Bundle Inventory Management

Track and manage inventory for bundled products

Last updated: 2025-01-16

Bundle inventory management ensures that bundles remain available only when all component products are in stock. CheckoutOS handles inventory tracking automatically, updating bundle availability in real-time.

How Bundle Inventory Works

When a customer purchases a bundle, CheckoutOS:

  1. Validates inventory — Checks all components are available
  2. Reserves stock — Holds inventory during checkout
  3. Decrements on order — Reduces component inventory when order completes
  4. Updates availability — Hides bundle if any component sells out

Inventory Tracking Modes

Component Tracking (Default)

Track inventory at the individual product level. Bundle availability depends on all components being in stock:

Component Tracking
{
  "inventory": {
    "mode": "component",
    "track_components": true,
    "behavior_when_unavailable": "hide_bundle",
    "show_low_stock_warning": true,
    "low_stock_threshold": 5
  }
}
Recommended

Component tracking is recommended for most bundles as it prevents overselling and uses your existing Shopify inventory management.

Bundle SKU Tracking

Create a separate SKU for pre-assembled bundles:

Bundle SKU Tracking
{
  "inventory": {
    "mode": "bundle_sku",
    "bundle_sku": "BUNDLE-SKINCARE-001",
    "track_as_product": true,
    "sync_to_shopify": true
  }
}

When to Use Bundle SKU

  • Pre-packaged bundles in your warehouse
  • Bundles with unique packaging
  • Need to track bundle sales separately
  • Drop-shipped bundles from supplier

Hybrid Tracking

Track both bundle units and component inventory:

Hybrid Tracking
{
  "inventory": {
    "mode": "hybrid",
    "bundle_sku": "BUNDLE-001",
    "bundle_inventory": 50,
    "fallback_to_components": true,
    "component_assembly_buffer": 100
  }
}

Availability Rules

Control what happens when inventory is limited:

Availability Configuration
{
  "availability": {
    "hide_when_unavailable": true,
    "show_out_of_stock": false,
    "allow_backorder": false,
    "partial_availability": {
      "enabled": false,
      "message": "Some items may ship separately"
    },
    "preorder": {
      "enabled": true,
      "available_date": "2025-03-01",
      "message": "Ships March 1st"
    }
  }
}

Low Stock Alerts

Get notified before bundles become unavailable:

Alert Configuration
{
  "alerts": {
    "low_stock": {
      "enabled": true,
      "threshold": 10,
      "channels": ["email", "slack"],
      "email": "inventory@yourstore.com",
      "slack_webhook": "https://hooks.slack.com/..."
    },
    "out_of_stock": {
      "enabled": true,
      "immediate": true
    }
  }
}

Variant Inventory

When bundles include products with variants, inventory is tracked at the variant level:

Variant Inventory Handling
{
  "variant_handling": {
    "mode": "specific_variants",
    "variants": [
      {
        "product_id": "shirt-001",
        "variant_id": "medium-black",
        "quantity": 1
      }
    ],
    "allow_substitution": {
      "enabled": true,
      "within_same_product": true,
      "notify_customer": true
    }
  }
}

Fulfillment Integration

Configure how bundle orders appear for fulfillment:

Fulfillment Settings
{
  "fulfillment": {
    "line_item_display": "separate_items",
    "include_bundle_name": true,
    "packing_instructions": "Pack together in bundle box",
    "warehouse_location": "ZONE-A",
    "print_bundle_label": true
  }
}

Line Item Options

  • Separate items — Each product as individual line item
  • Single bundle — One line item with details
  • Hybrid — Bundle line + component details

Inventory Sync

CheckoutOS syncs inventory with Shopify in real-time:

  • Inventory updates within 1 second
  • Webhook-based sync for immediate updates
  • Periodic reconciliation every 15 minutes
  • Manual sync available in dashboard
Third-Party Inventory Systems

If you use a third-party inventory management system, ensure it syncs to Shopify for CheckoutOS to have accurate availability data.

Best Practices

Inventory Management Tips
  • Set realistic thresholds — Account for in-transit and reserved stock
  • Enable low stock alerts — Stay ahead of availability issues
  • Monitor bundle velocity — Track how fast bundles sell
  • Plan for seasonality — Increase stock before peak periods
  • Test checkout flow — Verify inventory validation works correctly

Related Topics

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