7+ WooCommerce Stock Management Tips and Tricks

Efficient inventory management is the backbone of any successful WooCommerce store. In eCommerce, managing inventory effectively can mean the difference between repeat business and lost sales.

Without a solid system in place, businesses often face common challenges like stockouts, which lead to disappointed customers, or overselling. Ultimately, resulting in order cancellations and refunds.

By mastering WooCommerce inventory management, store owners can not only avoid these pitfalls but also streamline operations, boost cash flow, and create a better overall shopping experience.

If you’re struggling to manage your inventory and want to improve your approach, you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post, we will focus on stock management tips and explain the need for third-party WooCommerce stock management plugin. Keep reading.

What is WooCommerce stock management and how does it work

WooCommerce stock or inventory management covers different aspects of your store including storing, ordering, tracking, reporting, and shipping. 

WooCommerce by default comes with some stock management tools that you can access from your WordPress dashboard by navigating WooCommerce → Settings → Products → Inventory.

WooCommerce manages your stock/inventory automatically, which means your stock goes down after each successful order and also lets you control the time users get to hold a product stock (using the “Hold stock” setting). 

Additionally, you can set up low stock or out of stock notifications and ensure that you’re not running out of specific product stock.

If you want to manage stock on a product level, you can navigate to the Products → All Products and click on edit on the product you want to update. Here you can edit SKU (Stock-keeping unit) or a unique identifier for each product, manage stock quantity, allow backorders (allow customers to order out of stock products), and set a distinct low stock threshold for the selected product.

The plugin also offers some reporting features to get analytics on which products or categories are performing well and which require your attention. Also by navigating to Analytics → Inventory from your admin panel, you can get a birds-eye view of your product stock and make quick decisions.

Overall, WooCommerce offers some pretty nifty features, that get the job done for most basic users. But if you’re someone who wants to expand upon these features, that is where a WooCommerce stock management plugin comes in handy. We’ll get more into that later.

Benefits of using WooCommerce stock management

WooCommerce stock management enables store owners to set inventory levels, automate stock status updates, and receive alerts for low or out-of-stock items. This helps to accurately manage backorders, maintain real-time inventory data, and reduce stock-related issues. Here’s how WooCommerce stock management enhances store operations:

• Prevents stockouts: Low-stock notifications prompt timely reordering, ensuring products remain available to meet customer demand.
• Reduces overselling: By tracking inventory in real-time, WooCommerce automatically adjusts stock levels, allowing only in-stock items to be sold.
• Saves time and minimizes errors: Automation in stock adjustments reduces the need for manual updates, streamlining operations and minimizing the risk of errors.

Efficient use of WooCommerce stock management keeps your store organized and helps avoid financial losses from inventory inaccuracies. For larger or complex stores, integrating plugins or advanced management tools allows for even greater scalability and precision.

10+ Stock management tips to optimize your WooCommerce store’s inventory

Running a successful online store requires careful inventory management to avoid stockouts, prevent overselling, and maintain customer satisfaction. A well-organized WooCommerce inventory system can help you manage stock levels, handle demand fluctuations, and improve sales. Here are the top stock management tips to keep your WooCommerce store running smoothly:

1. Track and update stock regularly

Keeping track of your store’s stock is crucial as it directly impacts revenue and customer satisfaction. No customer should find a product they want only to realize it’s unavailable at checkout. Regularly checking stock levels ensures customers have access to available items, reduces missed sales, and improves store credibility.

2. Set up low-stock alerts

Configure low-stock notifications in WooCommerce to automatically alert you when inventory reaches a specified threshold. This way, you’ll know exactly when to restock, minimizing the chance of stockouts and keeping high-demand items available.

3. Manage grouped products effectively

WooCommerce allows you to group related products (e.g., a sofa, chair, and ottoman from a collection) under one parent product, making it easier for customers to add multiple items to their cart. To maximize sales, only group items that are genuinely related. This helps customers buy complementary products, which can increase order value and improve customer satisfaction.

