CALL 773-377-8787
E-Commerce Solutions
Automation & Integration

4x Faster Onboarding of New Dropshipping Suppliers. Data Sync Automation & Import Engine Developed and Launched.

Industry: E-commerce (dropshipping model) Tech: CodeIgniter (PHP), Cron Jobs

Overview

The retailer operates an online store that relies on a dropshipping fulfillment model. Products are sourced from multiple pre-selected suppliers, each providing pricing and stock data in different formats. TSYFRA built a robust import and synchronization engine to keep the catalog consistent and up-to-date across thousands of SKUs.

Problem

The client needed to efficiently manage a large, constantly changing catalog with a lean internal team:

  • Suppliers provided product data in varied formats: XLS files, XML feeds, and exports from other marketplaces.
  • Prices and stock levels changed frequently and needed to be updated quickly.
  • Manual updates were slow, error-prone, and difficult to scale.
  • There was no unified way to map supplier fields to the store’s internal data model.

Solution

We designed and implemented a custom import and synchronization module on top of the existing CodeIgniter-based store:

  • Developed an import engine capable of reading multiple data source types (XLS, XML, etc.).
  • Implemented a flexible field mapping system to match supplier fields with internal product fields.
  • Allowed admins to create and save import configurations per supplier for reuse.
  • Added group editing tools to update product attributes, categories, and pricing in bulk.
  • Set up cron jobs to run scheduled imports for price and stock synchronization.
  • Ensured stability and performance when handling large catalogs and repeated updates.

Outcomes

The automation engine significantly improved operational efficiency:

  • 4x faster onboarding of new suppliers and product feeds with different data formats.
  • 10x reduction in manual catalog update time.
  • Up to 99% accuracy in stock & price synchronization across suppliers.
  • Automatic updates for 25,000+ SKUs executed reliably via cron. Near-zero manual intervention required for recurring imports.
  • Allowed the business to scale its assortment without proportional growth in staff.

Before & After

Before

  • Manual updates for each supplier file or feed.
  • High risk of outdated prices and out-of-stock products being shown to customers.
  • Limited ability to expand the catalog quickly.

After

  • Automated imports on schedule.
  • Standardized, reusable import configurations for each data source.
  • Accurate, synchronized prices and stock levels across the store.
  • Scalable foundation to manage thousands of SKUs with minimal manual work.

Tech Details

  • Framework: CodeIgniter (PHP).
  • Data Sources: XLS files, XML feeds.
  • Automation: Cron jobs for scheduled imports and updates.
  • Features: Field mapping per supplier, reusable import configurations, bulk editing tools.
  • Scale: Designed to handle 1000s of SKUs and frequent updates.