Running an online store comes with its fair share of challenges, and managing inventory can be one of the most overwhelming aspects. With fluctuating stock levels, changing demand, and the need for real-time updates, it’s easy for things to become chaotic.
This is where WooCommerce comes in. As one of the most popular WordPress eCommerce plugins, it’s a top choice for many online businesses. While it offers built-in inventory management tools, these features may not always suffice as your business scales and your needs grow more complex.
This is when integrating advanced inventory management plugins becomes essential for maintaining efficiency.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the top six WooCommerce inventory management plugins, their standout features, and how to choose the best one to streamline your operations.
First, let’s understand why your store needs an inventory management plugin.
Why Do You Need a WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugin?
A WooCommerce inventory management plugin automates stock updates, provides real-time inventory data, and ensures accurate product availability. It’s designed to streamline and simplify inventory tracking so you don’t have to manage everything manually.
Here are some of the prominent reasons why you need a plugin for inventory management:
- Manually updating inventory can lead to mistakes. These errors can grow into bigger issues, requiring significant time and effort to fix.
- Managing hundreds or thousands of products and manually adjusting inventory numbers can be impractical and inefficient.
- Balancing inventory management while running your store can add unnecessary stress, distracting you from making sales and improving customer satisfaction.
- Without a plugin, it can be challenging to track inventory across multiple sales channels, leading to stock inconsistencies and potential customer dissatisfaction.
- Real-time inventory updates ensure that you never sell out-of-stock items. This can help you avoid negative customer experiences and canceled orders.
- As your business scales, inventory plugins offer scalability, handling growing product catalogs and complex inventory needs seamlessly.
What are the Limitations of WooCommerce Inventory Management?
While WooCommerce offers basic inventory management features, some key limitations may hinder your business as it grows. Here are the main issues to consider :
- WooCommerce focuses on finished products, leaving raw materials, WIP, and MRO inventory unsupported. To manage these, you’ll need third-party tools like MRP software.
- WooCommerce doesn’t offer built-in multi-location support, so you’ll have to track stock across multiple warehouses or locations manually. This can increase complexity and the risk of errors.
- For frequent or bulk inventory changes, WooCommerce needs more advanced automation features, making these updates more time-consuming and prone to mistakes.
- WooCommerce offers basic reporting tools for inventory management. To gain deeper insights into trends, stock levels, and supplier performance, you’ll need additional third-party plugins.
That’s why integrating third-party plugins or extensions is essential for businesses that require advanced inventory management features. These plugins can help fill the gaps in WooCommerce’s native capabilities and streamline operations as your business grows.
So, how do you choose the right plugins for your business? The next section will answer this question.
What Features to Look For When Choosing the Right WooCommerce Inventory Management Software?
Choosing the right inventory management software is key to maintaining smooth operations and avoiding stock issues. Here are the top features to consider:
- Real-Time Stock Tracking: Look for a plugin that offers real-time stock tracking so you can keep an accurate record of your inventory at all times. This will prevent overselling and ensure you’re always aware of the stock levels.
- Multi-Location Support: Look for software that lets you manage inventory across different warehouses or stores. This feature will help you keep track of stock transfers between multiple locations and ensure accuracy across the board.
- Automatic Stock Alerts: Choose a system that notifies you when stock is running low. This way, you’ll always be prepared to restock in time and avoid lost sales from out-of-stock items.
- Bulk Product Management: Make sure the software lets you update stock, prices, and SKUs for multiple products simultaneously. This feature is a real-time-saver, especially if you have a large catalog of products.
- Order Management Integration: Go for software that links inventory with your order fulfillment system. The integration ensures your stock levels automatically adjust when orders are placed or shipped, reducing discrepancies and manual updates.
- Reporting and Analytics: Pick software that provides insights into sales trends and inventory performance. It will allow you to make data-driven decisions and streamline your supply chain management.
- Scalability: As your business grows, so will your inventory management needs. Choose software that can scale with your business. It should be able to handle an increasing volume of products, multiple locations, and larger data sets without compromising performance.
When choosing the right WooCommerce inventory management software, consider the features that best support your business needs and growth. Research your options and select a solution that aligns with your goals.
Top 6 WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugins
Now that you know what to look for when choosing the right WooCommerce inventory management plugin, let’s take a look at some of the best options to elevate your store.
1. ATUM Inventory Management
ATUM is a great inventory management tool for new WooCommerce sellers. It comes with a user-friendly interface that makes managing stock easy. The tool’s Stock Central page lets you view and edit product details like SKUs, prices, and stock levels in just a few clicks.