4. Update stock in bulk

Imagine a large shipment just arrived and you have to update multiple product stocks at once. This is where WooCommerce’s built-in bulk editing feature shines. 

To access this feature, navigate to Products > All Products, choose the products you want to update from the list and select the Bulk Actions menu at the top. Click on Edit and then Apply to access the WooCommerce bulk edit window.

Here you can change product categories, comments, status, price, sale status, stock status, and other components in bulk.

Using this method, you can also change the price of multiple items at once, which will come in handy during festive seasons when you want to provide discounts.

Even though WooCommerce bulk editing is pretty intuitive it has some limitations involving product types. It cannot edit multiple product types like simple, variable, and grouped products simultaneously.

5. Leverage product filters by category

Having a perfect WooCommerce product filter by category improves customer satisfaction a lot as it makes it easier for them to find the exact product they are looking for faster.

Nobody wants to navigate a website where they can’t find what they’re looking for. By properly filtering your product according to category you can help customers quickly refine their search and reduce your bounce rate. It can also improve your conversions as customers can quickly find their desired product and add it to checkout.

It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

6. Leverage WooCommerce backorders

WooCommerce backorder is the feature that lets your customers order products that are currently out of stock in your store. It allows you to manage your business more efficiently and plan restocking according to customer demand.

WooCommerce by default provides two options in the backorder settings: ‘Allow’ and ‘Allow, but notify customer’. If you enable the first option your out-of-stock product will be displayed as regular in-stock products. In contrast, the second option will display “Available on Backorder” to the customer.

Regardless of the backorder option you choose, it will enhance your client satisfaction and retain customers. Without such an option, your customers might look for alternatives elsewhere if a product is temporarily out of stock and you will lose a potential sale.

An intuitive product filter system lets customers quickly find what they’re looking for. By organizing products into categories, customers can refine their search, improving navigation and reducing bounce rates. This ultimately increases conversions, as customers find their desired products faster.

7. Set accurate reorder points

Calculate reorder points based on sales velocity and supplier lead times to ensure you reorder just before stock runs low. This helps avoid excess stock while minimizing stockouts, keeping inventory levels optimized.

8. Leverage forecasting and seasonal trends

Forecasting based on historical data helps you anticipate demand and stock accordingly. For instance, analyzing past sales can help you plan for peak seasons and slow periods, allowing you to adjust inventory levels as needed and reduce storage costs.

9. Automate stock updates

Use inventory management plugins to streamline updates, especially if you manage a large inventory or sell across multiple channels. Automating stock adjustments reduces human error and saves time, allowing you to focus on other essential tasks.

10. Conduct regular stock audits

Schedule regular stock audits or cycle counts to ensure WooCommerce inventory records match physical stock. Audits help catch discrepancies early, ensuring accurate stock data and minimizing inventory-related issues.

11. Take advantage of inventory reports

WooCommerce’s built-in reporting tools offer insights into stock turnover, product performance, and sales trends. Regularly reviewing these reports helps you identify fast-selling and slow-moving items, adjust stock levels accordingly, and make strategic inventory decisions based on data.

12. Implement unique SKUs for organized tracking

Assign unique SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) to each product and variation. SKUs simplify inventory tracking, minimize confusion, and streamline order fulfillment, especially when managing a wide range of products.

Why do you need a WooCommerce stock manager plugin?

WooCommerce by itself is pretty powerful run an online eCommerce store. But adding third-party plugins with it elevates the user experience to the next level. These plugins add a new layer of functionality on top of the basic features of WooCommerce. 

One significant area where third-party plugins particularly shine is in inventory and stock management. While WooCommerce inherently allows for manual stock updates, integrating a dedicated stock manager plugin can automate repetitive tasks. These plugins not only simplify management but also offer advanced features that cater to the diverse needs of online retailers.

