Catalog & Inventory
Offer a next step when a product is unavailable. HEYA’s stock tools include pre-orders for out-of-stock products and email notifications when items return, alongside a dedicated out-of-stock behavior module.
Pre-orders & back-in-stock · 3min read
The big picture
Running out of a product does not mean the customer’s interest disappears. Some shoppers are willing to wait and order ahead; others prefer to receive an email when they can buy again. HEYA lists separate tools for those intentions. Pre-Order Product supports ordering out-of-stock items, while Notify the User when back in stock provides email notifications. Choose the behavior that matches the product and the commitment your operation can reliably make.
A closer look
The backend provides an Out Of Stock Behavior area as well as the related apps. Use those tools deliberately rather than treating every unavailable item the same way. A product awaiting a confirmed replenishment may need a different customer journey from a discontinued item. The important decision is what a customer can do next and what your team is committing to provide.
The pre-order app is designed to let customers order products that are currently out of stock. That makes the delivery promise especially important. Explain the expected availability and any relevant conditions in the storefront content, and make sure your team can identify and handle those orders appropriately. The customer should understand that they are ordering ahead of availability.
The back-in-stock app provides email notifications when unavailable items are back. This gives interested customers a reason to return without repeatedly checking the product page. Keep availability information accurate and review the notification experience before relying on it. A notification supports discovery; the customer still needs a clear route back to the product and checkout.
In practice · illustrative scenario
A retailer expecting a new batch of a popular lamp can offer pre-orders where the arrival expectation is sufficiently clear. For a less certain replenishment, a back-in-stock email gives customers another way to stay interested. The two options make different promises and should be presented accordingly.
Good to know
Do not present it as one. A back-in-stock alert is an email notification when an item returns. A pre-order is the separate workflow for placing an order before stock is available.
No. Choose that experience only where it suits the product and the operational promise you can make. Other products may be better served by a notification or a different unavailable-product message.
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