The WooCommerce inventory management system has been a great help to many store owners on WordPress. It's a godsent toolset that makes managing stock easier and enjoyable.
Want to grab a hold of the toolset and apply it to your store? Look no further. LitExtension – The #1 Shopping Cart Migration Expert has compiled the beginner guide especially for you to help take your store from good to great.
Keep reading to learn more about:
- How does WooCommerce Inventory Management work?
- Pros and cons of Woocommerce inventory management
- How to set up Woocommerce inventory management
- How to manage and update Woocommerce inventory
- How to use Woocommerce inventory management tools
- How to view stock status reports
- Best Woocommerce inventory management plugins
How Does WooCommerce Inventory Management Work
Being a built-in feature system, WooCommerce inventory management allows store owners to easily keep track of their products, orders, and shipping, hide out-of-stock products, update stock status, and more.
This system provides a solid foundation for managing your product stock. By enabling inventory management, you can track stock levels for individual products, set low stock and out-of-stock thresholds, and allow backorders. The system automatically updates stock levels after each sale and allows for manual adjustments. You can also access inventory reports to monitor stock levels and identify potential issues.
With this stock management system, you can speed up your process, avoid over-ordering, discover when you need more stock, and locate which items are doing well. You can also monitor your inventory and see how much you have left to make sure that they don’t run out early and that your suppliers have enough products to meet your orders.
Pros and Cons of WooCommerce Inventory Management
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what WooCommerce inventory management can do, let's take a quick look at its pros and cons.
Pros | Cons |
|
|
To summarize, the WooCommerce stock management system is a simple tool set that mostly fits the needs of small to mid-sized businesses. While it's not suitable for large businesses, it can be used as a starting point to grasp the basics of inventory management.
How to Set Up WooCommerce Inventory Management
Before proceeding, you should make sure that the inventory tracking features are enabled on the WooCommerce dashboard. Here's a few simple steps to do so:
- From your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to “WooCommerce” > “Settings”.
- Then, in the “Products” tab, select “Inventory”.
- Make sure to tick the box “Enable stock management”. Then, other WooCommerce inventory settings will appear on the screen.
- At this stage, there are some crucial settings you'll need to pay attention to, including:
- Hold stock: The amount of time the stock is held for unpaid orders.
- Notifications: Automatically send an email to customers when their selected products reach the low-stock or out-of-stock threshold.
- Low stock and out-of-stock threshold: Receive an email if your stocks reach this number..
- Out-of-stock visibility: Check the box if you want your out-of-stock items hidden from the catalog
- Stock display format: Choose how your stock is displayed.
- When everything is ready, don't forget to click “Save changes”.
How to Manage and Update WooCommerce Inventory
#1. Manage WooCommerce inventory
Don't forget that there are other interesting options down below that you should also take notice of.
- Hold stock: Hold your stock for a certain amount of time limit before canceling the pending order.
- Notifications: Notify others via email when a product is soon or has already sold out. You can define the threshold for both options as wished.
- Out of stock visibility: Simply hide the out-of-stock products in your store to prevent customers from placing orders on these.
- Stock display format: Change how you display your stock to customers on the store front end.
You can also set up stock at the product level in the WooCommerce stock manager system. To do so, simply click Products on the menu dashboard, and navigate to All Products. From here, select Edit with any product of your choice then scroll all the way down to the Inventory section. Finally, tick the checkbox Manage stock level (quantity).
It's up to you to continue configuring other options such as SKU, Stock quantity, or Low stock threshold. Furthermore, you can Allow backorders if necessary. This option lets customer purchase your products even if the item is already out of stock. Finally, the system lets you restrict purchases to just one item per order, if enabling the Sold individually option. Products with limited quantities like handmade goods would benefit greatly from this option.
#2. Update WooCommerce inventory
As mentioned before, the WooCommerce system supports automatic stock updates, which is highly convenient for new sellers. The system automatically calculates how much stock you have left and updates the inventory accordingly.
To enable this feature, simply navigate from the menu dashboard to Settings -> Products then enable the stock management option in the Inventory settings. Remember to also check the box Manage stock level (quantity) for each product you want to apply this feature.
