5 min read

WooCommerce: How to effortlessly sync products between sites

Published on

27 November 2024

Source: Envato

Running multiple WooCommerce stores or collaborating with other WooCommerce sellers? You’ve likely felt the frustration of managing products across multiple sites. One small mistake—like forgetting to update stock on one store—and you’re left dealing with overselling and unhappy customers. Not to mention the time lost manually updating everything.

In this guide, we’ll cover two straightforward ways to sync products and inventory across multiple WooCommerce stores. If you prefer to avoid plugins or tools, we'll walk you through a manual approach. But if you're looking for something more efficient, we’ll also cover an automated option using a plugin.

Whether you're managing multistores on a single WordPress installation or trying to sync completely separate WooCommerce stores, this guide will help you save hours of time and minimize expensive errors.

Why we recommend using a plugin to sync products between sites

Initially, managing product and stock updates across sites manually may seem feasible. But, as your business grows, those little updates can start to pile up faster than dirty laundry.

Truth is, spreadsheets will only take you so far. Over time, inputting stock levels into spreadsheets or manually copying over product details across stores can lead to mistakes that could cost your reputation, big time. One misplaced decimal point, and suddenly you're telling customers you have 1,000 limited-edition wallets in stock instead of 10—leading to orders you can't actually fulfill.

With automation, you can free up your time for things that actually grow your business — like trying out new ranges or testing your brand in new regions. Automation will also keep those human errors at bay, allowing your stores to stay in perfect sync, real-time, all the time. So you can grow without worrying about overselling or inaccurate data.

One easy way to automate multistore synchronization is with Syncio for WooCommerce, which seamlessly connects multiple WooCommerce sites for headache-free management. Let's dive into how it could work for your business.

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Automated method: Real-time sync Woo products and stock with Syncio

Syncio does two key things: it copies products across Woo sites and then keeps their stock levels up-to-date and in sync across them all.

And here's the cool part - it all happens in real-time. So when someone buys something from one store, or if an item is restocked in one store, Syncio automatically updates the stock level across all the other stores. This removes the need to manually update the numbers yourself or worry about inaccurate information showing up on any storefront.

Step 1: Install the Syncio plugin

To get started, install and activate the Syncio plugin on all the WooCommerce sites you want to synchronize. Find it by searching for ‘Syncio’ on the Plugin Directory in your WP admin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, navigate to ‘Syncio’ in your admin and select ‘Approve permissions’ to allow the plugin to connect to your store.

Then follow the simple steps to register your Syncio account. This should only take a few minutes. While setting up Syncio, you’ll be asked to select a Store Type for each store:

  • Source Store: Select this option for the store that holds the master inventory and acts as the source for product information and stock levels.
  • Destination Store: Select this option for the store that will sync products and inventory from the Source Store. You can connect multiple Destination Stores to one Source Store.

FYI: If you have a Wordpress multisite setup, you'll need to install Syncio on each site to sync them. For this to work, you'll simply need to ensure that each store in your network has its own subdomain.

Step 2: Connect Woo / Wordpress sites

Once Syncio is installed on all stores, connecting them is quick and easy:

  1. Open the Syncio app and select “Stores” from the left-hand menu.
  1. Click “Connect new store”. You’ll have two options:
  • Invite via Email: This will send a connection request to the other store’s owner. They will receive instructions to install Syncio on their store. This is a handy option if you’re syncing with a partner store that you don’t own.
  • Connect via Unique Store Key: Copy the Source Store’s unique store key and paste it into the Destination Store to connect the stores.

Step 3: Sync products and inventory

Now that your stores are connected, here’s where the magic happens. Syncio makes it easy to automatically sync inventory in real time across all your stores.

  1. Open the Syncio app for the Destination Store and go to "Products”.
  2. In the “Select a Source store” dropdown, choose the connected Source Store to view its catalog.
  3. Select the items you wish to sync by checking the boxes next to them, and then click “Sync”.

And just like that, you're all set! Your products are instantly copied over, which means each connected storefront now has accurate data and listings.

This means that Syncio is also a painless way to migrate products between stores.

Step 4: Sit back and enjoy the gift of real-time stock sync

Once you hit 'Sync', the stock levels for products will be kept consistent across all connected stores, thanks to Syncio's built-in inventory sync magic. Sold something on one storefront? The others know about it right away. Just got a new shipment? Same deal – every store is on the same page instantly. No more scrambling to update things by hand or losing sleep over selling something you don't actually have.

You can kick back and relax, knowing your inventory's always spot-on, even if you're juggling stock between a bunch of different stores.

