Stock Counts

Use Stock counts to count physical inventory, review discrepancies, and apply approved inventory adjustments back to Shopify.

Plan Requirement

Stock counts require the Ops plan or higher. Trial and development stores can test this workflow. If billing is cancelled, past due, or the plan is below Ops, BackstockOps shows a plan prompt instead of the stock count workspace.

Role Or Permission Requirement

When BackstockOps workflow roles are enforced, users need manage_counts to create and update counts. Users need approve_apply_adjustments to approve a count for adjustment and to apply approved adjustments to Shopify. Shopify staff permissions still control whether the user can open the app from Shopify Admin.

App Path

Shopify Admin > Apps > BackstockOps > Stock counts.

Direct app path: /app/stock-counts.

What BackstockOps Reads From Shopify

BackstockOps reads Shopify products, variants, SKUs, barcodes, locations, inventory quantities, vendor, product type, product tags, collections, cost when available, retail price when available, and weight when available. Shopify remains the source of truth for inventory before an adjustment is applied.

What BackstockOps Writes To Shopify

Creating and editing a count changes BackstockOps records only. Applying approved adjustments writes Shopify inventory adjustments for the counted location. Zeroing missed lines, choosing adjustment reasons, and adding notes do not write to Shopify until an approved adjustment is applied.

Stock Count List

The Stock counts page shows these metrics:

Active counts
Awaiting review

The page also lists counts with these columns:

Count
Location
Status
Lines
Completed

Use Create count to start a new count. Use the count name link to open the count detail page.

Start A Stock Count

Use the Start a stock count form.

Fields and labels:

Count name, with placeholder Spring cycle count
Location
Count type: Cycle count, Partial count, or Full stocktake
Supplier
Vendor
Product type
Collection
ABC grade: A, B, or C
Include tags
Exclude tags
Include synced zero-quantity lines that match this scope
Create count

Choose the narrowest scope that matches the work being done. For example, use supplier, vendor, collection, or tag filters for a cycle count instead of counting the entire location.

Count Detail Workspace

The count detail page includes:

Refresh Shopify data
Print / PDF
Export CSV
Counted lines metric
Discrepancies metric
Net adjustment metric
Search count lines
Line status
SKU, barcode, or name
Counted quantity
Set count
Count line table with expected, counted, discrepancy, and status values
Missed-line zero confirmation
Adjustment reason and adjustment note controls
Adjustment reasons management
Approval and application controls

Line statuses let you focus on all lines, counted lines, missed lines, or discrepancy lines.

Expected Success State

A successful count has saved counted quantities, a reviewed discrepancy set, an adjustment reason where required, and either no discrepancies or an approved adjustment ready to apply. After approved adjustments are applied, the count status changes and Shopify inventory reflects the accepted adjustment.

Common Troubleshooting

No products appear: confirm the location has synced inventory and the count filters are not too narrow.
A scan does not match: check the Shopify SKU or barcode on the variant and confirm duplicate SKU/barcode behavior in Settings.
The app finds the wrong item: use product, variant, SKU, or barcode search and review duplicate SKU/barcode settings.
A user can view but not edit: check BackstockOps workflow role permissions.
Apply adjustments is disabled: confirm the count is approved and the user has approve_apply_adjustments.
Shopify quantity did not change: confirm the adjustment was applied, not only approved, and check for a Shopify sync or API error.

Run a stock count
Count inventory with SKU or barcode entry
Zero missed stock count lines
Approve and apply stock count adjustments
Configure BackstockOps settings
How BackstockOps Uses Shopify Inventory

Search Keywords

stock count, cycle count, stocktake, inventory count, SKU scan, barcode scan, counted quantity, discrepancy, adjustment reason, approve adjustment, apply adjustment, zero missed, Shopify inventory adjustment