Unfortunately, since the WooCommerce inventory system is at entry level, the system can't automatically increase your stock when there're replenishments. It would be quite a hassle for any store with hundreds of products. To fix or extend its usability, you might want to find external plugins.
How to Use Stock Management Tools for WooCommerce
Aside from the mentioned features, the WooCommerce inventory management system also provides useful tool sets that have a positive impact on your store. It will make the selling process simpler and smoother for sellers.
Here, we'll show you what they do and how to enable them on your online store.
Bulk management
Think about how time-consuming it would be to manually enable stock updates on hundreds or thousands of products. Thanks to bulk management, now you can quickly edit information or enable stock updates on multiple products in just a few seconds.
First off, navigate to the Products page from your WooCommerce menu dashboard. Click All Products and check all boxes of products that you want to apply the bulk edit, or simply tick the top box to select all of them at once.
Finally, scroll on the Bulk actions bar, go to Edit, and press Apply. Now, a new menu will appear out of thin hair. To finish the task, select Yes for the Manage Stock option to enable stock updates for all previously selected products.
Low stock threshold
Have you ever wanted to receive email notifications when your products are in low-of-stock status? All you have to do is navigate to the Products settings page, click on the Inventory tabs and change the settings globally. You can also turn it on individually for each product or try bulk editing to enable the feature on multiple products at the same time.
Sold individually
Check the Sold individually box on the Inventory page of your product to enable or disable selling one product at a time.
How to View Stock Reports in WooCommerce
By using WooCommerce analytics and monitoring the stock data, you can see which item is out of stock and buy more before it runs out. This helps prevent stock shortages and inventory overages, which can cause delays in shipping.
Besides, you can also use WooCommerce inventory reports to see which products are selling the most, which can be used for customer segmentation and buyer feedback.
To view stock reports, click on the Reports button on the menu dashboard. From there, navigate to the Stock tabs to see which products are full, which ones are low in stock, and which ones are already out-of-stock.
Best WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugins for Effortless Control
Always remember that the toolset for inventory management of WooCommerce is still very basic. You will need external plugins to give you more options and control over your stock. There are hundreds of these kinds in the marketplace. However, we only recommend the most popular and reliable inventory management plugins for effortless control.
#1. ATUM Inventory Management
ATUM Inventory Management is a comprehensive plugin designed to streamline and enhance your WooCommerce Inventory Management experience. This free, all-in-one solution transforms your WooCommerce backend into a robust inventory management hub with advanced features previously only found in paid plugins. ATUM gives you granular control over your stock, allowing you to efficiently manage your products, track inventory levels, and make informed decisions to optimize your eCommerce operations.
Some of the most featured functionalities are:
- Detailed stock management views and product variations
- Inventory logging and history tracking
- Automated stocktaking and low stock alerts
- Multiple warehouses and locations management
- Product bundles and kit creation
- Barcode and SKU-based inventory control
- Integration with popular WooCommerce extensions
ATUM pricing: Free to download but premium add-ons might cost you some pennies
#2. LitCommerce
LitCommerce offers a straightforward, centralized solution for managing your WooCommerce inventory across multiple sales channels. Designed with small and medium-sized businesses in mind, LitCommerce simplifies multichannel selling by automating listing, syncing inventory, and managing orders – all from a single, user-friendly dashboard. With LitCommerce, you can expand your online reach and sell more efficiently without juggling separate platforms for each marketplace.
Here are some of LitCommerce's standout features:
- Seamless integration with WooCommerce and a wide array of online marketplaces
- Automated product listing creation and management for multiple channels
- Real-time inventory synchronization to prevent overselling
- Centralized order management and fulfillment
- Smart pricing rules to optimize pricing strategies across different marketplaces
- Detailed performance analytics to track sales and inventory trends
LitCommerce pricing:
- Free: $0/month
- Pay as you go (no hidden fee): From $29/month
- Custom pricing
#3. Katana
Katana is a cloud-based manufacturing and inventory management software that seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce. Designed specifically for make-to-order, make-to-stock, and dropshipping businesses, Katana provides a centralized platform to manage production, track inventory, and fulfill orders – all while keeping your WooCommerce store in perfect sync. This real-time data flow between your online shop and back-end operations eliminates manual data entry. It reduces the risk of stock errors, making your WooCommerce inventory management more efficient and accurate.
