Effective inventory management prevents stockouts and overselling. This guide covers Shopify’s built-in features and top inventory apps for growing stores.
Stocky
2025 Snapshot
Related: Shopify ShipStation Integration: Automated Shipping Guide (2025), Shopify DSers Integration: AliExpress Dropshipping Guide (2025), optimize your keywords.
| Data point | Value |
|---|---|
| Shopify inventory management | Built-in tracking + multi-location support (checked Dec 2025) |
| Stocky (Shopify App Store rating) | 2.7/5 (208 reviews, checked Dec 2025) |
| Stocky availability | Included with Shopify POS Pro (checked Dec 2025) |
| Common scaling trigger | 100+ SKUs, multiple channels, or multiple locations |
Treat this as a directional snapshot—app ratings, pricing, and feature sets change over time.
Shopify’s Built-In Inventory
Related: Shopify POS Integration: Unified Retail Guide (2025), Shopify ShipBob Integration: 3PL Fulfillment Guide (2025), the Amazon connector.
Native Features
| Feature | Availability |
|---|---|
| Stock tracking | All plans |
| Multi-location | All plans |
| Inventory history | All plans |
| Low stock alerts | Basic |
| Purchase orders | None (need app) |
| Forecasting | None (need app) |
Multi-Location Setup
- Go to Settings > Locations
- Add locations (warehouses, stores)
- Enable for products
- Set inventory per location
Limitations
Shopify native lacks:
- Demand forecasting
- Purchase order management
- Supplier management
- Lot/serial tracking
- Advanced reporting
When You Need More
Related: Shopify ERP Integration: Connect Your Store to Enterprise Systems (2025).
Signs you’ve outgrown basic:
- 100+ SKUs
- Multiple sales channels
- Frequent stockouts
- Manual reordering
- Multi-location complexity
Migration Plan (From Spreadsheets to Shopify)
Most inventory problems are not “tool problems”—they are data quality problems. Before you install any advanced inventory app, make sure Shopify has clean, consistent product data and a repeatable counting process.
A practical migration sequence:
- Normalize identifiers: SKUs must be unique per variant. Decide how you encode size/color/bundle components and keep it consistent.
- Fix variants and barcodes: add barcodes where possible (especially for POS and warehouse scanning). Ensure each variant has a single “source of truth” SKU.
- Map locations: create Shopify Locations that match real-world control points (warehouse, retail store, 3PL). Avoid “virtual locations” unless you have a clear operational reason.
- Import starting quantities: do a one-time count (or a controlled snapshot) and import quantities per location. If you can’t count everything, start with A-items (fast movers) and phase in the rest.
- Lock the process: define who can adjust inventory, when cycle counts happen, and how receiving is recorded. A great app cannot compensate for uncontrolled adjustments.
If you’re migrating from an ERP/WMS, decide early whether Shopify will be the system of record for available-to-sell inventory, or whether Shopify is “downstream” from the external system. That single choice determines your sync rules and how you prevent overselling.
Integration Architecture Notes (Apps, ERP, and Accuracy)
When you connect Shopify with inventory apps, ERPs, marketplaces, or a 3PL, accuracy depends on how you handle timing and edge cases:
- Multi-location is real complexity: the same SKU can have different available quantities per location, and routing rules determine where orders pull stock from.
- Reserved vs available: pending orders, holds, and fulfillment workflows can cause “phantom stock” if your external system assumes every quantity is immediately available.
- Idempotency and retries: inventory sync jobs must be safe to re-run. Without idempotent updates, retries can double-decrement stock.
- Reconciliation: schedule a simple daily report that compares Shopify on-hand vs external on-hand for your top SKUs. Most teams catch issues faster with a boring report than with a fancy dashboard.
A final control that pays off quickly is a lightweight cycle count routine. Even with perfect integrations, receiving errors, picking mistakes, and shrinkage happen. Counting your top sellers weekly (and the rest monthly/quarterly) keeps your “system stock” aligned with reality and reduces customer-facing stockouts.