For instance, if you are someone who likes to manage your stock on the go and doesn’t want to enter your website dashboard every time a stock change is required, WooCommerce Stock Sync with Google Sheets can be the perfect solution for you. Once you connect your Google Sheets spreadsheet with this plugin, you can manage almost every detail of your products from anywhere using Google Sheets.

Overall, third-party plugins bring a level of efficiency to WooCommerce, allowing businesses to tailor their online stores to specific preferences. With their diverse features, these plugins contribute to a more seamless, user-friendly eCommerce experience.

5 Best WooCommerce stock management plugins

These plugins offer foundational inventory management capabilities, making them useful for WooCommerce store owners who prefer solutions available directly within WordPress.

1. ATUM Inventory Management for WooCommerce

ATUM is a powerful inventory management plugin that provides a centralized dashboard to control all aspects of WooCommerce stock management. It includes features like stock level monitoring, purchase orders, supplier management, and in-depth reporting. ATUM is a comprehensive solution for store owners needing more advanced control over their inventory.

• Best for: Small to medium-sized WooCommerce stores looking for a detailed, feature-rich inventory solution.

2. Stock Sync with Google Sheet for WooCommerce

This plugin allows you to synchronize your WooCommerce inventory with Google Sheets, providing an easy way to manage stock levels in a spreadsheet format. By automatically syncing inventory updates between WooCommerce and Google Sheets, it streamlines stock management and reduces manual updates.

• Best for: This plugin is ideal for businesses seeking simple integration between WooCommerce and Google Sheets for effective stock tracking.

3. WP Inventory Manager

WP Inventory Manager is a lightweight inventory management plugin that’s ideal for smaller stores. It provides basic stock management functionality, including tracking stock levels, managing supplier details, and organizing products. With add-ons, it can be expanded for additional features.

• Best for: Small businesses or simple WooCommerce stores looking for essential inventory tracking without complex functionality.

4. Product Barcode Inventory for WooCommerce

This allows you to generate and assign barcodes or QR codes to your WooCommerce products, simplifying stock tracking and order processing. The plugin can also help with scanning and updating stock levels, making it a helpful tool for fulfillment efficiency.

• Best for: Stores that want to streamline stock-taking or fulfill orders quickly with barcode or QR code scanning.

5. WooCommerce Stock Manager

WooCommerce Stock Manager provides a simple interface for viewing and updating stock levels, product status, backorders, and other stock information for WooCommerce products. It’s a practical solution for stores needing to keep track of stock without extensive setup.

• Best for: Smaller WooCommerce stores looking for a straightforward way to manage and update stock levels in bulk.

FAQ- WooCommerce stock management tips

1. How do I manage stocks in WooCommerce?

To manage stocks in WooCommerce navigate to WooCommerce → Settings → Products → Inventory from your WordPress dashboard. There you will find the option to Enable stock management. You can also manage stock on a product level by navigating to Products → All Products and clicking on edit on the product you want to update. 

There are also different third-party plugins that you can use to manage your product stocks.

2. Can WooCommerce do inventory management?

WooCommerce by default comes with plenty of options for efficient inventory management. You can update product stock, enable backorders, and low-stock notifications, access reporting tools, and more settings for efficient inventory management.

3. How do I manage stock variations in WooCommerce?

To manage stock variation, navigate to the variable product’s edit page from Products → All Products. From there, select the Variation tab under the product data. Here you can manage stock for each product variation by ticking the “Manage stock?” checkbox.

Final say

Whether you are a large eCommerce business owner or just launching your first website, WooCommerce is a great place to start.

With or without any third-party plugins or extensions, WooCommerce is packed with powerful inventory management features to elevate your business. On top of that, having a strong stock management system will affect every aspect of your business starting from lowering operating costs, and enhancing customer experience, to achieving conversions.

So don’t make the rookie mistake of undervaluing the power of stock management as it might cost you in the long run. Regularly update your stock management practices and stay up to date with the ongoing trends.