What Are Low-Stock Alerts?
Low-stock alerts notify you when a product drops below a certain quantity. For example, if you set an alert at 5 units, you'll get notified as soon as stock reaches 5 or below.
This gives you time to:
- Order more from your supplier
- Produce or source more inventory
- Warn customers if there's a delay
How to Set Up Alerts
When Adding a New Product
- Go to Inventory → Click "Add Product"
- Fill in product name, price, and initial stock
- Look for "Low Stock Alert Threshold" field
- Enter the number (e.g., 5 units)
- Save the product
For Existing Products
- Go to Inventory
- Click on the product you want to set up alerts for
- Click "Edit Product"
- Update the "Low Stock Alert Threshold"
- Click "Save Changes"
Update Multiple Products
You can set alert thresholds for each product individually when adding or editing them.
How Alerts Work
When Stock Drops Below Threshold
When a product drops to or below your alert threshold:
- Low Stock badge - Product shows a "Low Stock" label in your inventory
- Visual indicator - Easy to spot which products need restocking
Example Scenario
Product: Premium Hair Gel
Current Stock: 12 units
Alert Threshold: 5 units
You sell 8 bottles to a customer. Stock drops to 4.
Low Stock Alert!
Premium Hair Gel is low: 4 units remaining. Time to restock.
Choosing the Right Threshold
Setting the right threshold depends on your business. Consider:
1. Lead Time for Restocking
- Next-day delivery from supplier? Set threshold to 2-3 units
- 1-2 weeks to restock? Set threshold to 10-15 units
- Need to import or manufacture? Set threshold higher (20-30 units)
2. Sales Velocity
- Sell 1-2 per week? Threshold of 3-5 is safe
- Sell 10+ per week? Set threshold to 15-20
- Best-seller moving fast? Set threshold to 2-3 weeks of sales
3. Seasonality
- Increase threshold before busy seasons (holidays, events)
- Lower threshold during slow periods
Rule of Thumb
Set your threshold to cover restock lead time + 1 week buffer. If it takes 2 weeks to restock and you sell 5 per week, set threshold to 15 units (3 weeks).
Managing Alerts
View All Low-Stock Products
- Go to Inventory
- Look for products showing the "Low Stock" badge
- Click on any product to view details or restock
Common Questions
Can I turn off alerts for specific products?
Yes! Set the threshold to 0 for products you don't need alerts for. This is useful for:
- Services (not physical products)
- Products you always keep in stock
- One-time items you won't restock
What happens when stock is low?
When a product drops below its alert threshold:
- The product shows a "Low Stock" badge in your inventory
- You can still create invoices for the remaining stock
- Once stock reaches zero, the product shows as "Out of Stock"
Can I get alerts before I completely run out?
That's exactly what low-stock alerts do! They warn you before reaching zero. Once you hit zero, you'll see an "Out of Stock" status instead.
Best Practices
1. Review Your Inventory Regularly
Check your inventory page regularly to:
- Spot products that are running low
- Plan your restocking orders
- Adjust thresholds based on actual sales patterns
2. Set Smart Thresholds
When setting your low-stock threshold, consider:
- How long it takes to get more stock from your supplier
- How quickly the product typically sells
- A buffer for unexpected demand spikes
3. Communicate with Customers
If a popular item is low and restocking is delayed:
- Inform customers upfront when they order
- Consider pre-orders for when stock arrives