# Managing Inventory

When you have enabled the Inventory API add-on for ShipStation, you’ll have access to the inventory endpoints that allow you to view and manage SKU stock levels, create and manage your inventory warehouses, and create and manage inventory locations.

What you can do with the inventory endpoints:

- `/v2/inventory`: List and update inventory-related properties, including stock counts, for all SKUs that use ShipStation Inventory.
- `/v2/inventory_warehouses`: Create and delete inventory warehouses, list inventory warehouses, and update inventory warehouse names.
- `/v2/inventory_locations`: Create and delete inventory locations in inventory warehouses, list inventory inventory locations, and update inventory location names.


## Requirements

- To use the inventory endpoints, you must have activated the Inventory API add-on for your ShipStation account.
- Specific endpoints and methods will also have their own properties requirements, which are documented in their specific guides.


## Key Inventory Properties

It’s important to understand the primary properties used by the inventory endpoints, what they mean, and how they map to fields in the ShipStation application.

| Property | Type | Description |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| `sku` | *string* | The SKU value of a product. You’ll need the SKU value to update or query stock levels for specific SKUs. SKUs are also associated with specific inventory warehouses and inventory locations. |
| `inventory_warehouse_id` | *string* | This is the unique ID of an inventory warehouse. You’ll need this property to update the name of an inventory warehouse, delete an inventory warehouse, and add an inventory location. The `name` property for an `inventory_warehouse_id` maps to the Warehouse Name in your ShipStation Settings and Product Inventory screens. |
| `inventory_location_id` | *string* | This is the unique ID of an inventory location, which will always be associated with a specific `inventory_warehouse_id`. You’ll need this property to update SKU stock levels, update the name of an inventory location, and delete an inventory location. The `name` property reflects the `area - unit - shelf - bin` warehouse layout set for your warehouse locations in ShipStation. The inventory location `name` maps to the Location field in your ShipStation Settings and Product Inventory screens. |


Any additional properties needed for specific endpoints and operations are described in the guides specific to the inventory actions you will take:

- [Manage Inventory Levels](/manage-inventory-levels)
- [Manage Inventory Warehouses](/manage-inventory-warehouses)
- [Manage Inventory Locations](/manage-inventory-locations)


## Inventory Replenishment

ShipStation provides comprehensive features for managing inventory replenishment from your suppliers through purchase orders:

### Suppliers Management

Manage your supplier information to track where you purchase inventory:

- Create and update supplier contact details
- Store supplier addresses and contact information
- Link suppliers to purchase orders


Learn more: [Manage Suppliers](/suppliers/overview)

### Purchase Orders

Create and track purchase orders to replenish inventory from suppliers:

- Create purchase orders in `draft` status with products and quantities
- Track order status from draft to received
- Automatically update inventory levels when receiving products
- Monitor shipping and delivery information


Key features:

- **Automatic Inventory Updates**: When you receive products from a purchase order, inventory levels automatically increase at the specified location
- **Status Tracking**: Track orders through the complete lifecycle (draft → open → receiving → received → closed)
- **Product Management**: Order multiple products with costs, supplier SKUs, and lot numbers


Learn more: [Manage Purchase Orders](/purchase-orders/manage)