It also supports variable and grouped products, including items sold in decimal quantities. The core plugin is free. Premium add-ons are available, which offer features like purchase orders, multi-inventory tracking, and action logs. This makes ATUM a good choice for growing businesses.
Some of its key features include:
- Advanced search capabilities with auto-fill and optimized filters to locate products or categories efficiently
- Detailed sales and stock-level reports to provide insights that refine your reordering strategy
- Product locations and hierarchy tracking to assign multiple storage locations per item and organize them in a structured way
- Full WPML compatibility for seamless multilingual inventory management in WooCommerce stores
Why ATUM Stands Out
- Rating: 4.7/5 on WordPress.org
- Best for: New WooCommerce store owners
- Price: Free + Premium addons
2. Smart Manager
Smart Manager offers a simple dashboard with live preview and infinite scrolling, making it easy to manage inventory. It supports all WooCommerce product types, including simple, variable, subscription products, and product add-ons.
The dashboard can be customized to fit your needs. You can hide data columns and sort information in ascending or descending order. Image previews are also available to help identify products quickly.
The free version allows up to three direct edits without saving and includes an advanced search with the “AND” filter. You can export product stock data to CSV, but only for product columns.
Upgrading to the Pro plan gives you full control over all custom post types, along with the ability to create custom dashboard views based on user roles. The Pro version also includes advanced bulk editing features and email and phone support.
Some of its key features include:
- Bulk store management to edit WooCommerce and WordPress content in real-time or on schedule, with options to undo and perform inline edits
- Advanced search with powerful “AND” and “OR” filters, search operators, and dropdown menus for precise inventory filtering
- Stock log tracking to review the stock history for each product and gain insights into how quickly your inventory is moving.
Why Smart Manager Stands Out
- Rating: 4.4/5 on WordPress.org
- Best for: WooCommerce stores with large product catalogs
- Price: Freemium model (the premium version costs $199 per website per year)
3. Stock Sync for WooCommerce
Stock Sync for WooCommerce simplifies inventory management by enabling you to sync stock levels across up to ten stores. Whether you’re dealing with simple or variable products, the plugin makes it easy to keep track of your inventory.
You can sync stock from a primary location to up to nine secondary stores, with changes like purchases, refunds, and admin edits updated in real time. The syncing process happens automatically in the background, ensuring your inventory is always accurate.
For even greater control, the Pro version offers additional features, such as syncing product details (descriptions, images, etc.), inventory logs for tracking changes, and bulk editing options to streamline updates across all your stores.
Some of its key features include:
- Selective syncing to match products using unique SKUs and prevent unwanted items from syncing across stores
- Smart logging to track stock quantity changes and identify whether they were triggered by a site, order, or admin
- Email notifications to alert you instantly if the syncing process encounters any issues
- Background processing to stop your site from slowing down
- Secure communication using WooCommerce’s built-in REST API for smooth and encrypted syncing between stores
Why Stock Sync for WooCommerce Stands Out
- Rating: 5/5 on WordPress.org
- Best for: Stores managing multiple sales channels
- Price: Freemium model (the premium version costs $89)
4. Simple Inventory Management
Simple inventory management plugin simplifies inventory management with a barcode system. You can scan a product’s barcode to view or edit its details. If you don’t have a barcode scanner, you can search by name, SKU, or other custom fields in Enter mode.
The plugin supports all types of hand-held barcode scanners, both wired and wireless. You can also integrate the plugin with an offline store’s POS system to streamline order processing. The auto-action feature automatically increases stock levels when scanning items.
The free version has basic features, but you can access more with the premium plan, which starts at $65/year. Paid plans include filter hooks, user activity logs, order fulfillment mode, and a white-label version.
Some of its key features include:
- Customizable functionality with filter hooks for seamless plugin modifications
- Front-end product search popup for quick access without navigating the admin dashboard
- Remote inventory management via the mobile app, supporting easy stock updates while on the go
- Barcode-based batch editing to update multiple products at once by scanning their barcodes, speeding up inventory management tasks
Why Simple Inventory Management Stands Out
- Rating: 5/5 on WordPress.org
- Best for: Streamlined inventory management with barcode scanning
- Price: Freemium model (the premium version costs $65 per year)
5. WooCommerce Multi Locations Inventory Management
Woocommerce Multi Locations Inventory Management plugin helps businesses with multiple warehouses or stores. You can assign shop managers to unlimited locations and send them admin order notifications to streamline task delegation and give localized control over inventory.
