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6] Cultivate healthy supplier relationships Manufacturing delays occur often, so it’s always a good idea to maintain a good relationship with multiple, trustworthy suppliers. You can better collaborate on order volumes and timing, and negotiate better terms to save on costs.

5] Carry out inventory audits Regular audits help ensure that the inventory recorded in the system matches the actual inventory you are carrying. You'll identify inefficiencies (like inventory that is selling too slowly or too quickly) so you can optimize product availability.

4] Distribute your inventory Distributed inventory at locations closest to your customers will ensure orders are delivered faster and more affordably. In case of an emergency (e.g. bad weather or warehouse closures), another warehouse location can fill in as a backup.

3] Use inventory reorder points Once you have insight into stock availability in real time, you can predetermine inventory reorder points. To calculate reorder points manually, try this formula: Reorder Point (ROP) = Demand during lead time + safety stock

2] Implement demand forecasting With clear stock availability oversight, including current levels and past trends, you can decide: - When to reorder - Where to store certain SKUs throughout your network - When it’s time to run a promotion or a flash sale to deplete old stock

1] Use a reliable inventory management system Software helps automate inventory tracking, so it saves you time while reducing human error. To help prevent stockouts, the right software can calculate your ideal amount of inventory based on past trends and purchasing behavior.

Carrying costs eat up about 30% of your total inventory costs. How to reduce that spend? Here are 6 ways to improve your stock availability:

11] Cloud computing Ecommerce expansion is made possible by using cloud-based computing solutions. These help the logistics industry easily record and aggregate data, and allow merchants to outsource fulfillment while maintaining full oversight.