Increases staff accountability with auditable, automatable logs and traceability.