And the best part is, if you want to customize product attributes - like titles, descriptions or images, you can easily do so after the items are copied over. That way, you can make sure everything fits just right for each market you're selling in. As long as you don't touch the SKUs, the stock levels will still stay in sync.

Bonus: Syncio also offers a product mapping feature, so if the same items already exist in both stores, it can map them based on SKUs. This ensures that stock levels are always in sync without cloning listings.

Does Syncio keep product attributes in real-time sync?

Currently, Syncio focuses on real-time inventory syncing, ensuring stock levels stay accurate across all stores. While attributes (like titles, descriptions, and images) are accurately synced during the initial import, they don’t automatically get updated across stores after changes are made.

However, we’re working on adding this feature for WooCommerce as we speak! This will allow you to keep product details seamlessly updated across all your stores without manual adjustments.

Want to be the first to know when this feature is launched? Join the waitlist today and we'll keep you in the loop.

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Manual method: Manage Woo products and stock without plugins

If you’re not ready to fully automate your store operations or don’t want to install a plugin, you can still manually copy products and manage inventory across multiple WooCommerce sites. However, keep in mind that this method requires more time, effort, and attention to detail, especially as your store network and catalog expand.

Step 1: Export product data

Start by transferring the product information from the original store:

  1. Navigate to “Products” in your WooCommerce admin.
  2. Select the items you want to copy across, and click “Export”
  1. Select what attributes you want to transfer and then click “Generate CSV” to download the file containing your data.

Step 2: Import product data into the Destination store

Now, upload this CSV file into the other stores to clone the products:

  1. Log into the Destination Store’s dashboard.
  2. Navigate to “Products” > “Import”, then upload the file you downloaded from your Source Store.
  1. Map fields (e.g., SKU, price, and stock) to ensure everything transfers correctly. Make sure to double check that each field is mapped correctly.
  1. Click “Run the importer” to add the products onto the Destination store.

Step 3: Manually manage inventory across stores

Inventory updates must be managed manually. After every sale or restock, you’ll need to adjust the stock levels on all other stores:

  1. Track Sales: Whenever an item is sold in a store, manually update the stock on every other store to keep inventory consistent.
  2. Update Stock Levels: Go to “Products” in each store’s dashboard and adjust the stock quantities for each item by clicking “Edit” > “Inventory” to avoid overselling or stockouts.

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Wrapping up: Seamless WooCommerce product sync with Syncio

We've all been there. Eyes straining from endless spreadsheets, double-checking numbers for the umpteenth time. Uploading spreadsheets to multiple stores becomes a dreaded ritual. It's part of the journey, but it doesn't have to be the final destination.

Tools like Syncio exist for a reason. They can take over the mind-numbing tasks of replicating listings and updating stock across your stores. It's not about replacing you - it's about freeing you up to be the business owner you set out to be.

With automation handling the tedious stuff, you can redirect your energy. Maybe that means developing new offerings, improving customer service, or simply taking a day off without worrying about coming back to nightmares like overselling.

Ultimately, automation isn't just a luxury - it's a vital step in scaling your operation.

Whether you choose Syncio or another solution, the goal is the same: step back from the daily grind and focus on the bigger picture. Your time and creativity are your most valuable assets. Invest them wisely, and watch your business transform.

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Frequently asked questions

1. Do I need to own all the stores I want to sync with Syncio?

No, you don’t need to own all the stores. If you're syncing with a partner store, you can simply send an invitation via email for them to connect their store with yours using Syncio.

2. Can I customize product information on each store after syncing?

Yes, Syncio allows you to customize titles, descriptions, images, etc., for each store after the products are synced. Just ensure the SKUs remain the same, so stock levels stay in sync.

3. What happens if I sell an item in one store? Will other stores update automatically?

Yes, Syncio syncs inventory in real-time. When an item is sold on one storefront, its stock levels are automatically updated across all connected stores.

4. I want to sync stock levels between stores, but don't want to migrate or duplicate products. Can I do this with Syncio?

Yes, Syncio offers a handy mapping feature. If the same products exist in both stores, Syncio can map them based on SKUs, ensuring stock levels stay in sync without creating duplicates.

5. What if I prefer not to use a product sync plugin? Can I still sync manually?

You can manually transfer products by copying spreadsheet files between stores. However, this requires more time and effort, and you’ll need to manually update stock levels after every sale or restock.

6. Can I sync with a non-WooCommerce store using Syncio?

Yes, Syncio also helps sync and integrate WooCommerce and Shopify stores. If syncing with Shopify, just make sure your WooCommerce products are set up as variable products.

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