Product metafields for the online store are synced with inventory updates using Shopify webhooks. While webhooks usually update metafields in near real-time, there can be occasional delays or missed events due to network problems or platform limitations.
To ensure data accuracy and consistency, use the manual sync option or activate scheduled syncing (available with the Pro plan and higher).
Step 1: Access the Location or Inventory JSON metafields setting
In the Multi-location Inventory Info app, navigate to Tagging & Metafields > Tagging & Metafields > Location metafield or Inventory JSON metafield.
Step 2: Perform a manual or scheduled sync
To perform a manual sync, click the Sync Metafields button. This will initiate a sync action for the Location and JSON metafields and will complete soon.
To perform a scheduled sync, choose a time for daily sync in GMT from the drop-down menu just below the Manual sync. Click Update to complete the scheduling.
Note: This configuration only needs to be set once, as it applies to both Location and JSON metafields. For instance, if you have both settings enabled, setting the Location metafield to sync at 06:00 GMT will automatically sync the JSON metafields as well.
Triggering a sync via Shopify Flow
Shopify merchants can use Shopify Flow to trigger a Location Metafield sync on demand or on a custom schedule — for example, every 3 hours instead of once a day.
Step 1: Create a new Flow
In your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Flow and create a new workflow. Set your trigger to Scheduled time and configure the frequency to suit your needs (e.g. every 3 hours).
Step 2: Add the sync action
Add an action step and search for Synchronize Location Inventory Metafields from the Kark app. This will trigger a full metafield sync when the Flow runs.
Step 3: Activate the workflow
Save and turn on the workflow. The sync will now run automatically on your chosen schedule.
Important: The sync uses Shopify’s Bulk Operations API, which only allows one bulk operation to run at a time. If a sync is already in progress when the Flow triggers — for example, because a previous run hasn’t finished yet — the new sync will fail. Avoid scheduling syncs too frequently relative to your catalog size. For most stores, every 3–6 hours is a safe interval.
Syncing metafields for a single product via Shopify Flow
In addition to syncing your full catalogue, you can trigger a metafield sync for a single product’s variants using the Synchronize Variant Inventory Metafields Flow action. This is useful when you want to sync metafields based on your own business logic — for example, when a product is published to your online sales channel from an ERP system, or when a product’s status changes.
The example below shows a workflow that syncs variant inventory metafields whenever a product’s status is updated.
Step 1: Create a new Flow
In your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Flow and create a new workflow. Choose a trigger that matches your business logic — for example, Product status updated.
Step 2: Add the sync action
Add an action step and search for Synchronize Variant Inventory Metafields from the Kark app. This action will sync the metafields for the variants of the product that triggered the workflow.
Step 3: Activate the workflow
Save and turn on the workflow. Metafields for the relevant product’s variants will now sync automatically whenever your chosen trigger fires.
Important: This action syncs up to 100 variants across a maximum of 50 locations per product. If your product has more variants or locations than these limits, only the first 100 variants and 50 locations will be synced.
