Operating journey / step 50

Stock and returns

Reference

Use this guide when work has reached this point. If the visible state does not match, stop and follow the named hand-off.

Read Inventory Before You Change It

Understand on-hand, available, and committed quantities, and when a refresh is only a local observation.

Updated Sept 2026
Owner: Inventory Manager
Area: Inventory

Before you begin

Help Admins distinguish locally stored quantities from the latest confirmed Shopify view for one mapped warehouse location.

Prerequisites

  • The intended Shopify location is mapped to the client.
  • The Admin can see the inventory timestamp and location.
  • Any stock decision can wait for a trustworthy result.

Stop and check

Do not describe a local quantity as real-time or make a stock decision from the wrong location.

StoreFulfil shows local inventory for the mapped Shopify location. On-hand is the warehouse quantity used for corrections; available and committed describe what can be allocated around current work. A refresh updates the local observation but does not make an ambiguous location or an unverified adjustment safe.

Inventory states

StateWhat it meansSafe next step
On-handThe quantity physically held for the mapped warehouse location.Use a stocktake or deliberate on-hand correction when the physical count is known.
AvailableThe quantity that can still be allocated after current holds and commitments.Use it to understand order eligibility, not as a substitute for a physical count.
CommittedQuantity already reserved by open fulfilment work.Resolve or complete the owning work before interpreting the remaining pool.
Refresh resultThe latest local observation returned from the mapped Shopify location.Read the timestamp, row errors, and mapped location before acting.

Before an adjustment

  1. Confirm the client and mapped Shopify location.
  2. Check whether active fulfilment work or a return is already using the inventory identity.
  3. Use the physical count as the intended on-hand target; do not adjust available as a proxy.
  4. If the provider response is uncertain, stop and reconcile the live quantity before attempting another write.

What this is and when to use it

Use this Admin guide before reading or changing stock for a client location.

Read before changing stock

  1. Confirm the client and mapped Shopify location.
  2. Read the timestamp beside the quantity.
  3. Use on-hand for a known physical count; treat available and committed as planning values around current work.
  4. Refresh or use the supported stocktake workflow when the view is stale.
  5. Check the result and location before making another change.

Questions and hand-off

If The warehouse count is lower than the order requires

Do not make the order appear complete. Hold the work and investigate the physical count.

If Extra stock is found

Count it and use the approved stocktake or adjustment process; do not change available as a substitute.

If The location is wrong or the provider result is uncertain

Stop the change and escalate with the client, location, timestamp, and result.

What happens next

A recognised stock result is available for the mapped location; unresolved differences remain an Admin investigation.

Expected Outcome

Staff can interpret the local inventory counts and know when to refresh them from Shopify.

Runbook evidence

Use these signals to decide whether the work is ready to continue, complete, or needs an owner.

State checkpoints

Local quantity shown

StoreFulfil has a stored on-hand, available, or committed value for the mapped location.

Next: Check the location and timestamp before using it operationally.

Sync completed

A manual refresh returned a result that can be reviewed row by row.

Next: Use recognised values and record any rejected or unrecognised rows.

Stale or failed

The displayed value is not safe to treat as the latest Shopify position.

Next: Pause stock decisions and follow stale-inventory or connection guidance.

Completion evidence

  • The mapped location, timestamp, quantities, and any failed rows are visible.

Escalation evidence

  • Record the client, location, SKU or product, timestamp, and displayed sync result.

Work safely

Who may take this action

Warehouse Admin

What you should see

StoreFulfil has a stored on-hand, available, or committed value for the mapped location.

Safe next step

Check the location and timestamp before using it operationally.

What not to do

Do not describe a local quantity as real-time or make a stock decision from the wrong location.

How to tell it is complete

The mapped location, timestamp, quantities, and any failed rows are visible.

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