Nothing frustrates customers more than ordering a product that turns out to be out of stock. For enterprises with ERP systems, real-time inventory sync with WooCommerce is essential. This guide covers the solutions.

Why Real-Time Matters

Batch sync (hourly or daily) creates problems: overselling when inventory drops, missed sales when inventory is not updated, and customer service issues from incorrect availability.

Sync Architecture Options

Push-Based (ERP Triggers)

When inventory changes in ERP, it pushes update to WooCommerce. This is truly real-time but requires ERP customization. Works well with SAP, NetSuite, and modern ERPs with event capabilities.

Pull-Based (WooCommerce Checks)

WooCommerce checks ERP inventory at key moments: when product page loads, when item added to cart, and at checkout. Adds latency but does not require ERP changes.

Hybrid Approach

Combine scheduled batch sync with real-time checks at critical points. Batch sync keeps general inventory accurate; real-time checks prevent overselling.

Technical Implementation

Message Queues

Use message queues (RabbitMQ, AWS SQS, Redis) between ERP and WooCommerce. This handles traffic spikes and provides reliability if either system is temporarily unavailable.

Webhook Endpoints

Create WooCommerce endpoints that receive inventory updates. Authenticate requests, validate data, and update product stock levels.

Caching Strategy

Cache inventory data appropriately. Too much caching shows stale data; too little creates performance problems. Consider short cache times (1-5 minutes) with cache invalidation on updates.

Multi-Location Inventory

If you have multiple warehouses: decide if WooCommerce shows combined inventory or per-location, handle ship-from-location logic, and consider delivery time differences.

Handling Edge Cases

• What happens if ERP is down?
• How to handle inventory adjustments?
• What about items on backorder?
• How to sync reserved/allocated inventory?

Plan for each scenario before implementation. Contact us to design your inventory sync solution.