Everything You Need to Know About Restocking Inventory on Shopify

Managing inventory is one of the trickiest parts of running a successful Shopify store. Order too little, and you risk losing sales because of stockouts. 

Order too much, and you’ll end up tying up cash and spending more on storage. Add to that the unpredictability of demand—thanks to seasonal trends, promotions, or unexpected factors—and it often feels like a guessing game.

But here’s the good news: Inventory restocking apps can make this a whole lot easier. These tools use data, automation, and even AI to help Shopify merchants figure out exactly how much stock they need and when to reorder. Learn how these apps work or which one might be the best fit for your business.

Why is Inventory Restocking So Challenging?

Restocking inventory might sound straightforward, but it can be full of hurdles that affect your bottom line:

• Stockouts = Lost Sales
  Running out of stock is a nightmare for any merchant. Not only do you lose revenue, but it can hurt your relationship with customers too. If they can’t find what they’re looking for on your site, they might just turn to a competitor—and they may not come back.

• Overstocking Ties Up Resources
  On the flip side, overstocking is a problem as well. It’s more than just the cost of storing extra products—it also means tying up cash that could be better invested elsewhere. Plus, if products are perishable or seasonal, they might just end up collecting dust.

• Demand is unpredictable
  Sales can spike due to trends, promotions, or seasonality, making it tough to predict exactly how much stock you’ll need. The key is to strike a balance between not having too much or too little.

• Manual Processes are Time-Consuming and Error-Prone
  Many merchants still rely on spreadsheets or manual systems to track inventory. While this can work when your store is small, it quickly becomes a mess as your business grows and inventory gets more complex.

We covered rest of challenges when it comes to restocking in a webinar with the team behind Limited Supply podcast.

How do these Inventory Restocking Apps Help Shopify brands?

These apps work by using automation, AI, and real-time data to help you manage your stock more easily. Here’s how they can support your business:

• Demand Forecasting
  One of the key features of Inventory restocking apps is their ability to predict demand. By analyzing your sales history, trends, and even seasonal patterns, these apps can tell you exactly when to reorder and how much to restock—keeping you from over or under-ordering.
• Real-Time Inventory Tracking
  With real-time inventory tracking, you can see exactly where you stand with your stock. These apps give you a snapshot of important metrics, like current stock levels, how fast products are selling, and how many days of stock you have left. This gives you the data you need to make quick, informed decisions.
• Automated Purchase Orders
  Many of these apps will even automate the process of creating purchase orders. They’ll alert you when your stock is getting low, generate orders based on forecasted demand, and track shipments to ensure timely restocking. It’s a huge time-saver.
• SKU-Level Insights
  If you have a large product catalog, these apps can give you a breakdown at the SKU level. You’ll know exactly which products are selling quickly, and which ones are slow movers, so you can prioritize restocking your best sellers and cut back on products that aren’t performing.
• Optimized Cash Flow
  Ordering more inventory costs money, and you want to make sure you’re investing it wisely. These apps help you manage your cash flow by aligning reorder dates with your available funds, ensuring you’re only spending on products that give you the best return on investment.

What Makes Prediko a Great Inventory Restocking App?

Brands might feel overwhelmed when it comes to selecting the right restocking app. At Prediko, we have built an app that is practical and incorporated customer feedback.

• High Accuracy of our Demand Forecasting Algorithm
  The accuracy of Prediko's AI is so good that one of our customers, LabFresh, gave us a shout-out on LinkedIn.

• Real-Time Inventory Level Sync
  Prediko's app integrates smoothly with Shopify, pulling in up-to-date data about your stock levels, sales, and orders in real time. This ensures you’re always working with the most current information.
• Simple, User-Friendly UI
  We get a lot of reviews on our app store listing that our UI is easy to use, even for non-techies.

• Automatic nudges to purchase SKUs when you are running low on inventory
  Prediko's Buying Table takes all the data and information about a brand's SKUs, products and product categories and then prompts the users to create the PO to order the optimal amount.
  
