Handling product inventory can become quite overwhelming, especially when managing a large WooCommerce store with hundreds of products. Luckily, tools like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel can make the process smoother, faster, and far more organized.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to efficiently manage your WooCommerce inventory using spreadsheets — from exporting and editing product data to syncing updates in real time through APIs. By the end, you’ll know how to keep your product list organized and updated with less stress and more accuracy.
🧩 Method 1: Manage Inventory Using a Plugin
One of the easiest ways to handle WooCommerce inventory via spreadsheets is by using a product import/export plugin.
Popular options include:
- WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite
- Product Import Export for WooCommerce
These plugins allow you to export your entire product list into a spreadsheet, make edits, and then re-import the data to update your store instantly.
Step-by-Step: Using Product Import Export for WooCommerce (Free Plugin)
Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin
Go to your WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Add New, search for Product Import Export for WooCommerce, then click Install and Activate.
Step 2: Export Product Data
After activation, navigate to WooCommerce → Product Im-Ex.
Select the products you want to export, choose your desired file type (CSV or Excel), and click Export to download your product list.
Step 3: Edit and Organize Your Data
Open the exported file in your preferred spreadsheet program (Google Sheets or Excel).
Here you can:
- Update product prices
- Adjust stock quantities
- Add or edit product details
Make sure to save your work regularly and double-check the data for accuracy.
Step 4: Import Data Back Into WooCommerce
Once you’ve finalized your edits, return to WooCommerce → Product Im-Ex and click Import.
Upload your updated file — the plugin will automatically sync the changes with your store.
Step 5: Monitor and Maintain
To keep your stock accurate, periodically export your inventory again, review it in your spreadsheet, and make necessary updates.
This ensures you never overstock or run out of products unexpectedly.
✅ In summary:
The Product Import Export for WooCommerce plugin simplifies the process of exporting, editing, and importing product data — saving you time while keeping your store organized and up to date.
🔗 Method 2: Manage Inventory Using a Spreadsheet API
If you prefer real-time syncing, you can connect your spreadsheet directly to your WooCommerce store using an API such as Google Sheets API or Excel API.
This allows you to edit inventory data directly in your spreadsheet, and see those changes automatically reflected on your website.
You can achieve this using a plugin like Sheet2Site, or by manually connecting Google Sheets to WooCommerce through the API.
Step-by-Step: Using Google Sheets API for WooCommerce
Managing your WooCommerce store through Google Sheets API offers a powerful, automated way to sync inventory, update prices, and organize product data efficiently. Here’s how:
Step 1: Create a Google Sheet
Start by creating a new Google Sheet — this will store and manage your product data.
Step 2: Connect WooCommerce to Google Sheets
You can connect WooCommerce to Google Sheets in two ways:
Method 1: Using a Plugin
- Install and activate the WooCommerce Google Sheet Connector plugin.
- Go to the plugin’s settings in your WordPress dashboard.
- Log into your Google account.
- Choose the Google Sheet you want to use.
- Map WooCommerce product fields (like name, price, stock) to the appropriate columns.
- Click Sync to export your WooCommerce products to the sheet.
Method 2: Using Google Sheets API Manually
- Visit the Google Developers Console and create a new project.
- Enable the Google Sheets API.
- Generate credentials and download the JSON file.
- Install the Google Sheets API plugin in WordPress.
- Add your Google account credentials in the plugin settings.
- Select the target Google Sheet.
- Map product fields from WooCommerce to spreadsheet columns.
- Write a PHP script to sync your WooCommerce data.
Example PHP Script:
This script exports product names, prices, stock quantities, and URLs from WooCommerce to Google Sheets.
<?php
require_once __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
$client = new Google_Client();
$client->setApplicationName('Google Sheets API PHP');
$client->setScopes(Google_Service_Sheets::SPREADSHEETS);
$client->setAuthConfig(__DIR__ . '/credentials.json');
$client->setAccessType('offline');
$service = new Google_Service_Sheets($client);
$spreadsheetId = 'your-spreadsheet-id';
$range = 'Sheet1!A1:D';
$products = wc_get_products();
$data = [];
foreach ($products as $product) {
$data[] = [
$product->get_name(),
$product->get_price(),
$product->get_stock_quantity(),
$product->get_permalink()
];
}
$body = new Google_Service_Sheets_ValueRange(['range' => $range, 'values' => $data]);
$response = $service->spreadsheets_values->update($spreadsheetId, $range, $body, ['valueInputOption' => 'RAW']);
print_r($response);
?>
Before using this code:
- Replace ‘your-spreadsheet-id’ with your actual Google Sheet ID.
- Make sure you have installed and configured the Google API Client Library (see Google’s guide).
- Always test on a staging site before applying to a live store.
⚙️ Advantages of the Google Sheets API Method
- Real-time updates between your sheet and store.
- Full automation control.
- Easier bulk edits without manual import/export.
- Customizable to fit your business workflow.
⚠️ Important Tip
Before making any inventory changes, back up your WooCommerce store to avoid data loss.
Final Thoughts
Whether you use a plugin or the Google Sheets API, both methods offer efficient ways to manage WooCommerce inventory with less effort.
Plugins are perfect for quick, manual updates, while API integration provides real-time synchronization and automation.
By adopting these spreadsheet-based techniques, you’ll streamline inventory management, reduce manual errors, and maintain a consistently accurate product catalog.
Tags: #WooCommerceInventory #GoogleSheets #Excel #ProductImportExport #APIIntegration #WordPressPlugins #EcommerceTools