Automate Scheduled Product Import-Export in WooCommerce: Learn How

Manually importing and exporting WooCommerce products can be tiring. Which is why you need to automate the process. This article explains how to schedule product import and export actions in WooCommerce. We will be using the premium version of the Product Import Export Plugin by WebToffee. The article lists a step-by-step guide on how to automate scheduled product import and export in WooCommerce.

The Product Import Export plugin by WebToffee is one of the most advanced and feature-rich import export plugins. Using this plugin you can do much more than automate the import and export of products. Here is the list of features that you can avail of by using this plugin in your WooCommerce store.

• Import/export of products from CSV/XML or via URL.
• Scheduled import/export of products and product reviews via FTP/SFTP using Cron Job.
• Support for the import and export of all product types.
• Multiple product filter options ie; filter products by their types, category, tags, and status.
• Import/export of product reviews, etc.

Before we begin make sure you have purchased the premium version of this Product Import Export Plugin.

Once you are done with the installation and activation of this plugin, go to WebToffee Import Export Pro from your WordPress dashboard.
Now follow the below steps to automate product import and export in WooCommerce.

Step 1: Select Export Post type as Product

From the dropdown menu, choose Product as the post type to export.

Then, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Select an Export Method

There are two types of export methods, Quick export, and Advanced export. Let’s choose Advanced export as the export method.

Then proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Choose Export Filters

Here, you have different product export filters. You can choose to specifically include or exclude products for export.

After choosing the product filters, proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Map and Reorder Export Columns

From here you can manually rearrange the columns in the export file using the drag-and-drop handle.

Now proceed to the next step.

Step 5: Advanced Export Options

Here we have some advanced export options.

• Choose an export file name and format.
• Enable the FTP export option.
• Then add a new FTP profile.
• Now choose whether you want to export using the default export path from the FTP profile.

• Click on Export/Schedule and select Schedule.

• Choose a schedule type, either Server Cron and WordPress Cron.

Both Server Cron and WordPress Cron are used for scheduling and automating tasks on a website, but they work in different ways.

The main difference between Server Cron and WordPress Cron is that Server Cron is executed at the system level, while WordPress Cron is executed within the WordPress environment. Server Cron is generally considered to be more reliable, as it does not depend on user traffic to trigger the execution of tasks.

However, WordPress Cron is easier to use, as it is built into WordPress and does not require any server-level configuration.

After choosing the required Cron, enter a file name and choose an interval and start time for automating the process.
Then, click on Schedule Now.

The process of automating the product import process in WooCommerce is similar to the export process.
Follow the below steps to automate product import in WooCommerce.

Step 1: Select Product as the Import Post Type

Go to WebToffee Import Export (Pro) and choose Products as the post type to import.

Now, proceed to the second step.

Step 2: Select an Import Method

• Now choose an import method from here. You can either choose Quick import or Advanced import. Let’s choose Quick import here.
• Then, choose an import location. Let’s choose Local.
• Now, upload the products file to import the products.
• Choose a Delimiter and Date format.

• Then, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Advanced Import Options

Choose advanced options from below to update existing products, batch import counts, or schedule imports. Additionally, you can save the template for future use.

After choosing the necessary options, select Schedule from the Import/Schedule button.

Choose the schedule type as either WordPress Cron or Server Cron.

Then, select an interval and start time for scheduling the import export process.

Click on Schedule now to schedule the process.

In conclusion, the Product Import Export Plugin will help you automate the import and export of products on your WooCommerce store. Automating the import export process can save you time and reduce errors.

The WordPress Product Import Export plugin we mentioned in this article also has a free version, but you can’t automate the import export process with the free version. What are your thoughts on this article, let us know in the comments.
We also recommend you to read our article on How to Avoid Duplication of Products on Import.