How to Bulk Update Inventory Using the Import Tool

You can update inventory levels for multiple products at once using the Acenda Import tool. This process involves exporting your current data, editing the file, and re-importing the new quantities.

Step 1: Export Your Current Inventory

First, generate a file containing your current product data.

Navigate to Admin > Import/Export.
Click the Exports tab.
Select Inventory Details from the export type dropdown.
Click the Export button.
Once the process is finished, click the Download button in the actions column.

Step 2: Prepare Your File

Open the downloaded file in Microsoft Excel (or compatible software) to make your updates.

[!IMPORTANT] You must clean up the file before importing it back into Acenda. The import tool only accepts specific columns.

Delete all columns in the file except for the following four:
- sku (or product_id)
- warehouse_id
- quantity
- allocated
Update the numbers in the quantity and allocated columns as needed.
Save your file as a CSV (UTF-8) format.

Note: Do not keep the metadata columns (usually the first five columns of the raw export). If you include columns other than the four listed above, the import may fail.

Step 3: Import the Updates

Once your CSV file is saved and formatted correctly:

Return to Admin > Import/Export.
Click the Imports tab.
Click the New Import button.
For "Import Type," select Inventory Detail.
Select Map to SKU (or Product ID, depending on which column you kept).
Upload your CSV file and click Start Import.

Important Notes on Inventory Logic

It is important to understand how Acenda calculates the inventory sent to your marketplaces.

"Quantity" vs. "Allocated"

Quantity: Your total physical stock on hand.
Allocated: Stock reserved for pending orders or transfers.

Crucial Requirement: The manual update method in the Acenda UI only updates the Quantity value. If you need to update the Allocated value, you must use the Import/Export method described in this guide. You cannot manually adjust "Allocated" stock via the standard product user interface.

Calculating Available Stock

The "Available to Sell" quantity (On Hand) that is actually sent to a marketplace is calculated using this formula:

Quantity - Allocated = Available to Sell

When is Allocated Inventory Cleared?

The Allocated value is a dynamic reservation. These units will automatically be cleared from the "Allocated" column in two scenarios:

When items ship: Once an order is marked as shipped, the inventory is deducted from your physical "Quantity" and the "Allocated" reservation is removed.
When items are cancelled: If an order is cancelled before shipping, the reservation is released, and the items return to your "Available to Sell" pool.

Inventory Floors

Please note that some channel integrations may have an Inventory Floor setting active. This feature creates a buffer that may further constrain the "Available to Sell" quantity sent to that specific marketplace, regardless of your manual adjustments or imports.