Top Inventory Apps
Stocky (by Shopify)
Included with Shopify POS Pro:
| Feature | Included |
|---|---|
| Demand forecasting | Yes |
| Purchase orders | Yes |
| Inventory transfers | Yes |
| Supplier management | Yes |
| Stock adjustments | Yes |
Best for: Retail stores with POS Pro
Skubana (Extensiv)
Multi-channel operations:
| Plan | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Core | $999/mo+ |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Features:
- Multi-channel sync
- Order management
- Automation
- Analytics
Best for: High-volume multi-channel sellers
Cin7
All-in-one operations:
| Feature | Included |
|---|---|
| Inventory | Yes |
| POS | Yes |
| B2B | Yes |
| 3PL | Yes |
Pricing: $349/mo+ Best for: Wholesale + retail
Katana
Manufacturing focus:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Essential | $99/mo |
| Advanced | $299/mo |
| Professional | $799/mo |
Best for: Makers, assemblers, small manufacturers
inFlow
SMB-friendly:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 (100 products) |
| SMB | $89/mo |
| Pro | $219/mo |
Best for: Small businesses, simple needs
Key Features to Consider
Demand Forecasting
Predict future needs:
- Historical sales analysis
- Seasonality factors
- Lead time calculations
- Reorder point suggestions
Purchase Order Management
PO workflow:
├── Create PO from forecast or manual
├── Send to supplier
├── Track shipment
├── Receive inventory
├── Update stock levels
└── Match to invoice
Multi-Channel Sync
Keep inventory accurate across:
- Shopify store(s)
- Amazon
- eBay
- Walmart
- Wholesale channels
Lot/Batch Tracking
For regulated industries:
- Track by batch number
- Expiration dates
- FIFO management
- Recall capabilities
Setting Up Advanced Inventory
Step 1: Audit Current State
- Export current inventory
- Identify issues (overselling, stockouts)
- Document all locations/channels
- Map product categories
Step 2: Choose Solution
Decision factors:
├── Number of SKUs
├── Number of channels
├── Locations/warehouses
├── Manufacturing needs
├── Budget
└── Integration requirements
Step 3: Implementation
- Install chosen app
- Connect all channels
- Import inventory data
- Configure settings
- Train team
Step 4: Optimize
- Set reorder points
- Configure alerts
- Create reports
- Automate where possible
Multi-Channel Inventory
Channel Sync Strategy
| Strategy | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Unified | Same stock everywhere | Overselling |
| Allocated | Dedicated per channel | Missed sales |
| Buffer | Safety stock held back | Lower risk |
| Dynamic | Adjust based on velocity | Complex |
Safety Stock
Calculate buffer:
Safety Stock = (Max Daily Sales × Max Lead Time)
- (Avg Daily Sales × Avg Lead Time)
Sync Frequency
| Channel | Recommended Sync |
|---|---|
| Shopify | Real-time |
| Amazon | Every 15 min |
| eBay | Every 30 min |
| Wholesale | Daily |
Inventory Metrics
Key KPIs
| Metric | Formula | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Turnover | COGS / Avg Inventory | 4-6x/year |
| Days on Hand | Inventory / Daily Sales | 30-90 days |
| Stockout Rate | Stockouts / Total SKUs | < 2% |
| Carrying Cost | Inventory × Rate | < 25%/year |
Reports to Run
Weekly:
- Low stock alerts
- Incoming inventory
- Stockout incidents
Monthly:
- Slow movers
- Dead stock
- Turnover by category
Best Practices
Prevent Overselling
- Real-time sync across channels
- Safety stock buffers
- Low stock alerts
- Accurate product data
Optimize Stock Levels
- Use demand forecasting
- Adjust seasonally
- Monitor velocity
- Regular cleanup
Supplier Management
- Multiple suppliers per product
- Track lead times
- Quality monitoring
- Relationship building
Troubleshooting
Inventory Discrepancies
Causes:
- Sync delays
- Manual errors
- Theft/shrinkage
- Receiving errors
Solutions:
- Regular cycle counts
- Audit sync logs
- Investigate patterns
- Improve processes
Overselling
Prevention:
- Buffer stock
- Faster sync
- Channel-specific limits
- Backorder handling
Comparison
| Feature | Stocky | Skubana | Cin7 | Katana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free* | $999+ | $349+ | $99+ |
| Forecasting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PO Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-channel | Limited | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Manufacturing | No | No | Limited | Yes |
*Requires POS Pro subscription
Next Steps
After assessment:
- Evaluate needs - Document requirements
- Choose solution - Based on complexity
- Plan migration - Data and process
- Implement gradually - Test before full launch
- Train team - Everyone involved
Shopify + Stocky implementation checklist (2025)
This section adds practical “make it stable” steps you can use after you install the app/connector. It’s intentionally lightweight: the goal is fewer sync surprises, cleaner reporting, and easier troubleshooting.
1) Quick setup checklist
- Permissions first: grant only the scopes you need (orders/customers/products as required) and document who owns the admin credentials.
- Data mapping: confirm how email, phone, currency, and SKU are mapped between Shopify and Stocky.
- Historical import: decide how far back to import orders/customers (avoid importing years of data if you don’t need it).
- Deduplication rules: pick one unique identifier per object (usually email for customers, order ID for orders) to prevent doubles.
- Alerts: set a lightweight alert path (email/Slack) for failed syncs, auth expiry, and API rate limits.
