How Reorder Alerts Work
Every inventory item in InventoryHQ has a minimum threshold — a quantity you define that represents your reorder point. When an item’s stock level reaches or falls below that number, InventoryHQ automatically triggers an alert. You don’t need to check the dashboard manually; the system does the watching for you. Alerts are delivered in two ways:Dashboard Notification
A notification badge appears on the Inventory section in the main navigation. The alerts panel shows each low-stock item, its current quantity, and its minimum threshold side by side.
Mobile Push Notification
If you have the InventoryHQ mobile app installed and push notifications enabled, a push alert is sent to your device. Tap the notification to jump directly to the low-stock item.
Push notifications must be enabled on your device and in your InventoryHQ notification settings. Go to Settings → Notifications to confirm mobile alerts are turned on for your account.
Set a Minimum Threshold for an Item
1
Navigate to the item
From the Inventory dashboard, find the item you want to configure. Click the item row to open its detail view.
2
Click Edit
Select the Edit button (pencil icon) in the item detail panel.
3
Enter a Minimum Threshold
Locate the Minimum Threshold field and enter the quantity at which you want to be alerted. For example, entering
10 means you’ll receive an alert when stock drops to 10 units or fewer.4
Save the item
Click Save Changes. The threshold is active immediately — InventoryHQ begins monitoring that item’s quantity against your new minimum.
Respond to a Reorder Alert
When an alert fires, here’s how to act on it quickly:1
Open the Alerts panel
Click the notification badge on the Inventory section in the sidebar, or tap the push notification on mobile. The alerts panel lists every item currently at or below its threshold.
2
Review the low-stock item
Click any item in the alert list to open its detail view. You’ll see the current quantity, minimum threshold, location, unit cost, and recent usage history — everything you need to decide how much to reorder.
3
Place your reorder
Contact your supplier or create a purchase order through your procurement process. Once the new stock arrives, use a Manual Stock Adjustment (Add Stock) to update the quantity in InventoryHQ and clear the alert automatically.
An alert clears on its own as soon as the item’s quantity rises above its minimum threshold — no manual dismissal required.
Best Practices for Setting Thresholds
Getting your thresholds right means fewer stockouts without tying up unnecessary cash in excess inventory. Use these guidelines as a starting point:Factor in your supplier lead time
Factor in your supplier lead time
Think about how long it takes to receive a reorder from your supplier. If pipe flashing typically takes five business days to arrive and your crew uses roughly 20 units per day, your minimum threshold should be at least 100 units — enough to cover demand during the reorder window.
Account for job size and seasonality
Account for job size and seasonality
A threshold that works in January may leave you dangerously low during peak summer roofing season. Higher job volume means faster material consumption. Set thresholds higher during your busy season and revisit them as conditions change.
Set tighter thresholds for critical items
Set tighter thresholds for critical items
Some materials — safety harnesses, primary flashing, underlayment — will stop a job completely if they run out. Give these items a more conservative (higher) minimum threshold so you have more lead time to restock.
Use usage history as your guide
Use usage history as your guide
After a few months of tracking in InventoryHQ, review each item’s consumption trends in the item detail view. Let your actual usage data drive threshold decisions rather than estimates.