Out-of-stock order handling and customer notification

**Purpose**

1.1. Automate out-of-stock order workflows to enhance order accuracy, customer satisfaction, and inventory transparency for Chinese supermarket operations.
1.2. Automatedly detect out-of-stock products during the order process and initiate automated customer notifications and order modification or refund logic.
1.3. Automating updates between inventory, storefront, and customer communication platforms to minimize manual intervention and errors.

**Trigger Conditions**

2.1. Automated detection when ordered SKU is not available or inventory dips below threshold at order placement.
2.2. Automate triggers if stock is updated to zero in the last-mile inventory system.
2.3. Automation initiates if supplier feed reflects a stockout, pushing the event to the processing queue.

**Platform Variants**

3.1. Shopify
• Feature: Inventory webhook
• Setting: Configure webhook for "inventory_levels/update" to automate order review.

3.2. WooCommerce
• Feature: "Out of Stock" product status
• Setting: Enable automated email to customer via WooCommerce Email Notifications.

3.3. Magento
• Feature: API Endpoint
• Setting: Automate calls to "stockItems/lowStock" API; trigger order status updates.

3.4. Square Online
• Feature: Inventory API
• Setting: Automate notifications via Square Inventory.triggerStockAlert.

3.5. BigCommerce
• Feature: Webhooks
• Setting: Set up "inventory/updated" webhook for automating customer messaging.

3.6. Salesforce Commerce Cloud
• Feature: Inventory Availabilities API
• Setting: Integrate Order Notification Flow automation.

3.7. Zoho Inventory
• Feature: Workflow Rule
• Setting: Automate "Out of Stock" notifications using Workflow Alerts API.

3.8. SAP Commerce (Hybris)
• Feature: Business Process Management
• Setting: Configure automated stock alert workflows.

3.9. Lightspeed Retail
• Feature: Inventory Levels API
• Setting: Automate rule on stock depletion, triggering notifications.

3.10. NetSuite
• Feature: SuiteScript
• Setting: Scripting triggers for automated out-of-stock email or SMS.

3.11. Oracle Commerce
• Feature: Order Process Automation
• Setting: Use Process Automation rules for out-of-stock order handling.

3.12. Odoo
• Feature: Automated Actions
• Setting: Set trigger for product quantity to automate customer notification.

3.13. Mailgun
• Feature: Send API
• Setting: Automator sends customer emails informing order stockout.

3.14. SendGrid
• Feature: Mail Send API
• Setting: Automate transactional emails for affected order.

3.15. Twilio
• Feature: SMS API
• Setting: Automate SMS alert to customers for order status update.

3.16. Slack
• Feature: Incoming Webhooks
• Setting: Send team alerts when automated out-of-stock events are triggered.

3.17. Zendesk
• Feature: Ticket API
• Setting: Automates customer support ticket creation for out-of-stock orders.

3.18. Microsoft Teams
• Feature: Connector Webhooks
• Setting: Notify fulfillment team via automated messages.

3.19. Google Sheets
• Feature: App Script
• Setting: Automator writes/logs out-of-stock events and notifications.

3.20. Airtable
• Feature: Automations
• Setting: Trigger workflow for automated inventory and customer notification.

3.21. Klaviyo
• Feature: Flow Automation
• Setting: Send personalized, automated stockout messages via email/SMS.

3.22. HubSpot
• Feature: Workflow Automation
• Setting: Customer follow-up automation post stockout event.

3.23. Freshdesk
• Feature: Automations
• Setting: Ticket automation for customer complaints regarding out-of-stock.

3.24. Zapier
• Feature: Multi-step automation
• Setting: Automates cross-platform order, notification, and stock records.

**Benefits**

4.1. Automates end-to-end out-of-stock detection and communication, minimizing errors and delays.
4.2. Automated customer notifications improve transparency and trust, reducing support demands.
4.3. Automation enhances operational efficiency by auto-updating orders, reducing manual stock checking.
4.4. Streamlines refunds or alternative suggestions via automators, improving customer retention.
4.5. Automates audit trails of stockout scenarios, supporting business analytics and decision-making.