Stock, orders and channels — finally in one place
A retailer with three locations and two webshops shouldn't need five systems to know what's in stock. Afosto connects everything — so you always have one clear picture, and room to grow.
What does 'struggling stock' actually mean for retailers?
Struggling stock in retail is not a finance problem — it's an operations problem. It shows up as inventory that's oversold online but sitting in a back room, orders placed twice because two systems didn't sync, and staff wasting hours reconciling spreadsheets at the end of the day.
For retailers with physical locations and an online channel, the root cause is almost always the same: systems that were never designed to talk to each other.
- Your POS holds the in-store stock count
- Your webshop platform holds its own inventory snapshot
- Your ERP or warehouse tool has a third version of the truth
None of them update each other in real time. So when a customer buys the last unit in-store, your webshop keeps selling it online — and your reputation pays the price.
Why disconnected systems cost more than you think
Every manual sync between tools introduces lag, errors and friction. The operational cost is measurable:
- Overselling leads to cancelled orders and customer complaints
- Dead stock ties up cash that could fund your next buying cycle
- Manual reconciliation can take hours per week, per location
- Missed reorders mean stockouts at the worst possible moment
Scaling to more locations multiplies every one of these problems. An extra shop doesn't just add revenue — it adds another data source you have to wrangle by hand.
How a unified commerce platform solves the sync problem
A unified commerce platform is a single system that manages inventory, orders, customer data and sales channels — simultaneously and in real time. Instead of syncing between tools after the fact, every transaction updates one central record the moment it happens.
Afosto is built on an API-first, microservices architecture, which means:
- Stock updates propagate instantly across POS, webshop and warehouse
- Orders from every channel land in one dashboard — B2C and B2B
- You can add locations, channels or integrations without rebuilding your stack
The result is not just less chaos. It's predictability: you know what you have, where it is, and what's coming — before a problem surfaces.
Afosto in practice
Retailers using Afosto report measurable operational improvements
for all orders — B2C and B2B, online and in-store
Real-time
stock sync across every sales channel and location
locations supported — from single-store to multi-branch retailers
API-first
architecture — connect any tool, channel or warehouse system
What retailers get when everything is connected
Real-time inventory across every location
One stock record, updated the moment a sale happens — in-store, online or via a marketplace. No more end-of-day syncs or manual corrections.
Order management for B2C and B2B in one place
Create, receive and process all your orders from a single dashboard — regardless of channel or customer type. Less switching, fewer mistakes.
POS and webshop on the same data
Your in-store screen and your online shop share the same product catalogue, pricing and stock. What's sold in-store disappears from your webshop instantly.
Headless storefront — your design, your speed
Build a fast, custom webshop on top of Afosto's commerce engine using any frontend technology. No template constraints; full API control.
Warehouse and fulfilment built in
Pick, pack and ship from within the same platform. Fulfilment workflows follow your order rules — no separate WMS needed for most retailers.
API-first integrations — connect what you already use
Afosto connects via open APIs to your existing accounting, logistics or marketing tools. Add channels without adding complexity.
FAQ
Common questions about managing stock and orders in one system
Retailers switching from fragmented tools often have the same questions. Here are direct answers.
What is a unified commerce platform and how is it different from an ERP?
A unified commerce platform is a single system that manages inventory, orders, customer data and sales channels in real time across all touchpoints — online and offline. An ERP is typically a back-office financial and resource planning tool that records what happened after the fact. Afosto combines commerce operations (POS, webshop, order management, warehouse) in one API-first platform, so data flows in real time instead of being reconciled overnight.
Can Afosto replace Shopify or WooCommerce, or does it run alongside them?
Afosto can replace your current commerce platform entirely, or run alongside it via API. Many retailers start by connecting Afosto's order management and inventory engine to their existing webshop, then migrate the storefront at their own pace. Because Afosto is headless, your frontend is decoupled from the commerce logic — you keep full design control.
How does Afosto handle stock across multiple physical locations?
Afosto maintains a single inventory record that updates in real time across all your locations and channels. Each location can have its own stock allocation, and the platform routes orders to the correct fulfilment point based on rules you define. When a sale happens anywhere — POS, webshop, marketplace — the central stock count adjusts immediately, preventing overselling.
Is Afosto suitable for retailers that also sell B2B?
Yes. Afosto's order management handles both B2C and B2B orders in one dashboard. You can configure separate pricing tiers, payment terms and order flows for business customers without running a parallel system. Retailers with mixed channels — consumer webshop plus trade accounts — use a single platform for both.
How long does it take to get started with Afosto?
Getting started depends on the complexity of your current setup. Retailers with straightforward product catalogues and one or two channels can be operational within days using Afosto's self-onboarding flow. More complex migrations — multiple locations, custom integrations, headless storefronts — are typically planned over a few weeks. A 20-minute call with the team gives you a realistic timeline for your specific situation.
What kind of retailers is Afosto built for?
Afosto is designed for e-commerce retailers in the Netherlands and Belgium with one to fifty locations, selling B2C, B2B or both. The platform suits retailers who have outgrown their current tools — typically on Shopify, WooCommerce or Magento — and need a single system that connects online and offline without heavy customisation or middleware.
One platform for your stock, orders and channels — try it yourself
See what your retail operation looks like when everything is connected. Create a free account and explore the platform at your own pace, or book a 20-minute call if you'd prefer to talk through your situation first.