Bigcommerce Inventory

Inventory management is key to the success of any e-commerce business, and BigCommerce provides robust tools to help merchants manage their stock effectively. This comprehensive guide covers the ins and outs of BigCommerce inventory, including how to add inventory, different types of inventory, why BigCommerce might be a better option than Shopify, and how to efficiently manage your inventory. We'll also explore BigCommerce's various inventory features and recommend Ordoro as an excellent inventory management software tool for BigCommerce stores.

How Do I Add Inventory in BigCommerce?

Adding inventory to your BigCommerce store is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Login to BigCommerce: Start by logging into your BigCommerce store's control panel.
2. Access Product Management: Navigate to the "Products" tab in the left sidebar. From there, you can see all your current products.
3. Select the Product: Click on the product for which you want to add or adjust inventory.
4. Edit Inventory: Within the product details, you'll find an "Inventory" section. Here you can specify the stock level, SKU, and more.
5. Set Stock Levels: Enter the number of items you currently have in stock and configure any necessary inventory tracking settings.
6. Save Changes: Ensure you save your changes to update the inventory level.

To view a more detailed guide, visit the BigCommerce Help Center.

What Are the 4 Types of Inventory?

In e-commerce, understanding the distinct types of inventory is critical. Here are the four primary types:

1. Raw Materials: These are the basic materials that are used to produce final products. While not directly applicable to e-commerce stores that sell finished goods directly, it’s essential for those selling products requiring assembly or customization.
2. Work-in-Progress (WIP): These are partially finished goods awaiting completion. This type of inventory is more relevant to manufacturers or sellers providing customized goods.
3. Finished Goods: For most e-commerce businesses, finished goods are the products that are ready for sale and are stored in warehouses or fulfillment centers.
4. MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) Supplies: These are items necessary for manufacturing but are not part of the final product. For an e-commerce store, this could be packaging or shipping materials.

Why is BigCommerce Better Than Shopify?

Both BigCommerce and Shopify are leading eCommerce platforms, but there are specific areas where BigCommerce may have the edge:

1. Built-in Features: BigCommerce offers more robust built-in features, such as advanced SEO tools, product filtering, and real-time shipping quotes, without the need for additional apps.
2. Pricing Structure: BigCommerce tends to offer more features in its base pricing plans, while Shopify often requires additional apps, which can add up.
3. SEO Capabilities: BigCommerce has superior SEO capabilities, which can significantly affect your store's visibility in search engines.
4. No Transaction Fees: Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees if you use a third-party payment gateway.
5. Scalability: BigCommerce is known for its scalability, allowing businesses to grow without as many limitations on bandwidth, products, or sales.

For further comparison, you can refer to this article comparing BigCommerce and Shopify.

How to Manage Inventory for Ecommerce?

Effective inventory management is crucial for the efficiency and profitability of an e-commerce business. Here’s how you can manage your inventory:

1. Automate Your Inventory: Use software like Ordoro to automate tracking, restocking, and order fulfillment processes.
2. Regular Stock Audits: Conduct regular audits to match physical stock with what’s recorded in the system, ensuring accuracy.
3. Centralized Inventory Data: Use a centralized inventory management system to keep track of stock levels across all sales channels.
4. Demand Forecasting: Analyze past sales data to predict future inventory needs, preventing overstocking and stockouts.
5. Reorder Point Formula: Implement reorder points by using the formula: (Lead Time Demand) + (Safety Stock Level) = Reorder Point.
6. ABC Analysis: Prioritize inventory by categorizing based on importance: A (most valuable), B (moderately valuable), and C (least valuable).

To dive deeper, you may find this inventory management guide by Ordoro quite helpful.

BigCommerce Inventory Tracking

BigCommerce provides built-in inventory tracking tools to help merchants manage stock effectively:

1. Real-Time Updates: Track inventory on a live basis, ensuring you always have the most up-to-date stock information.
2. Low Stock Alerts: Set low stock alerts to notify you when it’s time to reorder.
3. Bulk Inventory Edits: Make mass changes to inventory levels across multiple products, saving time and effort.
4. Inventory Reports: Generate detailed reports that provide insight into inventory performance and trends.

BigCommerce Inventory Template

BigCommerce offers an inventory template to simplify the bulk upload and management of inventory data. Here's how to use it:

1. Download Template: Access the template from BigCommerce’s product import and export settings.
2. Populate with Data: Fill in the required fields such as SKU, product name, stock level, and price.
3. Upload Data: Once populated, upload the CSV file back into BigCommerce to update your inventory in bulk.
4. Verify Changes: Always check to ensure updates have been successfully applied and that no errors occurred during upload.

For step-by-step instructions, visit the BigCommerce Import and Export Guide.

BigCommerce Inventory App

For those looking for an enhanced management experience, BigCommerce offers various inventory apps in its marketplace. Here are some top picks, with Ordoro leading the list:

1. Ordoro: Ordoro is an all-in-one solution designed for BigCommerce and Shopify merchants. It offers features such as automated dropshipping, advanced analytics, and centralized inventory management. Hundreds of merchants attest to its effectiveness in streamlining their inventory processes. More information can be found at Ordoro's website.
2. SkuVault: This app provides robust warehouse management solutions, especially useful for larger sellers needing advanced systems.
3. TradeGecko: Known for its simple interface, TradeGecko provides excellent tools for managing inventory and streamlining operations.
4. ShipStation: Though primarily a shipping solution, ShipStation integrates inventory management capabilities suitable for order fulfillment.

BigCommerce Inventory Example

To understand better how inventory works in BigCommerce, let's consider a fictional example:

Imagine you own an online store selling custom T-shirts. You can use BigCommerce to manage this inventory in the following ways:

1. Track Available Sizes: Using BigCommerce's platform, you can keep a tally of how many T-shirts are available in each size (S, M, L, XL).
2. Monitor Trends: By analyzing sales data, you notice that medium-sized T-shirts are very popular, leading you to adjust your stock levels accordingly.
3. Automate Reorders: With tools like Ordoro, set automatic reordering when stock reaches a predefined threshold, ensuring you never run out of your more popular sizes.

BigCommerce Inventory Pricing

BigCommerce's pricing for their inventory features is typically included in their standard service plans. While the exact costs can vary depending on the size and complexity of your store, the essential inventory tools are available in all plans:

1. Standard Plan: Includes basic inventory management features suitable for starters.
2. Plus Plan: Offers additional tools, like customer segmentation and abandoned cart savers, alongside inventory features.
3. Pro Plan: Offers advanced reports and tools, ideal for businesses looking for more comprehensive analytics and control.
4. Enterprise Plan: Tailored for large businesses requiring scalable solutions and dedicated account management.

For updated pricing details, check the BigCommerce pricing page.

In conclusion, BigCommerce provides a well-rounded, user-friendly platform for managing inventory, catering to different types of sellers from small boutiques to large online empires. And with supportive integrations like Ordoro, managing your e-commerce inventory can become a seamless, efficient process. By understanding these facets of inventory management in BigCommerce, you can leverage the platform’s capabilities to optimally manage your stock and drive your business growth.