PortfolioWhy Use Multiple Warehouses
When handling overseas brand products, keeping all inventory domestically isn't realistic. It's more efficient to stock popular items in the domestic warehouse while ordering others from the overseas warehouse (home country).
In this project, we designed a system to manage domestic and overseas warehouse inventory separately and display appropriate lead times to customers.
Inventory Types and Lead Times
| Inventory Type | Description | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Stock | In domestic warehouse | Immediate shipping |
| Overseas Stock | In overseas warehouse | Several weeks |
| Out of Stock | Neither warehouse has it | Not for sale |
Customer Display
On product pages, we display different messages based on inventory status.
- Domestic Stock Available: "Ready to ship" "Immediate delivery"
- Overseas Stock Only: "Delivery in approximately X weeks" "Made to order"
- Out of Stock: "Sold out" "Receive restock notification"
This lets customers know lead times before purchasing, preventing expectation gaps.
Retrieving Inventory Data
Location-Specific Stock Levels
We use the Shopify Admin API to retrieve stock levels per warehouse. Each warehouse is identified by a location ID.
We convert the retrieved stock levels into site-friendly format as "domestic stock" and "overseas stock."
Stock by Size/Color
Products have multiple variations (size, color, etc.). We manage stock levels at each warehouse for each variation.
For example, "Size M, Black" has domestic stock, while "Size L, Black" is overseas stock only—this level of detail is possible.
Stock Determination Logic
Handling Made-to-Order Items
Customers can purchase items with only overseas stock if they accept the lead time.
Made-to-Order Explanation
Near the "Add to Cart" button, we clearly state it's a made-to-order item and the estimated lead time. We make it visually prominent so customers don't miss it.
Post-Order Flow
When a made-to-order is received, we arrange shipment from the overseas warehouse to domestic. Shipping to customers happens after arrival, so we communicate in advance that it takes longer than usual.
Benefits
Reduced Inventory Costs
No need to stock all products domestically, keeping warehouse costs down. Stock only bestsellers domestically and handle others as made-to-order.
Expanded Product Range
By including overseas stock in sales, we can offer more products to customers. Instead of "sold out," we can sell as "available to order."
Expectation Management
By clearly displaying stock status and lead times, we prevent gaps between customer expectations and actual delivery times. This leads to fewer complaints and cancellations.
Summary
Multi-warehouse inventory management achieves both cost efficiency and product variety. By clearly displaying stock status, customers can purchase with confidence.