Here are all the great features Katana brings to you:
- Real-time inventory synchronization between WooCommerce and Katana
- Production planning and scheduling for streamlined manufacturing
- Automated raw material and finished goods tracking
- Sales order management and fulfillment automation
- Detailed production cost breakdowns
- Barcode scanning for efficient inventory tracking
- Integrations with shipping providers and other eCommerce tools
Katana pricing:
- Starter: $199/month
- Standard: $399/month
- Professional: $899/month
#4. Smart Manager
Smart Manager streamlines WooCommerce Inventory Management directly within your WordPress dashboard. This powerful plugin eliminates the need to navigate between different platforms, offering a spreadsheet-like interface to manage your products, variations, orders, and more—all from a single screen. Smart Manager is particularly beneficial for those who prefer a more familiar spreadsheet-based workflow or need to perform bulk actions quickly and efficiently.
Here are some of Smart Manager's notable features:
- Spreadsheet-style interface for managing WooCommerce products and variations
- Inline editing for fast and efficient inventory updates
- Bulk actions for updating product details, pricing, and inventory levels
- Support for product variations, attributes, and custom fields
- Advanced filtering and search options
- Import and export functionality for easy data management
Smart Manager pricing, applied for one-time purchase:
- Popular version (for one site): $549
- Bestseller version (for five sites): $599
#5. Stock Sync for WooCommerce
Stock Sync for WooCommerce is a powerful inventory management solution designed to automate and simplify the way you handle stock levels across multiple sales channels. If you sell products on platforms beyond WooCommerce, such as Etsy, Amazon, or Shopify, Stock Sync eliminates manual inventory updates and prevents overselling by keeping your stock levels consistent across all platforms in real time.
Here are some of Stock Sync for WooCommerce's key features:
- Automatic, real-time stock synchronization across multiple sales channels
- Support for a wide range of popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces
- Flexible configuration options to customize synchronization schedules and behavior
- Detailed logging and reporting to track inventory changes and identify potential issues
- Advanced filtering options to control which products and variations are synced
Stock Sync pricing:
- Free: $0
- Basic: $5/month
- Pro: $15/month
- Business: $25/month
#6. WooCommerce Multi Locations Inventory Management
WooCommerce Multi Locations Inventory Management, developed by WP Swaps, is a robust plugin designed to simplify inventory control for businesses operating with multiple warehouses or physical store locations. This plugin extends WooCommerce's native inventory management capabilities, allowing you to track stock levels, manage fulfillment, and gain better visibility into your inventory across all locations.
Here are some of WooCommerce Multi Locations Inventory Management's key features:
- Create and manage unlimited inventory locations within WooCommerce
- Assign specific stock quantities to each location
- Track inventory movement between locations
- Fulfill orders from the most optimal location based on stock availability and customer proximity
- Generate reports to analyze stock levels and sales data by location
- Compatible with WooCommerce's built-in shipping methods and extensions
Pricing:
- Regular license: $99
- Extended license: $525
Get WooCommerce Multi Locations
#7. WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager
WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager is a plugin specifically designed to give you granular control over how you handle these situations, ultimately improving WooCommerce inventory management and customer experience. Instead of leaving customers in the dark, this plugin allows you to collect valuable data and even drive sales despite inventory limitations.
Here are all the great features that WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager brings to you:
- Collect customer emails
- ‘Out of stock' visibility control
- Target specific user roles
- Bulk manage notifications
- Multiple and custom low-stock value
- Custom product texts
Pricing:
- Regular license: $29
- Extended license: $95
Get WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager
#8. Central Stock for WooCommerce
For businesses managing multiple sales channels alongside their WooCommerce store, maintaining accurate inventory can become a significant challenge. Central Stock for WooCommerce simplifies this process by unifying your WooCommerce inventory management across all platforms. This powerful plugin eliminates the risk of overselling and ensures consistent stock levels no matter where your products are sold.
