SmartSTORE: Stock control addon - Initial set-up and then setting and monitoring stock levels

SmartSTORE: Stock control addon - Initial set-up and then setting and monitoring stock levels

Our new stock control feature for SmartSTORE is outlined below. There are two elements, an initial set-up which requires your web team or IT support team to install a single file on your web server. Following this the store administrator can set and review stock levels through the normal store editor.

Initial set-up

The stock control support script will be provided to you by SmartTHING. It is compatible with PHP based servers and auto-configures itself if put into a Drupal or WordPress based site.
The script should be uploaded to your web server under a subdirectory using FTP, FTPS or whatever file access options your hosting provider gives you. A sensible location would be a subfolder of the main CMS installation called smartstore so it could be accessed via: http://[your_website_domain]/smartstore/stock.php
Note: If you do not have Drupal or WordPress or you have any issues you will need to configure the database settings at the top of the stock.php script.

You now need to update your store settings to point at your stock control script:
  • Login using your normal username and license key for SmartSTORE
  • On the Stock control tab:
    • Tick 'Enable stock control'
    • Enter the web address of your stock control script: https://unwomen.org.au/smartstore/stock.php

To set and view current stock levels

There is not a lot to the stock control element other than setting the levels and, if you wish, viewing the latest stock levels. This is all done on the store config page: http://smartthing.org/olx-deploy.
  • Login using your normal username and license key for SmartSTORE
  • In the Products tab each product has a 'Stock level' field, the current stock level is shown in the field. It refreshes automatically every 30 seconds so is the 'real-time' stock level.
  • If you want to manually adjust the stock level (i.e. you have had more stock come in) or to enable stock tracking for a product by setting an initial stock level:
    • Change the number in the stock level field
    • Click the 'Get Script' button to save the change
Notes:
  • You can update the stock level on more than one product before clicking 'Get Script' to save all these stock levels.
  • There is an 'Easily reorder products and update stock levels' link at the top of the products list which makes the above task easier.

Testing the stock control script

  • Set stock initial levels to values you know:
    • Enter your license details
    • Go to the Products tab
    • Update the stock level entries (once updated you will see a message below the stock field saying: 'Manually updated, click 'Get Script' to save the new stock level')
    • Click 'Get Script' to update the stock
  • Go to your SmartSTORE page
  • Test the store with a purchase
  • Revisit the store config page to review stock levels:
    • Enter your license details
    • Go to the Products tab
    • Review the stock level entries to ensure the stock has updated based on your purchases

FAQs: How the stock addon works

  • Q. Is there script/code that communicates to our database about the stock levels, which then automatically updates? 
  • A. Yes, the store itself communicates to the stock.php file that you host on your web server (we supplied this to you as part of the stock add-on for our store). This file is used to set and update stock levels. As sales are made stock is decreased automatically based upon the purchased quantities.
  • Q. How do the stock levels communicate with the database? Is it RE that it’s communicates with, or is it something external?
  • A.The stock levels are updated directly by the store page calling the stock script - RE is not involved in any way.
  • Q. How often is the stock checked?
  • A. By default stock is checked every 15 seconds.
  • Q. What happens if an item is out of stock?
  • A. The item no longer shows in the store. If the item is in the shoppers basket it is removed after notifying the shopper
  • Q. What is an item is no longer available in the quantity currently in the basket?
  • A. If an item is no longer available at the quantities in the basket a dialog appears to notify the shopper and their cart adjusted to reflect the change. If they are on the checkout at this time they are sent back to the store so they can select a different item or adjust quantities further.