Additionally, you can bulk edit and manage stock items from the product central dashboard. This includes updating stock levels for each location and setting stock status.
The plugin comes with free add-ons for Sales Report by Location and Import/Export for Multi-Location. It integrates with POS plugins like OpenPOS for offline sales and supports other business tools like multi-currency, shipping, and accounting software.
As a CodeCanyon plugin, the regular license includes 6-month support, which can be extended to 12 months for an extra $35.25.
Some of its key features include:
- Streamlined order processing with rule-based fulfillment, prioritizing inventory levels, proximity, and location preferences with admin-controlled fulfillment options
- Seamless shopping experience with AJAX-powered location info displayed in the cart without page reloads
- Location-based product availability for customers to see only the products available at their selected store, improving shopping accuracy
- Automatic geolocation detection to identify users’ locations and allocate the nearest WooCommerce inventory or warehouse for efficient order fulfillment
Why WooCommerce Multi Locations Inventory Management Stands Out
- Rating: 4.5/5 on CodeCanyon
- Best for: Businesses with multiple warehouses or physical locations
- Price: $99
6. WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager
The WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager plugin provides store owners with enhanced control over stock status. You can set custom low-stock thresholds for individual products, variations, or entire categories, ensuring you’re always aware of your inventory levels.
By adding a widget to your WordPress dashboard, you can easily manage stock. Additionally, you can customize the “In Stock” and “Out of Stock” labels to fit your store’s needs.
In addition, the plugin features an email notification system that alerts admins—or multiple recipients—when the stock drops below the set threshold.
Some of its key features include:
- Set custom low-stock thresholds for individual products, categories, or your entire inventory.
- Configure a default warning value for products that do not match any custom threshold rules.
- Receive automated email alerts when stock levels drop below the defined thresholds.
- Translate warning messages and email notifications effortlessly with WPML for global accessibility.
Why WooCommerce Out of Stock! Manager Stands Out
- Rating: 5/5 on CodeCanyon
- Best for: Store owners who want to customize stock warning values
- Price: $35
We know there are many plugins out there, so these were our top 6 picks to help you choose the best WooCommerce inventory management solution for your store.
What Does an Inventory Management Plugin Do?
A WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugin streamlines stock tracking and automation. Here’s how it helps:
- Keeps Stock Accurate: It automatically updates stock levels in real time to avoid overselling or understocking.
- Syncs Across Locations: It manages inventory across multiple warehouses or stores.
- Automates Stock Updates: It adjusts stock automatically as orders are placed, eliminating manual updates.
- Provides Reports: It offers insights on stock performance and sales trends.
- Integrates with Other Tools: It connects with accounting, shipping, and ERP systems for smoother operations.
Conclusion
When it comes to WooCommerce inventory management, the right plugin can make all the difference. Whether you’re managing a small store or an extensive catalog, the plugins we’ve covered—from ATUM and Smart Manager to Simple Inventory Management—are all excellent choices.
ATUM works wonders for stores with complex inventory needs, while Simple Inventory Management is perfect for those who want something straightforward. But ultimately, your choice will depend on your store’s size, complexity, and future growth plans.
Want more tips and insights on optimizing your WooCommerce store? Head over to the WPLift for expert advice on plugins, themes, and eCommerce strategies to help you grow your online business.
Here are a few blogs to help you get started with WooCommerce:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I add inventory in WooCommerce?
To add inventory in WooCommerce, go to your product page. Under the Product Data section, select the Inventory tab. From there, you can:
- Set the Stock Quantity to indicate how many units are available.
- Enable Stock management at the product level to let WooCommerce automatically manage stock levels.
- Choose whether to allow backorders (you can select “Do not allow,” “Allow,” or “Allow, but notify customer”).
2. What is a WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugin?
A WooCommerce Inventory Management Plugin adds advanced features to WooCommerce, such as automated stock syncing across locations, customizable low-stock alerts, bulk management of products, and integration with accounting or ERP systems. These plugins help automate processes, reduce errors, and improve inventory control.
3. Does WooCommerce come with Built-In Inventory Management?
Yes, WooCommerce offers basic inventory management. You can track stock quantities, set product availability (in stock, out of stock, or backorder), get low-stock notifications, and enable automatic stock updates when orders are placed. For more advanced needs like multi-location management, you may need a plugin.