Here's how Central Stock for WooCommerce streamlines your inventory control:
- Manage your stock levels across multiple WooCommerce stores from one central location.
- Automatically adjust inventory across all connected platforms after each sale to prevent overselling.
- Experience real-time stock synchronization to maintain accurate inventory data across your WooCommerce stores.
- Process orders efficiently with accurate stock information readily available.
- Set up notifications to receive alerts when specific products run low, enabling timely reordering.
- Bulk stock management to update stock levels for multiple products simultaneously.
Pricing: $99/month
Get Central Stock for WooCommerce
#9. Inventory Planner
Inventory Planner is a comprehensive forecasting and inventory management solution that seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce, transforming the way you manage your stock. This powerful plugin goes beyond basic WooCommerce inventory management by providing data-driven forecasting, automated purchase orders, and insightful analytics, enabling you to optimize inventory levels, prevent stockouts, and maximize your profits.
Here's how Inventory Planner empowers data-driven WooCommerce inventory management:
- Leverage historical sales data and customizable forecasting algorithms to predict future demand.
- Generate optimized purchase orders for your suppliers based on your sales forecasts, lead times, and target stock levels.
- Identify slow-moving stock and optimize your inventory levels.
- Manage inventory across multiple warehouses.
- Forecast revenue and profit based on your inventory projections and sales trends.
- Gain actionable insights into your inventory performance with detailed dashboards and reports.
Pricing: Based on your annual revenue, starting from $249.99/month.
#10. WP Inventory Manager
WP Inventory Manager is a robust and versatile plugin that brings advanced inventory management features directly to your WooCommerce dashboard. Far more than a simple stock counter, this plugin provides the tools you need for efficient WooCommerce inventory management, whether you're managing a small online store or a complex business with multiple product variations and warehouses.
Here are all the great features WP Inventory Manager brings to you:
- Track stock levels, product variations, and inventory history.
- Manage inventory for multiple warehouses or physical stores from a centralized platform.
- Monitor stock movements, including sales, purchases, and adjustments.
- Set up alerts to notify you when stock levels reach critical thresholds.
- Gain insights into your inventory performance with customizable reports.
- Simplify inventory management with barcode and SKU scanning capabilities.
Pricing:
- Free to download
- Pro license: $49.99
- All access: $149
WooCommerce Inventory Management – FAQs
How do I set all products out of stock in WooCommerce?
While WooCommerce doesn't have a one-click button to mark all products out of stock, you can still do this without any complexities.
1. Step 1: Go to "Products" > "Stock Management" in the Admin dashboard.
2. Step 2: Select all your products .
3. Step 3. Choose "Selected: Mark Out of Stock" to apply bulk actions to your entities.
How do I organize my WooCommerce products?
Here are some key methods to organize your products on WooCommerce:
- Categories: Group products into broad categories (e.g., Clothing, Electronics) to make browsing easier.
- Subcategories: Create hierarchies within categories for more specific organization (e.g., Clothing > Men's > Shirts).
- Tags: Use tags to add descriptive keywords to products, allowing for more flexible filtering and searching.
- Product attributes: Define attributes like size, color, or material to enable variations and filtering.
What is the best way to bulk edit thousands of WooCommerce products?
By default, WooCommerce allows you to bulk edit multiple products at once. Here are what you need to do:
1. From your admin dashboard, go to "Products" > "All Products".
2. Next, use the provided filters to select the entities you want to update.
3. From the "Bulk actions" menu, choose "Edit" and click "Apply".
How do I hide all prices in WooCommerce?
Unfortunately, WooCommerce doesn't offer the built-in feature to hide product price. You'll need to work with coding to manually perform price hiding, or install an additional plugin to have this process done.
Summary
The WooCommerce inventory management system provides simple tool set that mostly fits the needs of small to mid-sized businesses. While the system can't satisfy large businesses, it works as a starting point to grasp the basics of inventory management.
If you want to get to know more about this platform, don't hesitate to check out other WooCommerce articles on our website.
