How to Automate Low Inventory Alerts in Shopify (+ Free Template)

Ever had that sinking feeling when a customer emails “Hey, when will this be back in stock?”  and you didn’t even know you’d sold out?

You’re not alone.

Many Shopify store owners start out watching stock levels manually until juggling dozens of products, bundles, and suppliers turns into a guessing game nobody has time to play.

The truth is, running out of stock costs you more than lost sales, it can quietly damage customer trust and your hard-earned reputation.

That’s where automated low stock alerts save the day.

With the right setup, you’ll know exactly what’s running low and when to reorder without constantly refreshing reports.

In this guide, we’ll break down practical ways to automate low inventory alerts in Shopify and share real-world tips for setting smart thresholds.

Ready to finally outsmart stockouts?

Let’s dive in.

What Are Low Inventory Alerts and Why Are They Important?

Low inventory alerts are like your store’s early warning system, they notify you when a product’s stock dips below a certain number, so you have time to reorder before you run out.

Without them, it’s easy to lose track, especially when you’re juggling dozens (or hundreds!) of products.

One surprise stockout can mean missed sales, disappointed customers, and a scramble to restock at the last minute, often at a higher cost.

With automated Shopify low stock alerts, you get a heads-up exactly when you need it.

This helps you plan reorders calmly, keep your bestsellers available, and maintain a smooth cash flow, no more panic buying or overstocking just to be safe.

In short, low inventory alerts take the guesswork out of keeping stock and protect your revenue, reputation, and sanity.

Does Shopify Have Built-In Low Stock Alerts?

Sort of, but not in the way most store owners expect.

Shopify doesn’t automatically email you or send inventory notifications when a product’s stock gets low.

Instead, you have to manually keep an eye on your inventory levels through your Products → Inventory page or use the Inventory Reports to spot low stock items.

Some Shopify plans (like POS Pro) include Stocky, which does offer more low-stock alerts and purchasing suggestions, but this isn’t standard for every store.

So, if you want true hands-off alerts that pop up in your inbox when stock runs low, you’ll need to use a dedicated app.

Most growing stores find the built-in option too basic once they have more than a handful of products.

Ways to Automate Low Inventory Alerts in Shopify

There are a few smart ways to automate low inventory alerts in Shopify, so you know exactly when it’s time to reorder. Here’s how:

Use Shopify’s Native Notifications

Shopify’s built-in option is the simplest place to start, but it’s quite basic. You can:

• Keep an eye on stock levels in the Inventory section.
• Use daily or weekly inventory reports to spot low stock manually.
• For Shopify POS Pro users, Stocky offers low stock notifications and reorder suggestions.

This is fine for small stores, but easy to miss if you’re busy.

Set Up Alerts with Inventory Management Apps

This is the easiest and most reliable method for most merchants. Many Shopify inventory apps send you automated low stock emails when stock drops below your chosen threshold.

Popular options include:

• Sumtracker: Automates Shopify low stock alerts and helps manage reordering across multiple warehouses.
• Stocky: Built for Shopify POS Pro, with demand forecasting and low stock reports.
• Dedicated Low Stock Alert apps: There are free and paid apps in the Shopify App Store that focus just on sending alerts.

With these apps, you can customize your thresholds by product or variant and stop worrying about manual checks.

How to Customize Low Stock Thresholds

Setting the right low stock threshold is key, too high, and you might overstock; too low, and you risk running out before your reorder arrives.

Here’s how to get it right:

• Think about sales speed: Fast sellers usually need higher thresholds. If you sell 10 units a day, a threshold of 30 gives you a 3-day buffer.
• Factor in supplier lead times: How long does it take for new stock to reach your door? If your supplier needs two weeks, build in enough days of sales coverage to avoid gaps.
• Use apps for easy setup: Most inventory apps let you set thresholds per product, per variant, or even by vendor. For example, you might want a threshold of 5 for a slow-moving item, but 50 for a bestseller.
• Review regularly: Sales trends change! Check your thresholds every few months and tweak them if you notice certain products selling faster (or slower) than before.

Tips to Take Action When Inventory Runs Low

A low stock alert is your chance to stay ahead, not scramble behind. Here’s how Shopify merchants turn alerts into smart moves:

Verify Your Actual Stock First

Don’t blindly trust the alert; always double-check your physical inventory or warehouse system. Returns, damaged goods, or miscounts happen more often than we like to admit. Taking a few minutes to confirm what’s on the shelf prevents duplicate orders or accidental overselling.

Check How Fast the Product Sells

Look at your historical sales data: How many units sell daily or weekly? Does this product spike during sales or holidays? This helps you order enough to cover demand, but not so much that you tie up working capital in slow-moving stock.