2) Data you should verify after connecting
Most integration issues show up in the first hour if you test the right things. Use the table below as a QA checklist (create a test order if needed).
| Data object | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Customers | Email/phone format, marketing consent fields, duplicates | Prevents double messaging and broken segmentation |
| Orders | Order total, tax, discount, shipping, currency | Keeps revenue reporting and automation triggers accurate |
| Line items | SKU, variant ID, quantity, refunds/returns behavior | Avoids inventory and attribution mismatches |
| Fulfillment | Status changes + timestamps, tracking numbers, carrier fields | Drives customer notifications and post-purchase flows |
| Catalog | Product titles, handles, images, collections/tags | Ensures personalization and reporting match your storefront |
3) Automation ideas for Inventory
- Stock accuracy: align “available” vs “on-hand” definitions across systems to prevent overselling.
- Safety stock: set buffers per SKU/location and review weekly for fast movers.
- Forecast inputs: standardize lead times and supplier MOQs so forecasts remain usable.
- Bundle logic: ensure bundle/kit SKUs decrement component inventory correctly.
- Cycle counts: schedule monthly counts for A-items and quarterly for the rest.
API sanity check (Shopify Admin API)
If your integration UI says “connected” but data isn’t flowing, a quick API call helps confirm whether the store is accessible and returning the objects you expect.
# List the 5 most recent orders (GraphQL)
curl -X POST "https://your-store.myshopify.com/admin/api/2025-01/graphql.json" \
-H "X-Shopify-Access-Token: $SHOPIFY_ADMIN_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d "{\"query\":\"{ orders(first: 5, sortKey: CREATED_AT, reverse: true) { edges { node { id name createdAt totalPriceSet { shopMoney { amount currencyCode } } customer { email } } } } }\"}"Tip: keep tokens/keys in environment variables, and test in a staging store/site before rolling changes to production.
4) KPIs to monitor (so you catch problems early)
- Sync freshness: how long it takes for a new order/customer event to appear in Stocky.
- Error rate: failed syncs per day (and which object types fail most).
- Duplicates: number of merged/duplicate contacts or orders created by mapping mistakes.
- Revenue parity: weekly spot-check that Shopify totals match downstream reporting (especially after refunds).
- Attribution sanity: confirm that key events (purchase, refund, subscription) are tracked consistently.
5) A simple 30-day optimization plan
- Week 1: connect + map fields, then validate with 5–10 real orders/customers.
- Week 2: enable 1–2 automations and measure baseline KPIs (conversion, AOV, repeat rate).
- Week 3: tighten segmentation/rules (exclude recent buyers, add VIP thresholds, handle edge cases).
- Week 4: document the setup, create an “owner” checklist, and set a recurring monthly audit.
Related integration guides
Browse all: integration guides.
Common issues (and fast fixes)
Even “simple” integrations fail in predictable ways. Use this as a quick troubleshooting playbook for Shopify + Stocky.
- Duplicate customers/orders: usually caused by running two connectors at once. Pick one source of truth and dedupe by email (customers) and order ID (orders).
- Currency/timezone drift: confirm store timezone and reporting currency match what Stocky expects, especially if you sell internationally.
- Missing permissions: if data is partially syncing, re-check API scopes (orders vs customers vs products) and re-authorize the app.
- Webhooks not firing: look for blocked callbacks, disabled webhooks, or a stale token. If possible, test with a fresh order and watch for events.
- Rate limits & delays: large imports or high order volume can queue syncs. Stagger imports, reduce lookback windows, and monitor retry queues.
- Refund/return mismatch: clarify whether refunds create separate objects or adjust the original order record (finance teams should agree on the model).
Privacy & compliance notes (2025)
Integrations often touch personal data (email, phone, address). Keep this lightweight checklist in mind:
- Least privilege: only grant the data scopes you actively use; remove unused apps quarterly.
- Consent fields: treat marketing consent separately from transactional messaging (especially for SMS).
- Data retention: define how long you keep customer event data, and who can export it.
- Access review: restrict admin accounts and rotate keys/tokens if staff changes.
Suggested rollout plan
- Connect in staging (if possible): validate mapping on a small dataset.
- Import a short history window: start with 30–90 days unless you have a clear reason to import more.
- Run side-by-side QA: compare a handful of orders across systems (totals, taxes, shipping, refunds).
- Go live gradually: enable 1–2 automations first, then expand once you trust the data.
Change control (keep it maintainable)
- One owner: assign a single owner for the integration (who approves mapping and workflow changes).
- Log changes: track what you changed (fields, filters, timing) and why, so you can roll back quickly.
- Monthly audit: re-check scopes, API tokens, and error logs—especially after major store/theme/app changes.
For full ERP needs, see Shopify ERP integration. For accounting, check QuickBooks integration.