Multi-Channel Order and Inventory Tool
The challenge
A small online retailer sold products through eBay, Amazon and its own WordPress-based shop.
Each platform handled orders and inventory separately, making it difficult to maintain an accurate overview of available stock. When a product sold on one platform, the stock level on the others also had to be updated quickly.
The business also spent considerable time collecting orders, locating products, purchasing postage and preparing shipping labels. Inventory mismatches could lead to cancelled orders, dissatisfied customers and penalties from online marketplaces.
The opportunity
The different sales, inventory and shipping activities followed a predictable process and could be managed through one central internal tool.
Product SKUs could be used as a common identifier across platforms. This made it possible to connect orders, stock levels, warehouse locations, shipping information and product listings within one workflow.
The physical organisation of the inventory could also be improved so that the software and the daily packing process supported one another.
The solution
A custom internal tool was developed to connect the retailer’s online sales and fulfilment processes.
The tool collected orders from eBay, Amazon and the WordPress shop and maintained a central inventory record. Stock changes were synchronised across the connected platforms to reduce the risk of selling unavailable products.
The solution also supported:
- SKU-based product identification and picking
- Automatic relisting when inventory became available
- Central order and inventory tracking
- Shipping-label generation
- Purchase of postage through carrier APIs
- Printing of shipping QR codes directly on the label
- Sales analysis and inventory reorder recommendations
The inventory layout at the shipping location was also adapted around the SKU system, allowing employees to find and pack the day’s orders more efficiently.
Packages could then be labelled and prepared for direct drop-off without waiting at the post office to purchase postage.
The result
The tool significantly reduced the manual work involved in managing orders, inventory, listings and shipping across multiple platforms.
Synchronised stock levels reduced overselling and the risk of marketplace penalties. Automatic relisting improved product availability, while integrated postage and label printing shortened the fulfilment process.
The improved inventory structure made daily picking and packing faster. Reorder recommendations also helped the business plan stock levels using actual sales data rather than relying entirely on judgement.
Overall, the solution improved operational efficiency, customer experience and the retailer’s ability to maintain consistent activity across its sales platforms.
Technologies and capabilities
Custom internal tool development, eBay and Amazon integration, WordPress and WooCommerce integration, REST APIs, shipping API integration, inventory synchronisation, SKU management, label generation, workflow design, sales analysis and inventory forecasting.