How to Stop Overselling Inventory: A Better Way Forward
Overselling creates customer issues, support overhead, and internal stress. Descartes Peoplevox helps fast – growing ecommerce teams sync inventory in real time across sales channels – so you always know what’s available and can ship what you sell.
Why Does Overselling Happen?
Overselling happens when your stock counting systems don’t update quickly enough, or at all. An item might not be in your warehouse, but your website or marketplace doesn’t catch up in time and still shows it available for purchase. That’s when customers end up buying something you can’t ship – an oversell.
Common reasons include:
Delayed stock updates between warehouse and storefront
Manual inventory tracking with spreadsheets or paper
No stock reservation when orders are placed
Systems like ecommerce platforms and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools not syncing correctly
Why Overselling Hurts Your Business
Even one oversold item can mean a lost sale, a refund, and a disappointed customer. During busy seasons like Black Friday or holiday sales, those mistakes can quickly add up.
Overselling causes:
- Bad reviews and unhappy customers
- Increased support tickets
- Lower marketplace seller scores
- Confusion and stress for warehouse teams
The Solution: What Success Looks Like
With Descartes Peoplevox, your inventory is always up to date and accurate. Stock levels adjust the moment an item is picked or returned. Your team works with clear, live data—and your customers get what they ordered.
How Descartes Peoplevox Prevents Overselling
Peoplevox is a cloud-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) that acts as the central system of record for your inventory levels. It connects with your ecommerce store, marketplace tools, and ERP software to keep everything in sync.
Here’s how it works:
Instant Inventory Updates
Every time your team scans an item—whether it’s picked, put away, or returned—Peoplevox updates your inventory figures right away.
Sales Channel Integration
Peoplevox integrates with platforms like Shopify, Amazon, NetSuite, and others. When a product sells, stock is instantly deducted across all your sales channels.
Stock Reservation at Order Placement
As soon as an order is placed, the system allocates stock to that sales order. No more double selling the same item to multiple customers.
Replenishment from Bulk to Pick Bin
When your pick bins run low, Peoplevox automatically creates a task to top them up from bulk storage—so your team never runs out mid-pick.
Scanning Workflows for Accuracy
All warehouse tasks are done using barcode scanning. This means every stock movement is verified, reducing human error and keeping your counts accurate.
Visibility for Everyone
Everyone—warehouse staff, customer support, and managers—can see the same live inventory data. That means fewer mistakes and faster problem solving.
FAQ
What causes overselling in ecommerce?
Overselling often comes from systems not syncing fast enough. If you use spreadsheets or have other disconnected tools, it’s easy to lose track of stock.
How can Peoplevox help stop overselling?
Peoplevox connects your warehouse to your storefronts and keeps inventory updated in real time. It also reserves stock and validates every pick.
Do I need to change how my team works?
Not drastically. Peoplevox fits into your current workflows and improves them with barcode scanning and smarter replenishment tasks.
What results can I expect?
Most brands stop overselling entirely within weeks. They also report better warehouse accuracy and fewer support tickets.
How long does it take to get started?
Our onboarding team will help you get set up quickly—most brands are live in 8-12 weeks.