  
• Low stock alerts
  Brands can set their own safety stock levels so when they go below that level, it triggers a low stock alert.
  

Best Restocking Apps for Shopify Merchants (as per reviews)

A detailed look at some of the top-rated apps while highlighting their features

1. Notify Me: Preorder & Back in Stock

Features:

• Automatically notifies customers via email or SMS when products are back in stock.
• Offers preorder functionality to capture sales for out-of-stock items.

What makes it different from other apps:
Notify Me ensures customers stay informed about restocks, reducing lost sales and enhancing satisfaction. The preorder feature keeps revenue flowing even during stockouts.

2. Preorder Now by Website On Demand Studio LLC

Features:

• Enables preorders for products not yet in stock, maintaining consistent sales.
• Offers customization for preorder badges, buttons, and messages.
• Tracks preorder performance with built-in analytics.

What makes it different from other apps:
Preorder Now ensures customers can still purchase desired items, fostering trust and preventing lost revenue. Its customization features align perfectly with any store’s branding.

3. Early Bird Preorder Manager by ShopSide

Features:

• Allows merchants to set preorder limits for specific SKUs.
• Provides notifications for preorder updates and shipment details.
• Integrates seamlessly with Shopify to manage preorders alongside regular stock.

What makes it different from other apps:
Early Bird is ideal for gauging demand for popular or new items. Its user-friendly features let merchants manage preorders effectively and keep customers updated.

4. Sendvio Email Marketing & SMS

Features:

• Automates email and SMS campaigns for back-in-stock notifications.
• Includes tools for cart recovery, welcome emails, and upselling campaigns.
• Tracks customer engagement and campaign performance with detailed analytics.

What makes it different from other apps: 
Sendvio goes beyond restocking notifications by integrating marketing capabilities that boost engagement and drive sales. It’s an all-in-one solution for communication and conversion.

5. Restock Rooster by Vole Nevole

Features:

• Send restock notifications through multiple channels, including email and SMS.
• Offers advanced inventory tracking and low-stock alerts for merchants.
• Provides customer insights to help prioritize restocking decisions.

What makes it different from other apps:
Restock Rooster is a time-saving app that automates communication and helps merchants prioritize inventory based on demand, ensuring efficient restocking.

6. Back in Stock Notifier by Blessify Infotech

Features:

• Sends instant back-in-stock alerts via email and SMS to waiting customers.
• Integrates with Shopify for seamless inventory updates.
• Allows customization of notification templates to match your branding.

What makes it different from other apps:
This app keeps customers engaged and reduces the chances of losing them to competitors by ensuring they’re the first to know when items are back.

7. Preorder Pro by Globo

Features:

• Supports preorders for Out-of-Stock items and products not yet launched.
• Provides customizable preorder messaging and payment settings.
• Tracks preorder volumes to help merchants adjust inventory strategies.

What makes it different from other apps:
Preorder Pro is an excellent tool for maintaining sales continuity during restocking periods, with robust customization options for a professional customer experience.

8. My Wishlist: Share & Remind by HulkApps

Features:

• Allows customers to create and share wishlists.
• Sends reminders when items in the wishlist are back in stock.
• Provides analytics on wishlist activity to help merchants plan inventory.

What makes it different from other apps:
This app boosts customer retention by turning wishlists into actionable sales opportunities. Its reminder feature ensures faster purchases upon restocking.

9. Yanet: Back in Stock App by Yanet

Features:

• Automates back-in-stock alerts via email and SMS.
• Integrates with Shopify to monitor inventory and trigger notifications.
• Offers analytics on stock performance and customer interest.

What makes it different from other apps:
Yanet simplifies inventory communication while providing valuable data on restocking priorities, making it an essential app for efficient inventory management.

Comparison of the best Inventory Restocking Apps

All these tools will help you restock smarter, save money, and grow your business.

At Taranker, you can discover the best tools for your Shopify store, including apps that streamline inventory management and improve bottom line. Explore the platform recommendations to find the perfect fit for your business and start optimizing your inventory management today