Lag time Between Product Inventory and Website Update

[theoldtownshop]

The other week we received new inventory for an item that is already in the system. When we received the stock the inventory numbers were updated on the back end but did not reflect properly on the website. It took a few hours for the website to show that the items was no longer "Out of Stock" and fully stocked for purchase. Is there a way to fix this? Thank you!

[Summer2024]

Hi, @theoldtownshop! 

Here are some troubleshooting steps for this sync issue. Please let me know if you are still experiencing issues after trying these. 

Immediate Solutions

1. Manual Sync Trigger:

   • Go to Square Dashboard
   • Navigate to Items > Site Editor
   • Click on "Sync Now" or "Update Catalog"
   • This can force a sync between your POS and online store

2. Update Item Directly:

   • Instead of just adjusting quantity, try:
     1. Go to the specific item in your catalog
     2. Edit the item
     3. Save the changes (even if you didn't change anything)
     • This often triggers an immediate sync

Preventive Measures

1. Batch Updates:

   • If you're receiving multiple items, make all inventory adjustments at once
   • Save changes once instead of multiple times
   • This reduces sync delays

2. Check Sync Settings:

   • Go to Online Store settings
   • Verify your sync preferences are set to automatic
   • Ensure there are no sync restrictions in place

Best Practices

1. For Urgent Updates:

   • If you need immediate reflection online:
     1. Adjust the inventory quantity
     2. Edit the item directly
     3. Use the manual sync option
     4. Refresh your online store

2. Regular Maintenance:

   • Schedule inventory updates during off-peak hours
   • Regular catalog syncs (daily/weekly)
   • Monitor sync status in Dashboard

Additional Tips

1. Browser Cache:

   • Sometimes the delay is browser-related
   • Clear your cache or try incognito mode to verify
   • Ask customers to refresh their browser

2. Multiple Locations:

   • If you have multiple locations, ensure you're updating the correct location's inventory
   • Verify sync settings for each location

I hope this helps!