Pro tip: If you’re using an inventory app, automate this: many apps can show average daily sales so you can confidently reorder.

Factor in Supplier Lead Times (and Their Track Record)

Suppliers rarely deliver at lightning speed. Always account for production time, shipping delays, customs clearance, and even local holidays in the supplier’s country. If a supplier is frequently late, build in an extra buffer or consider dual-sourcing to reduce risk.

Prioritize Profitable and Fast-Moving SKUs

When funds are tight or storage space is limited, prioritize what makes you money fast. Keep bestsellers and high-margin products in stock first. Low-margin or seasonal items can wait, your profit engine can’t.

Cross-Check Bundles, Kits, and Variants

One low-stock item can silently break multiple listings. Check if the SKU is part of a bundle, multipack, or kit. If so, adjust the listings or update stock levels to avoid selling a bundle you can’t fulfill completely.

Update Your Product Pages and Communicate Honestly

Shoppers hate surprises. If a popular product might go out of stock soon, say so on the product page: “Only a few left — restocking soon!” or “Available for pre-order, ships next week.”

This sets clear expectations and can even create urgency that boosts sales before you restock.

Negotiate Partial Shipments

If you can’t wait for the full restock, ask your supplier to ship a partial order immediately. Many manufacturers will agree if you cover the extra freight cost. Getting even a small batch faster can prevent a dreaded “Out of Stock” label.

Refine Your Alerts and Reordering Rules

Treat each low stock incident as data. Did your alert come too late or too early? Are you consistently running out of certain items? Fine-tune your reorder points, lead time assumptions, and minimum order quantities to match real demand patterns.

Pro tip: Set a recurring reminder to review and adjust thresholds every quarter. This will keep your system aligned with how your business is actually growing.

Download: Free Low Stock Alert Template

Want a quick way to calculate reorder points and get ahead of stockouts? Grab our free Excel & Google Sheets template — it does the math for you.

Download the Excel

2 . How the template works

Extra variables you can add easily

3 . Reading the results

• Days to Stock-out < Lead Time? ➜ You’re already at risk—create a PO now.
• Current Stock ≤ Reorder Point ➜ Time to reorder.
• Current Stock > Reorder Point ➜ You’re safe for now; review again tomorrow/weekly.

4 . Automate the “Sales (Last 30 d)” column from Shopify

Option A – No-code connectors (easiest)

Option B – Free Apps Script (DIY, code below)

1. In your sheet, Extensions → Apps Script.
2. Replace default code with the snippet.
3. Set two script properties (SHOP_URL, ACCESS_TOKEN).
4. Run getSalesLast30Days() once, then Triggers → add → Time-driven (daily or hourly).

Why use script vs. connector?

Connectors are point-and-click but often paid once you exceed free row limits; Apps Script is 100 % free but needs a custom app token and has Shopify + Google quotas (2 requests/sec for Admin REST API, 90 s total runtime).

Conclusion

Low inventory alerts are your store’s built-in safety net. But alerts alone don’t cut it if you’re still guessing when to reorder or juggling updates across channels.

That’s where Sumtracker really pulls its weight.

It doesn’t just ping you when stock is low; it shows you exactly what to reorder, helps you plan ahead for supplier delays, keeps bundles accurate, and automatically syncs inventory across every warehouse and sales channel.

In other words:

• Fewer stockouts
• Fewer angry “When will this be back?” emails
• More time to focus on growing your store, not micromanaging inventory

So, whether you sell five products or five hundred, give yourself a break from daily stock checks.

Let Sumtracker manage your inventory, send the right alerts, and keep your shelves.

Smart alerts, smarter reordering, that’s how you stay stocked and stress-free.

FAQS

1. Does Shopify automatically send low stock alerts?

No, Shopify’s native inventory tools let you track stock levels, but they won’t email or notify you automatically when inventory is low. You’ll need an app like Sumtracker for real-time alerts.

2. How do I choose the right low stock threshold for my products?

Set thresholds based on how fast each product sells and how long it takes to restock. Fast movers need a higher buffer; slow movers can have a lower threshold. Review and tweak regularly as your sales change.

3. Can I get alerts for individual product variants?

Yes! With inventory apps like Sumtracker, you can set custom low stock thresholds for each variant, like sizes, colors, or bundles, so you always know exactly what needs reordering.

4. What should I do when I get a low stock alert?

Double-check your stock, review recent sales, reorder quickly, and update your product pages if needed. Many inventory tools can help you create purchase orders directly from the alert.

5. Why use an inventory app like Sumtracker for low stock alerts?

Sumtracker does more than ping you; it tracks stock across multiple warehouses, automates reorder suggestions, keeps bundles accurate, and helps you avoid overselling.

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