I'm just asking a general question. This is certainly over my head but before I take it to someone to work on can I use the API to push a changing inventory list so that my website always has accurate inventory? Taking that a step further, can a web sale then be pushed back out so that the external inventory is updated with web transactions?


If I'm not clear, I have my database which also maintains an inventory for phone/mail order sales. If I have a single unit of something and I sell it through my other channel the website still thinks that I have one. Can I use the API to keep the website current with my live inventory?

Similiarly, if I have two and I sell one through the other chanell as described previously the website would think that I have one left. If that last unit is sold online can I use the API to update my inventory so that I don't sell it again through one of my other channels?

Like I said, I'm just looking for some general information. If I think I can do what I need I'll get the guy with the talent to ask the real questions.

Nothing can be pushed out through the API. You have to send a request to get/update information.



You can use the API to update inventory levels on the store. There is an example of an inventory update request here: http://forums.networksolutions.com/index.p...ost&p=24718



Basically what you would need to do is maintain a database somewhere of your inventory, and whenever that inventory changes update the website inventory through the API. At the same time you would need to use the API to either query for new orders on the website every so often or query products and get their inventory levels to keep your database in sync between what you sell online and phone/mail order sales. There may be other better ways to architect a system for this than what I just described, but to answer your basic question, it is possible to use the API to change inventory levels on the site.

Perfect. That was what I needed to know.

The Stone Edge Order Manager (www.StoneEdge.com/OrderManager.htm) can do what you are looking for. It can keep your inventory in synch between its data, where non-Web orders get entered and where new arrivals of inventory, returns & exchanges, etc. are handled, and one or more Web stores.