Resolving Product Availability Issues on Your Shopify Store

Why Product Availability Matters

1. Monitoring Inventory Levels

• Track Stock Levels: Regularly check your product stock levels within your Shopify Admin panel. You can find this under the Products section. This will help you gauge when to reorder items before they run out.
• Set Up Low Stock Alerts: You can configure notifications to alert you when stock levels are low. This way, you can proactively reorder stock in time to prevent outages.
• Utilize Supplier Lead Times: Understanding how long it takes to restock product lines can help you plan orders strategically. For best results, maintain good relationships with your suppliers to ensure timely deliveries.

2. Automate Inventory Management

• Use Inventory Management Apps: Tools like SKULabs can help manage inventory across multiple channels, ensuring that stock levels are updated in real time.
• Sync Inventory Across Channels: If you're selling on multiple platforms (like eBay, Amazon, etc.), ensure that your inventory is synchronized. Programs like Syncio help you manage stock levels across different sales channels efficiently.

3. Enable Backorder Options

• Set Up Backorder for Products: To allow customers to order items that are currently out of stock, you can modify your Shopify settings. Use your Admin Dashboard to enable backorders either through a custom-coded solution or using applications that provide this functionality.
• Communicate Clearly with Customers: Make sure customers are aware of the expected shipping times when they place a backorder. This enhances customer satisfaction as they receive timely information through email notifications or messages.

4. Implement 'Notify Me' Options

• Apps for Restock Notifications: Consider using applications like Back In Stock which notify customers when products they are interested in become available again.
• Customized Notifications: These can include thresholds for stock levels or seasonal products when items are typically out of stock, ensuring you reach an audience waiting for those specific items.

5. Display Product Availability Clearly

• Product Page Visibility Settings: Go to the Product Settings in your admin panel. Ensure that visibility settings for each product are correctly configured to reflect stock statuses accurately. For example, you wouldn't want items that are out of stock to still be clickable on the site.
• Use Product Tags: Implement tags to identify stock status visually. For instance, tags like “Out of Stock”, “Limited Inventory” can be displayed directly on the product page.

  6. Use Demand Forecasting Tools

• Data Analysis: Leveraging sales data over time to track trends helps understand which products will move quickly during specific times of the year, such as around holidays or seasonal changes.
• Utilizing Apps: Tools like the Inventory Forecasting Hero assist in predicting future inventory needs based on sales patterns, enhancing your ability to stock key products efficiently.

7. Customer Communication is Key

• Email Marketing: Use your email list to inform customers about low stocks or upcoming stock of popular items.
• Be Honest About Stock Issues: If a product is out of stock, post a clear message regarding when it will become available again instead of creating frustration.

8. Leverage Arsturn for Enhanced Customer Engagement

• Instantly Answer Questions: Using Arsturn, you can deploy chatbots to engage with visitors, offering them instant updates on product availability.
• Customizable Responses: Train your chatbot using your own data for customized responses related to your products, aligning with your store's branding.

Conclusion