# Inventory Systems

> Periodic, perpetual or dropshipping: which inventory system fits your webshop best? We explain the differences and what real-time sync actually saves you.

If you sell across more than one channel, the real question is not whether you track your stock but how. Count at a fixed moment, or follow along with every sale as it happens? That distinction decides whether you oversell, run out, or restock right on time. Here are the three systems you will run into, and when each one fits.

## Periodic systems

With a periodic system you count your stock at set moments, for example weekly or at the end of the month. Between those counts you do not know exactly how much you have. That works fine with a small stock or a single sales channel, but the moment you sell in several places at once you are running behind the facts and risk double sales.

## Perpetual systems

A perpetual system tracks your stock continuously. Every sale, return and incoming delivery adjusts the count right away. ShopLinkr works this way: your [stock is synced in real time](/en/features/inventory) across all your channels, from bol and Shopify to WooCommerce and Kaufland. Sell a product on one channel and the stock drops on the others immediately, so you never sell something that is already gone.

On top of that live count you get stock forecasting and purchase advice per supplier, so you can see what to reorder before you run out. For products you would rather not track, you can use fictional or unlimited stock.

## Dropshipping

If you hold no stock yourself and your supplier ships straight to the customer, everything depends on accurate numbers coming from that supplier. A central system that brings your orders and channels together keeps the overview, even when the physical stock sits somewhere else.

## Which system fits you?

A few things guide the choice. If you sell on more than one channel, real-time synchronization is not really a luxury but the only way to prevent overselling. If you handle a lot of orders, the steps after stock matter just as much: [pick lists with a smart route and barcode scanning](/en/features/pick-lists) and a one-click shipping label for your [carrier](/en/features/carriers). And budget does not have to be a barrier: ShopLinkr uses pay-as-you-go pricing, so you pay for what you use.

## Getting started

Want to move from separate counts to a single up-to-date overview? See how ShopLinkr brings your channels, stock and shipping together, or dive straight into the [guides](/en/guides) to get going. [Try ShopLinkr free for 14 days](https://app.shoplinkr.com/auth/register) and see the difference for yourself.

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Bron: https://shoplinkr.com/en/blog/inventory-systems