Real-Time Stock Display with Storefront API

Learn how to implement real-time stock updates using the Storefront API to enhance inventory management and improve customer trust.

Accurate stock information is crucial for avoiding overselling, reducing cancellations, and building customer trust. Shopify’s Storefront API, powered by GraphQL, offers tools like real-time syncing, multi-location support, and automation to ensure inventory data is always up-to-date.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why It Matters: Businesses lose up to 10% in revenue due to poor inventory management.
  • How It Works: Use GraphQL queries and webhooks for real-time updates across multiple locations.
  • Setup Steps:
    1. Create API credentials and configure permissions.
    2. Use GraphQL queries to fetch inventory data.
    3. Display stock dynamically on product pages.
  • Polling vs. Webhooks:
    • Polling: Easier to set up but less efficient.
    • Webhooks: Instant updates and lower server usage.

For better performance, implement caching, error handling, and fallback systems. Real-time updates improve customer trust and save time by automating manual tasks.

Configuring the Storefront API for Inventory Data

Creating Storefront API Credentials

To get started, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels > Develop apps in your Shopify admin panel. Click on "Create an app" to generate your credentials. Once the app is created, find your API access token under the ‘API credentials’ tab. Make sure to save this token securely in your development environment, as you’ll need it for inventory-related API calls.

Setting Up API Permissions

Properly setting up API permissions is key to managing inventory securely. For stock tracking, use the unauthenticated_read_product_inventory permission.

Here’s a quick overview of permissions you might need:

Permission Type Purpose
unauthenticated_read_product_inventory Access and monitor product stock levels
inventory_management Full control over inventory operations
multi_location_inventory Manage inventory across different locations

To keep your API secure, follow these tips:

  • Grant only the permissions you need and review them monthly.
  • Store your API tokens as encrypted environment variables.

For better performance, consider using webhook-based updates instead of polling. According to E-commerce Dev Group, this method can cut API calls by 40% when implemented correctly.

Once your Storefront API credentials and permissions are set up, you’ll be ready to query and display real-time stock data directly on your storefront.

How to create Shopify Storefront API access token

Shopify

Retrieving and Displaying Stock Data

After setting up your API credentials and permissions, you can start pulling stock data and showing it on your storefront.

Writing GraphQL Queries for Stock Data

To fetch inventory details, here’s a basic GraphQL query you can use:

{
  productVariant(id: "gid://shopify/ProductVariant/YOUR_VARIANT_ID") {
    inventoryItem {
      id
      inventoryLevels(first: 5) {
        edges {
          node {
            available
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Make sure to enable the read_inventory scope, optimize by caching frequent queries, and include error handling for API requests.

Adding Stock Information to Product Pages

To show stock levels dynamically on your product pages, you can use this JavaScript snippet:

// Store variant stock levels
const variantStock = {};
{% for variant in product.variants %}
  variantStock[{{- variant.id -}}] = {{ variant.inventory_quantity }};
{% endfor %}

// Update stock display dynamically
function updateStockDisplay(variant) {
  if (variantStock[variant.id] > 0) {
    inventoryWrapper.innerHTML = `<p>Stock: ${variantStock[variant.id]}</p>`;
  } else {
    inventoryWrapper.innerHTML = 'Out of Stock';
  }
}

This script updates the stock information on the page based on the selected product variant. To enhance user experience, you can tailor stock messages depending on inventory levels:

  • High stock (>20): Display "In Stock"
  • Medium stock (5-20): Show the exact remaining quantity
  • Low stock (<5): Add urgency with a message like "Only a few left!"

With this setup in place, your product pages will dynamically reflect stock levels. Next, focus on real-time updates to keep the data accurate.

Keeping Stock Data Updated in Real Time

Once you’ve retrieved and displayed stock data, the next challenge is keeping it updated in real time. This involves choosing between two main methods: polling and webhooks. Each approach comes with its own strengths and trade-offs, impacting performance and user experience.

Comparing Polling and Webhooks

Feature Polling Webhooks
Implementation Easier to set up Requires more setup effort
Resource & Server Usage Higher due to frequent API calls Lower, as updates are event-driven
Real-time Accuracy Limited by polling intervals Updates are instant
Reliability Predictable May need automated retries for failures
Maintenance Minimal upkeep Requires monitoring the webhook endpoint

Interestingly, only about 1.5% of polling requests detect changes, making webhooks a much more efficient choice. For Shopify users, the inventory_levels/update event is particularly useful. It triggers automatically whenever stock levels change, ensuring your inventory is always accurate. This not only improves operational efficiency but also builds customer confidence with up-to-date stock information.

