Inventory management on Shopify for Singapore

Information checked as of 19 October 2026

Overselling, running out of a bestseller, or not knowing what's in the back room all cost sales. Shopify now handles most stock work in the admin itself: tracking, multiple locations, transfers, purchase orders and stock counts. This guide covers how those work for a Singapore store, where apps still help, and how to keep stock in sync when you also sell on marketplaces.

This is general information. It summarises Shopify Help Center pages and App Store listings as of the date above.

Inventory tracking

Shopify's inventory tracking guide says you turn on tracking per product or variant, then enter the available quantity. Once tracked, you can see up to 180 days of inventory history for the product. You choose whether to keep selling when stock reaches zero, which suits pre-orders but not most products. Shopify notes that this setting doesn't apply on Shopify POS: staff can still sell at zero, with a warning.

Its inventory and locations overview also covers adjusting quantities and running stock counts, with every change recorded so you can see when and why a number moved.

Locations: warehouse, retail and third-party warehouses

According to Shopify's page on multiple locations and apps:

• You can stock products at retail stores, warehouses, dropshipping apps and third-party fulfilment services at the same time.
• Each location tracks inventory separately; stock can't be pooled across locations.
• A product is only sellable from locations where it's active, so you can keep some stock for in-store sales only.
• New locations start empty; you add stock or transfer it in.

A typical Singapore setup is a home or office stockroom for online orders, a retail shop or pop-up using Shopify POS, and perhaps a third-party warehouse. A third-party warehouse usually connects through its own app and appears as an app location. Our shipping guide covers fulfilment options.

Low-stock alerts

Shopify doesn't send low-stock emails by default, but Shopify Flow can. Its inventory quantity changed trigger starts a workflow when a variant's stock changes, and can check the available quantity at a specific location. Use it to email you, tag the product or unpublish it when stock falls below a level you choose.

Transfers

Shopify's transfers guide explains moving stock between your locations, or to and from external places such as suppliers. A transfer starts as a draft, which you can edit; processing it creates the shipment and commits the stock. You then receive it at the destination, including from Shopify POS, and can use a barcode scanner. Receiving stock records the quantity but doesn't make the product sellable at that location unless you stock or activate it.

Purchase orders: native vs apps

Shopify's Stocky migration guide and the Stocky page say the Stocky app was discontinued on 31 August 2026. Purchase orders now live in the Shopify admin:

• Create purchase orders, including importing line items by CSV, and manage suppliers.
• Set costs, supplier currency, payment terms such as Net 30, and extras such as shipping or duties.
• Receive stock through the inventory transfer linked to each purchase order.
• Search, filter and export purchase orders for reporting.

Historical Stocky purchase orders can't be imported, so keep your exported records. If you need demand forecasting or reorder suggestions beyond the admin, apps such as Prediko and Inventory Planner by Sage offer forecasting and purchase order tools, according to their listings.

Bundles

Bundles and multipacks can confuse stock counts if they're set up as separate products. Apps that track components solve this: Shopify Bundles, Shopify's own app, offers fixed bundles and multipacks, and Simple Bundles & Kits advertises bundles with inventory sync. When a bundle sells, stock comes off each component, so you don't sell a gift set when one item in it has run out.

Syncing stock with marketplaces

If you also sell on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop or Amazon.sg, keep Shopify as the single source of stock and connect each marketplace so its orders reduce Shopify inventory:

• Shopee and Lazada: see our Shopee and Lazada guide for connector options.
• TikTok Shop: TikTok's Shopify app syncs products and orders; see our TikTok Shop guide.
• Amazon.sg: Shopify Marketplace Connect syncs listings, orders and inventory; see selling on Amazon.sg. FBA stock sits in Amazon's warehouse, so treat it separately.

Hold back a small buffer on marketplace listings for fast-selling items, because sync isn't always instant during big sales. If you advertise on Google, accurate stock also stops you paying for clicks on sold-out items; see our Google Shopping guide.

A simple routine

• Track inventory on every physical product and set "stop selling" at zero unless it's a pre-order.
• Set up a Flow alert for your top sellers.
• Raise purchase orders in the admin and receive against them.
• Run a stock count each month or quarter.
• Keep apps minimal; see Shopify apps a new Singapore store actually needs.

Frequently asked questions

Does Shopify have purchase orders built in?

Yes. Shopify's Help Center says you can create purchase orders and manage suppliers in the Shopify admin, and receive stock through the inventory transfer linked to each purchase order. Shopify's Stocky app was discontinued on 31 August 2026, and its users were moved to these native tools.

How do multiple locations work in Shopify?

Each location, such as a warehouse, a retail shop or a third-party fulfilment service, tracks its own stock. Shopify says inventory at each location is independent and can't be pooled, and a product is only sellable from locations where it's active.

Can Shopify send low-stock alerts?

Yes, with Shopify Flow, Shopify's free automation app. Its Product variant inventory quantity changed trigger can check the quantity at a location and send an email, tag the product or take other actions when stock drops below a level you set.

How do I sell bundles without breaking stock counts?

Use a bundles app that tracks component inventory, such as Shopify Bundles or Simple Bundles & Kits. When a bundle sells, stock is deducted from the individual products in it, so you don't oversell components.

How do I keep stock in sync with Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop and Amazon?

Use the marketplace's Shopify integration or a connector app so orders from each channel reduce stock in Shopify. Keep Shopify as the single source of stock and hold a small buffer on marketplaces for fast sellers.

Setting up stock for the first time? A Shopify trial lets you add locations, track inventory and create a purchase order before you go live.

Start a Shopify trial →

References

Rules, features and fees change, so check the live page before you act on anything here.

1. Inventory and locations, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
2. Setting up inventory tracking, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
3. Understanding inventory management for multiple locations and apps, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
4. Creating and processing inventory transfers, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
5. Migrating from Stocky to Shopify inventory management, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
6. Stocky, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
7. Product variant inventory quantity changed, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 19 October 2026.
8. Shopify Flow, Shopify App Store. Accessed 19 October 2026.
9. Shopify Bundles, Shopify App Store. Accessed 19 October 2026.
10. Simple Bundles & Kits, Shopify App Store. Accessed 19 October 2026.
11. Prediko Inventory Management, Shopify App Store. Accessed 19 October 2026.
12. Inventory Planner by Sage, Shopify App Store. Accessed 19 October 2026.
13. Shopify Marketplace Connect, Shopify App Store. Accessed 19 October 2026.