How can I use Stock Sync to automatically update stock levels?

To automatically update stock levels, set up an Update Feed for products that already exist in Shopify. An Add Product feed imports products but does not update inventory quantities.

1. Create the Update Feed

• From the Stock Sync dashboard, click Create New Feed and select Update Existing Products.
• Alternatively, use Copy as update feed on an existing Add Product feed.
• Connect the same supplier source used for importing products, such as a public token, URL, FTP/SFTP, Google Drive, or another supported method.
• For automatic updates, use a connection method that supports scheduling. Upload File is manual and cannot run automatically.

2. Map the Required Fields

Map only these fields for an inventory-only update:

• Product Identifier → the supplier's SKU (or Barcode/EAN if that is the identifier matching your Shopify products).
• Quantity → the supplier feed's stock or quantity column.

The identifier must match the value in Shopify exactly, including spaces and characters. Leave fields such as Title, Price, Images, and Description unmapped to avoid overwriting product information. Map Quantity, not Inventory Tracked, to update stock levels.

3. Enable Automatic Updates

Enable Schedule and choose the required frequency. Scheduled connections can run hourly, daily, or weekly depending on the plan and connection method. Trial plans run automated updates every 24 hours; hourly or more frequent scheduling requires a paid plan. The minimum available schedule frequency is once per hour; 30-minute schedules are not supported.

After saving, click Start Process to run an actual sync and verify the result. A Preview Sync only displays proposed changes in the Change Log and does not update Shopify. If the feed uses Google Sheets, select the correct sheet name from the dropdown before testing or running the feed. Ensure each field is mapped to the corresponding feed column, with only one feed column mapped to each field. If the stock still does not change, verify that the quantity column is mapped to the supplier's actual quantity field (for example, Total: rather than a different Totals field).

If the supplier sends blank quantities, add a Smart Setting rule If Empty → Then 0. Optionally enable Out of Stock Strategy to set products missing from the feed to 0. If 99% or more of incoming quantities are 0, Stock Sync may halt the update as a safeguard; check the source file and field mapping before running the feed again.

2. Automation Options

Choose one of the two automation methods below:

Method A: Scheduled Sync

• Automatically runs and refreshes inventory at set time intervals.
• Frequencies: Hourly, daily, or weekly.
• Compatibility: Works with all connection methods (FTP, SFTP, Direct URL, Google Sheets) except the file upload method.

Method B: Real-Time Sync (Shopify to Shopify Only)

• Instantly updates stock levels on your store the moment an item sells out or changes at the source.
• Compatibility: Supported only for Shopify-to-Shopify connections.
• Requirement: You must select the Real-Time Sync connection method during the initial feed setup.

2.5 Preview Sync vs Actual Update

A Preview Sync only shows what would be updated in the Change Log. It does not apply any changes to your store. To update stock levels, you must run an actual sync using the Start Process button.

3. Manual Sync Override

You can manually force an immediate inventory sync at any time. Go to your Stock Sync dashboard, locate your feed, and click the Start Process button.

4. Daily Stock Update Requirements

To ensure quantities refresh daily:

• Create an Update Feed (Add feeds do not update existing stock levels).
• Enable a daily schedule in the feed settings.
• (Optional) Enable Out of Stock Strategy if you want items missing from the source file to be automatically set to 0.
• Real-Time Sync updates only apply to stock changes made after the feed is activated.
• If a feed shows blank values for quantity, add a Smart Setting rule (If Empty → Then 0) to ensure correct updates.
• If your stock is not updating, check for connection issues or insufficient credits and re-enable the schedule once resolved.
• If Stock Sync detects that 99% or more of incoming quantities are 0, it will automatically halt the update to prevent accidental mass zeroing. This often happens when the source feed is empty, incomplete, or incorrectly mapped. Review your feed mapping and filters before running again.

Note: Add Product feeds do not update stock

Preview Sync vs Actual Update

A Preview Sync only shows what would be updated in the Change Log. It does not apply any changes to your store. To update stock levels, you must run an actual sync using the Start Process button.

Updated on: 06/08/2026