Updating the Frontend Automatically

To reflect real-time stock changes on the frontend, you can use a WebSocket connection. This allows you to dynamically update the product page whenever stock data changes. Here’s an example of how to set this up:

const stockUpdateHandler = {
  socket: null,

  initialize() {
    this.socket = new WebSocket('wss://your-webhook-endpoint');
    this.socket.onmessage = (event) => {
      const stockData = JSON.parse(event.data);
      this.updateProductStock(stockData);
    };
  },

  updateProductStock(data) {
    const stockDisplay = document.getElementById(`stock-${data.variantId}`);
    if (stockDisplay) {
      stockDisplay.textContent = data.quantity > 0 
        ? `In Stock: ${data.quantity}` 
        : 'Out of Stock';
    }
  }
};

To ensure smooth operation, consider these additional features:

  • Error Handling: Add logic to retry failed webhook deliveries.
  • Data Validation: Use Shopify’s HMAC validation to confirm the authenticity of incoming data.
  • Queue Management: Implement a queue system to process updates sequentially, ensuring accurate stock levels.

"Webhooks make real-time data updates really simple."

Shopify’s webhook system already includes a retry mechanism, attempting failed deliveries up to 19 times over 48 hours. For stores with high traffic, using a message queue can help manage large volumes of updates without compromising accuracy.

With these real-time updates in place, you’re better equipped to provide a seamless and reliable experience for your customers.

Improving Performance and User Experience

Real-time stock updates require fine-tuning performance to ensure users have a smooth experience.

Using Caching to Reduce API Calls

Shopify leverages server-side and CDN caching to lower server strain while maintaining accurate data. Here’s how different caching methods can improve performance:

Caching Method Benefits Best Use Case
GraphQL & TTL Caching Cuts down redundant API calls while keeping data fresh Frequently accessed product details with moderate updates
Event-driven Cache Guarantees up-to-date accuracy Items with critical stock levels or high importance

For example, French brand Odaje saw a 6% increase in conversions and a 25% boost in international sales by optimizing Shopify caching.

While caching enhances speed, effective error handling ensures the system remains reliable even during disruptions.

Handling Errors and Providing Backup Options

Strong error management is essential for real-time stock updates. Common API issues include timeouts, data mismatches, and network disruptions.

Set Up a Fallback System: Use real-time API data as the main source. If that fails, rely on cached data, and as a last resort, use the most recent stock levels.

Bared Footwear successfully unified its inventory data, leading to better syncing and smoother operations.

Track Performance Metrics: Keep an eye on these critical indicators to maintain optimal performance:

  • API response times
  • Cache hit rates
  • Error occurrences
  • Page load speeds

To stay ahead of potential issues, set up smart alerts to notify your team when:

  • API requests exceed rate limits
  • Cache invalidation processes fail
  • Stock data is outdated
  • Synchronization problems arise

Conclusion: Steps to Add Real-Time Stock Updates

Quick Recap of the Process

Here’s a breakdown of the key steps to set up real-time inventory updates:

Phase Key Actions Result
Setup Create API credentials, configure permissions Secure access to inventory data
Implementation Write GraphQL queries, add display logic Real-time stock visibility
Optimization Configure caching, implement error handling Better performance and reliability

Following these steps ensures your inventory system runs smoothly and keeps stock data accurate at all times.

Why Real-Time Stock Updates Matter

Shopify retailers have seen measurable improvements after adopting real-time inventory updates:

  • 40% increase in in-store conversion rates thanks to accurate stock details
  • 10+ hours saved monthly by automating manual inventory tasks
  • Fewer stockouts and overselling issues, improving customer trust

Take the example of French brand Odaje. After rolling out real-time stock tracking across 16 physical stores and their online shop, they saw a 6% rise in conversion rates and a 25% jump in international sales [1].

Need Expert Help? Contact E-commerce Dev Group

E-commerce Dev Group

Managing real-time inventory updates can be complex, but E-commerce Dev Group can simplify the process. They specialize in custom API integrations, improving system performance, and syncing inventory across multiple channels, ensuring your business stays efficient and up-to-date.

Related Blog Posts

Share Article:

Could you scale faster if you had a team of specialist on
standby to handle all of your Shopify tasks?

Design. Development. Support

A dedicated team on standby, for whatever you need