Inventory
Quick Definition
Inventory in WooCommerce tracks how many units of each product you have in stock. It automatically reduces stock when orders are placed, sends low-stock alerts, and can hide or allow backorders for out-of-stock products.

What Is Inventory Management?
Inventory management in WooCommerce tracks units per product, auto-reduces on orders, and alerts on low stock. Built into WooCommerce core.
How Stock Tracking Works
- Set stock quantity per product
- Auto-deducted at checkout
- Out of stock at zero — hidden or shown with notice
- Restored on cancel/refund
Key Settings
| Setting | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Stock quantity | Units available |
| Low stock threshold | Email alert level (default: 2) |
| Backorders | Do not allow / Allow / Allow + notify |
| SKU | Unique product ID |
Email Notifications
Auto emails for low stock and out of stock events. Configure recipients in WooCommerce → Settings → Emails.
When You Need More
Multiple warehouses, supplier management, multi-channel selling — need ATUM or similar.
Why It Matters
Overselling destroys trust. Understocking loses revenue. Set quantities, configure alerts, choose backorder policy.
Sources: WooCommerce, Omnisend
Related Terms
OrderAn order in WooCommerce is a record of a customer purchase containing product details, shipping address, payment information, and a status that tracks fulfillment progress — from Pending Payment through Processing to Completed.Product PageA product page is the dedicated webpage on an e-commerce store that displays all the information a shopper needs to make a buying decision — including images, price, description, and an Add to Cart button. In WooCommerce, every product you publish automatically gets its own product page.WooCommerceWooCommerce is a free, open-source WordPress plugin that turns any WordPress site into a fully functional online store. It powers over 6.5 million stores worldwide and holds about 33% of the global e-commerce market share.
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