Orders keep coming in from stores with empty shelves?
Only offer pickup and delivery where the stock is
Get fewer out-of-stock orders with real-time inventory. Bird checks Shopify stock at each location, marks options without stock as unavailable, and shows stock per store on the product page.
Find a store
Chocolate layer cake, 8 inch
Main Street
In stock1.2 km · Ready Oct 23, 10:00 AM
Harbor Road
3 in stock3.8 km · Ready Oct 23, 10:00 AM
Riverside
Out of stock6.1 km
Bird settings
Inventory
Inventory mapping
What changes when you use real-time inventory?
Stop offering pickup where stock is gone
Bird checks Shopify stock at each location and marks options without stock as unavailable, so customers pick a location that can fulfil the order.
Show store-by-store stock before checkout
On the product page, customers can see In stock, a low-stock count, or Out of stock for each pickup store.
Use warehouse stock without changing your storefront
Inventory Mapping lets each Bird location point to the Shopify location where stock is actually held.
What is real-time inventory in Bird?
Real-time inventory in Bird Pickup & Delivery checks your Shopify stock at each location before your customer can pick a method. Pickup and delivery options without stock show as unavailable, and the product page shows stock per pickup store. Inventory itself stays in Shopify.
| Checks | Shopify stock at the location the customer picks, for every item in the cart |
|---|---|
| Product page | In stock, a low-stock count like "3 in stock", or Out of stock, per pickup store |
| Price | From $19.99 a month, billed through Shopify, with a 14-day free trial. Compare plans |
| Used by | 7,000+ Shopify stores in 60+ countries |
Everything you can set
What does real-time inventory change for customers?
Your customers can choose only a store or delivery area that has the items.
What does real-time inventory change for customers?
Your customers can choose only a store or delivery area that has the items.
| You can | What happens | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Block locations without stock in the cart | Pickup and delivery options at a location without stock show an unavailable message instead of dates. | Example: A customer who picks Riverside for pickup sees it as unavailable, so they choose a store that has the item. |
| Check the full basket, not one item | Bird checks that all items in the cart are available at that location before the order can go ahead there. | Example: If two items are in stock at Main Street but one is not, Main Street is unavailable for that cart. |
| Show stock by store on the product page | Each pickup store shows the selected variant's stock before your customer adds to cart. | Example: Main Street In stock, Harbor Road "3 in stock", Riverside Out of stock. |
What stock does the product page show?
You get three stock states per pickup store, for the variant your customer has selected.
What stock does the product page show?
You get three stock states per pickup store, for the variant your customer has selected.
| You can | What happens | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Show "In stock" when quantity is healthy | The variant has enough quantity at that store. | Example: Downtown has 18 units, so customers see In stock. |
| Show the exact count when stock is low | When stock drops below a set level, the exact count shows, like "3 in stock", so your customers know to act fast. | Example: When quantity drops to 3, the widget shows "3 in stock" instead of a generic label. |
| Show "Out of stock" when none is left | No inventory for that variant at that store. | Example: If a store has 0 units for the selected variant, customers see Out of stock there. |
What if my stock sits in a warehouse, not the store?
Map each Bird location to the Shopify location its stock comes from.
What if my stock sits in a warehouse, not the store?
Map each Bird location to the Shopify location its stock comes from.
| You can | What happens | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Point each store to the right stock source | In Bird's Inventory settings, pick a Shopify location for each Bird location. Bird checks stock there. | Example: You map City Center pickup to Warehouse A, so City Center availability follows Warehouse A stock. |
| Run every pickup point from one warehouse | Map every Bird location to your main Shopify location. | Example: Three pickup stores all read stock from one central warehouse location in Shopify. |
| Run each area from its own warehouse | Map each Bird location to its own store or warehouse in Shopify. | Example: North side orders read North warehouse stock, while south side orders read South warehouse stock. |
| Map delivery zones to real stock too | Delivery zones, which you set up in Bird as extra locations with no stock of their own, can point at the real stock location too. | Example: A delivery-only zone maps to your main warehouse so delivery checks real inventory before checkout. |
What else helps with stock and timing?
Keep stock messages clear and protect prep time when stock gets tight.
What else helps with stock and timing?
Keep stock messages clear and protect prep time when stock gets tight.
| You can | What happens | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Rewrite stock messages for your brand | Rewrite the In stock, Out of stock and low-stock text on the product page, in each language. | Example: You swap "Out of stock" for "Sold out at this store" in English and French. |
| Add extra prep time for low-stock products | Tag out-of-stock products with Shopify Flow, then give that tag a longer lead time with a product override. | Example: When a product goes out of stock, it gets a tag and shifts from same-day to two-day notice. |
| Reopen locations the moment stock returns | When a location runs out, customers can't order from it until you add stock there in Shopify. | Example: After you restock 12 units at Harbor Road, Harbor Road appears as available again. |
What's checked in the cart and on the product page?
Both read the same Shopify stock, just at different moments.
| Capability | In the cart | On the product page |
|---|---|---|
| What's checked | In the cartEvery cart item, at the location the customer picks | On the product pageThe selected variant, at each pickup store |
| Methods | In the cartPickup and delivery | On the product pagePickup stores only, not the delivery card |
| Without stock | In the cartThe option shows an unavailable message | On the product pageOut of stock |
How do I turn on real-time inventory?
Open Bird Settings, then Inventory, and switch on Enable realtime inventory. If stock sits somewhere other than the store, set up Inventory Mapping on the same screen. You still manage inventory in Shopify.
FAQ
What else do merchants ask about real-time inventory?
Can Bird stop customers picking a store that's out of stock?
Yes, with real-time inventory. Pickup and delivery options at a location without stock show an unavailable message, so your customers choose one that has the items.
Can customers see stock at each store on the product page?
Yes. With real-time inventory on, the product page widget shows In stock, a low-stock count or Out of stock for the selected variant at each pickup store.
Does Bird manage my inventory?
No. Inventory stays in Shopify. Bird reads the stock at each location to decide what to offer.
My stock is in a warehouse, not the store. Does it still work?
Yes. Use Inventory Mapping to point each Bird location at the Shopify location its stock comes from, whether that's one warehouse or several.
Is stock shown for delivery too?
On the product page, stock shows for pickup stores only, not on the delivery card. In the cart, delivery options without stock at the mapped location show as unavailable.
Does it work with the legacy widget?
On the legacy widget the setting is called Show only locations that have available inventory. The current widget calls it Enable realtime inventory and adds stock on the product page.
How much does real-time inventory cost?
Paid plans start at $19.99 a month, billed through Shopify, with a 14-day free trial and 10% off annual billing. The pricing page shows what each plan includes.
Terms on this page
- Real-time inventory
- Bird's setting that checks Shopify stock per location before offering pickup or delivery.
- Inventory Mapping
- Linking each Bird location to the Shopify location its stock comes from.
- Low-stock threshold
- The stock level below which the product page shows the exact stock count.
- Virtual location
- A Bird location with no stock of its own, such as a delivery zone, mapped to a real one.
Related features
Industry guides: grocery stores, bakeries and florists.
Comparing apps? Bird vs Zapiet, Pickeasy, Stellar and Flare, or the best Shopify pickup and delivery apps.
No more trips for an item that isn't there.
Try Bird free for 14 days. Switch on real-time inventory, open a product page, and see stock at each of your stores.