Product Restock

Learn how to manage product restocking in your e-commerce system. This guide covers setting restock dates, configuring notifications, and implementing restock date displays in your templates.

Restock Date Management

The restock management system automatically appears in the product edit form when inventory levels fall below zero. This feature helps administrators track and manage product replenishment efficiently.

Automatic restock date field appears when stock is below zero
Daily automated email notifications for products due for restocking
Consolidated notifications for multiple products with the same restock date
Flexible date format support for template display

Configuration

Email Settings

Configure the notification email address through the following path:

Catalogues module → Configure → Manage Configuration → Restock Email

Email Fallback: If no specific restock email is configured, the system will default to using the centre email address for notifications.

Automation Schedule

The restock notification system operates on the following schedule:

Runs once daily via cron job
Checks all products with restock dates matching the current date
Consolidates notifications for multiple products

Implementation Guide

Retrieving Restock Dates

Use the getRestockDate() function to retrieve restock dates in your templates:

<{$product->getRestockDate($format = 'Y-m-d')}>

Date Formatting:

Default format is 'Y-m-d'
Accepts any valid PHP date format string
Use 'U' format to get Unix timestamp

Validation Example

Here's how to check if a restock date is valid and not in the past:

<{if $product->getRestockDate('U') > $smarty.now}>
    // Display restock information
<{else}>
    // Handle expired restock date
<{/if}>

Best Practices

Regularly monitor and update restock dates to maintain accuracy
Implement date validation to prevent displaying outdated restock information
Consider setting up additional notification triggers for approaching restock dates
Keep email configuration updated to ensure proper notification delivery
Document any custom date format implementations for team reference

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

Missing Notifications: Verify email configuration in Manage Configuration
Outdated Dates: Implement timestamp validation using getRestockDate('U')
Display Issues: Confirm proper date format strings in templates

Important: Always validate restock dates against the current time to prevent displaying outdated information to customers. Use the Unix timestamp format (getRestockDate('U')) for accurate comparisons.