How often should inventory sync to the B2B portal?

Inventory should sync in real time or as close to it as possible. Daily batch updates are no longer sufficient for wholesale buyers who expect up-to-the-minute accuracy.

Is ATP necessary for wholesale?

Yes. Available-to-Promise, or ATP, prevents overselling by factoring in reservations and inbound shipments. It is a standard ERP feature and should be surfaced in your B2B portal.

What if different warehouses have different stock levels?

If your warehouses carry different stock, you should establish clear fulfillment priorities. Some brands choose to show location-based availability, while others present a unified view that reflects those priorities.

Can RFID really help?

RFID can significantly improve inventory accuracy. It enhances cycle counts, gives better visibility across the supply chain, and helps reduce both out-of-stocks and shrink.

How does RepSpark handle live availability?

RepSpark connects directly with your ERP and displays real-time inventory as retailers shop. Availability is reconfirmed during order entry, so buyers are always ordering against current stock.

Accurate Stock in Your B2B Portal: ERP Sync

Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: Why Accuracy Matters
Chapter III: Laying the Foundation for Accurate Stock Data
Chapter IV: Cleaning Up the Data Behind the Scenes
Chapter V: How RepSpark Simplifies Inventory Accuracy
Chapter VI: Putting It Into Practice
Chapter VII: Conclusion

Chapter I: Introduction

The only way to guarantee retailers see accurate stock in your B2B portal is by connecting your system to a single source of truth, which usually means your ERP or warehouse management system.

Real-time updates, clear business rules around prebooks and backorders, and tools like ATP (Available-to-Promise) ensure buyers only see what they can actually order.

Platforms like RepSpark make this possible by integrating directly with your ERP, displaying inventory in real time, and validating availability during the order process.

When retailers can’t trust your stock numbers, they hesitate to place orders,or worse, they may look for other brands where they can ensure their stock.

This creates cancellations, erodes trust, and reduces repeat business.

Studies show that store-level inventory accuracy can drop as low as 70–90%, compared with more than 99% accuracy in distribution centers. In today’s wholesale landscape, waiting until the end of the day to update stock just isn’t enough. Retailers expect your portal to reflect what’s available now, not yesterday.

The first step is connecting your portal to the system that already governs inventory such as your ERP or warehouse management system. This connection should push real-time or near-real-time updates for every SKU, broken down by style, color, size, and warehouse location.

RepSpark supports these ERP integrations so retailers always see the most current availability as they shop and build orders.

Showing inventory on hand isn’t enough, though. What truly matters is ATP, or Available-to-Promise. ATP goes a step further by factoring in reservations, incoming purchase orders, and allocations to reveal what’s genuinely available for a retailer to buy right now. Giving retailers a clear view of both what’s on hand and what’s inbound, with estimated arrival dates, makes it easier for them to plan ahead.

Accurate stock visibility depends on clean product and location data. That means using consistent SKUs, warehouse codes, and unit-of-measure standards. Status codes such as “sellable,” “damaged,” or “on hold” should be mapped clearly to buyer-facing rules so there’s no confusion about what can or can’t be ordered.

Operational practices also play a major role. Regular cycle counts and the adoption of RFID can significantly boost accuracy, especially in industries like apparel and footwear. RFID doesn’t just speed up counts; it improves visibility across the supply chain, reducing both out-of-stocks and shrink.

Every brand has different approaches to backorders, warehouse priorities, or substitutions. Defining and enforcing these rules ensures your buyers see the right options. For example, you might allow certain accounts to place backorders but not others, or you may prioritize shipping from specific warehouses to reduce costs. Being transparent about these rules builds confidence and prevents surprises later.

Accuracy isn’t just about backend data; it also needs to show up clearly in the buyer’s experience. Labels such as “In Stock,” “Low,” “Pre-Order,” or “Arriving October 12” give retailers immediate clarity. RepSpark takes this a step further by showing live availability inside the order entry grid itself. Buyers see size-by-size counts as they build their orders, and availability is rechecked when they submit to prevent overselling.

RepSpark’s platform connects directly with ERPs to keep orders, pricing, and inventory in sync. That integration powers real-time availability updates, so retailers never have to second-guess whether items are really in stock. During order entry, inventory is validated live, which reduces cancellations and builds trust. And because the system can apply role- and account-based rules, each retailer sees assortments and pricing tailored specifically to them.

Brands that succeed with inventory accuracy take a structured approach. They map ERP fields to their portal, set up event-driven syncs backed by regular backfills, and enable ATP so buyers see not just what’s on hand but what’s actually orderable.

They enforce clear rules around backorders and multi-warehouse fulfillment, and they monitor the freshness of their data with alerts for discrepancies. On the operational side, they run frequent cycle counts and, where possible, use RFID to raise their baseline accuracy.