Use two XML files to import products in your WooCommerce (dropshipping)

You have a dropshipping store. Import products is easy because you use Dropshipping XML WooCommerce plugin. Everything is fine, and your sales are constantly growing. One day you get a message that the wholesaler gives you two files: one with all product details and the second with stock availability. Is it possible to import products from two different files?

Positive sites of using two XML files

Yes, the Dropshipping XML WooCommerce plugin can handle this scenario! Then there's at least one advantage of using two XML files, and this is a possibility to improve import speed. File with only stock availability is light and can significantly reduce WordPress memory and server process usage.

How to import products to a WooCommerce store from two files?

First, I will use a file with details as the product's name, description, price, pictures, all that is required to create a WooCommerce product. Now I prepare my files for importing. This step is crucial; I have to find precisely the same tag in both files. These tags are essential to identify products. Sometimes it will be a name, sometimes the ID of a product.

I will use the ID product tag because my file with stock availability doesn't contain a product name tag. So I will use ID for mapping the SKU field in the WooCommerce product. Using the same field to identify products is necessary for the proper import process. Otherwise, update stocks of existing products is never going to happen. Those Field SKUs will allow to recognize product in a shop and update it.

Then I chose a field for mapping in the first file. Drag and drop tags from the file to fields related to the product's name, images, description, price, and size. Also, I choose a tag for representing SKU, and it is ID.

I configure the fields for mapping and go to the configuration options. I choose the field identifying the product in the store. It will also be used during the second import so that the products in both files have the same field and can be recognized.

In this step, you can choose fields based on the plugin that will synchronize the products from the file with the existing products in WooCommerce. You can ask your wholesaler about the frequency of the updates of price, description, etc.. Based on this information, you can set up a schedule of imports.

Next, you can start the import. After the end of the process, you should see all products from the file in your shop.

XML file with stock availability

Ok, the second step! It's time for a second file with stock availability. All process is similar to work with the first file:

In a second step, I choose the same parameter for mapping the SKU field as in the first file. I select the option Import into products on the basis of an ad tag related to stock availability.

Look at the XML file with stock available. It contains fewer tags than the first one. So the most important thing now is choosing the same tag for identifying the product!

At the last step of import, I am configuring import options. I choose that the product is recognized with SKU. Also, I select the checkbox Don't create, only update existing products because, in my scenario, I don’t want to create new products but just update them.

The last thing to do for this step is to select the synchronization frequency, i.e., periodically updating products in your store. In this case, all are on the side of wholesale, which delivery XML file with products. Contact with and based on this choose date and hours of starting the import process.

How to check that the process is proceeding correctly?

During the import, you can see the information. A product has been found and will be updated. It's a sign that everything goes well and products are recognized and located in the file and the shop.

If you choose incorrect fields for product identification in the files, the following message will be displayed in the import log: Product not found. In this case, check that you have used the correct tag in the SKU field and that you have correctly selected the parameter in the Import into products on basis of.

After the import is completed, the number of items available in the store shall be updated.

Documentation & Video Tutorials

Visit the plugin documentation to see and read about all its options. Also, watch the videos in the playlist below to see how to import & update products in WooCommerce.

Product synchronization from two XML files in your WooCommerce store

I hope that my article clearly explains how to use two XML files at the same time. You can try for yourself Dropshipping XML WooCommerce with our demo. You can test our plugin with your product file. If you encounter any difficulties while configuring the import or your files are atypical, please write to us. We will be happy to help!

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