Shopify ERP: Inventory-Centric Control for Shopify & Shopify Plus Merchants

Shopify ERP

Shopify is a powerful commerce platform. A Shopify ERP is the operational system that runs behind it once inventory and fulfilment complexity increases:
multi-location inventory accuracy, audit trails, purchasing and replenishment,
warehouse execution (WMS), fulfilment, and returns/exchanges.
Stok.ly is an inventory-centric cloud ERP built for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants—connected via a Shopify app.

Shopify & Shopify Plus operations
Multi-location inventory control
Audit trail stock movement
WMS execution
Purchasing & replenishment
AI planning
Quick takeaway

Shopify runs commerce. Stok.ly runs the inventory operation behind Shopify: multi-location inventory, purchasing, replenishment, transfers,
WMS execution and fulfilment—so availability stays reliable as you scale.

Related: Shopify integration · Shopify order management · Sell It

What is a Shopify ERP?

A Shopify ERP is the system used to run operational inventory and fulfilment behind Shopify once you outgrow basic inventory tracking.
It typically becomes necessary when you need multiple locations, warehouse discipline, purchasing controls, and reliable availability for customers across channels.

Shopify is typically used for

  • Online selling and checkout
  • Product presentation and merchandising
  • Order capture and customer experience

The ERP layer is typically used for

  • Inventory control and audit trails
  • Purchasing, replenishment and supplier management
  • Warehouse execution (receiving, bins, pick/pack/ship)
  • Transfers and stock balancing across locations
  • Operational planning and automation

When Shopify merchants typically need an ERP

Multi-location stock becomes normal

You add a second warehouse, open multiple stores, start using a 3PL, or launch multiple markets.
Inventory must be accurate by location, not averaged.

See: Multi-location inventory

Purchasing becomes strategic

Supplier lead times, MOQs, seasonality and service levels start driving working capital and availability.
You need policy-driven replenishment and planning discipline.

See: AI demand forecasting

Warehouse volume requires scan discipline

When picking volume grows, you need barcode-led receiving, bins, picking and packing with exceptions—otherwise accuracy degrades.

See: WMS and Ship It

Returns, exchanges and order changes increase

Complexity rises with split shipments, partial fulfilment, exchanges, and operational returns handling.
Inventory and order updates must remain consistent.

See: Shopify order management

Recommended architecture

Target state Shopify (or Shopify Plus) at the front for commerce, with Stok.ly as the operational ERP behind it.

  • Shopify / Shopify Plus: online storefront, checkout, order capture, customer experience
  • Stok.ly: inventory control, purchasing, replenishment, transfers, WMS execution, fulfilment workflows and planning
  • Integrations: synchronisation of stock availability and order updates, plus accounting connectivity

Related: Shopify integration · ecommerce integrations · Sell It

Shopify ERP capability checklist

Capability What to validate Why it matters
Inventory truth by location On-hand, available, committed and inbound by warehouse/store/3PL; audit trail. Prevents overselling and enables reliable fulfilment.
Purchasing and replenishment Lead times, MOQs, reorder policies, seasonality; automated proposals. Reduces stockouts and protects working capital.
Warehouse execution (WMS) Receiving, putaway, bins, pick/pack/ship by scan; exceptions. Accuracy depends on execution discipline.
Order routing and fulfilment How orders are fulfilled from warehouse vs store; split fulfilment; partials. Improves customer experience and reduces cost-to-serve.
Returns and exchanges How returns/exchanges update inventory and order state consistently. Stops inventory drift and reconciliation overhead.
Planning and automation Forecasting, PO proposals, balancing and constraints-based planning. Turns planning into a repeatable process.

Deep dive: Stock It · WMS · AI functionality

If you also sell in-store: Shopify POS and ERP

If you sell in-store, validate how your inventory system stays consistent across Shopify POS terminals and online Shopify selling.
Multi-location retailers often need stronger operational workflows for transfers, replenishment and warehouse execution.

Shopify POS ERP page

For Shopify POS merchants with multiple locations, see:
Shopify POS ERP.

Stok.ly native POS (optional)

If you want a POS designed natively around inventory-first retail operations, see:
Stok.ly Retail POS.

Related: ePOS & Shopify

How Stok.ly fits as a Shopify ERP

Stok.ly is an inventory-centric cloud ERP designed for inventory-led operations. Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants use it to maintain one stock truth across locations,
enforce an audit trail on stock movements, run replenishment and transfers, and execute warehouse workflows—while keeping Shopify inventory and orders synchronised.

Next step

Validate your operating model in a demo: locations, warehouse workflows, replenishment policies, returns/exchanges and order synchronisation.
Book a demo.

Stok.ly overview video

A short overview of how Stok.ly supports inventory-led operations across warehouses, stores and channels.


Explore related Stok.ly pages

FAQs

Do Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants need an ERP?

Many do once inventory and fulfilment complexity increases—multi-location stock, higher order volumes, warehouse execution and purchasing discipline.
An ERP layer provides operational control behind Shopify.

What’s the biggest risk when adding ERP behind Shopify?

Fragmented inventory truth. If Shopify and the ERP do not stay aligned on location-level availability, orders and returns, you see overselling, cancellations and reconciliation overhead.

How should a Shopify ERP handle multi-location inventory?

It should maintain location-level availability with an audit trail of stock movements—receipts, transfers, adjustments and fulfilment—so stock decisions are reliable and accountable.

Can Stok.ly support Shopify POS as well as online Shopify selling?

Yes. For in-store selling with Shopify POS alongside online Shopify/Shopify Plus, see the dedicated page:
Shopify POS ERP.

© Stok.ly. This page is intended for informational guidance to support software evaluation.
See pricing or book a demo.



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