MITS Alternative Products – intelligent replacement products for modified eCommerce Shopsoftware

The MITS Alternative Products module adds a particularly practical function to your modified eCommerce Shopsoftware: you can assign an alternative product to individual products and have it displayed automatically as soon as certain conditions are met. These include, in particular, the stock level and/or delivery status of the original product.

This prevents potential customers from leaving when products are unavailable or have inconvenient delivery times. Instead, you immediately present a suitable alternative – clearly, conveniently and in a way that encourages sales. This not only improves shop usability but can also help significantly reduce lost conversions caused by unavailable products.

Your benefits with the module

• Automatic display of a replacement or alternative product when stock is unavailable or certain delivery statuses apply
• Fewer abandoned purchases because customers immediately see a suitable alternative
• Flexible control through global settings for all affected products
• Optional 301 redirect straight to the alternative product
• Better user guidance for products that are sold out, delayed or have limited availability
• Greater revenue potential through intelligent product redirection instead of dead ends

How the module works

The module lets you assign an alternative product to a product. This is displayed when the conditions you define are met. You can specify exactly when the alternative product appears:

• when stock is unavailable or insufficient
• for certain delivery status combinations
• optionally with a direct 301 redirect to the replacement product

This makes the module ideal for shops where products are temporarily sold out, successor products exist, or customers should be directed to more readily available alternatives when delivery times are longer.

Available module settings

Configuration is managed centrally in the module and applies to all products that meet the relevant conditions. This allows behaviour across the shop to be controlled consistently and efficiently.

1. Use product dropdown: Yes / No

When editing a product, you can optionally use a dropdown containing all products in the shop to select an alternative product conveniently.

This function is particularly convenient for smaller shops with a manageable number of products. For very large product ranges, we recommend disabling this option for performance reasons.

2. Hide add-to-cart button: Yes / No

If desired, the add-to-cart button for the original product can be hidden as soon as attention is directed to the alternative product instead.

This makes customer guidance clearer and directs attention to the available replacement product.

3. Based on stock level: Yes / No

Enable this setting if the alternative product should be displayed automatically as soon as the original product's stock level is <= 0.

This lets you react automatically to sold-out products and offer customers a suitable alternative immediately, with no additional effort.

4. Delivery statuses for display

You can also define which delivery statuses cause the alternative product to be displayed. All delivery statuses configured in the shop are available as a checkbox selection.

This is particularly useful if you want to display the replacement product not only when the original is out of stock, but also for certain delivery times or status messages.

Optional 301 redirect to the alternative product

You can also configure a product so that visitors are taken straight to its assigned alternative product via a 301 redirect.

This function is particularly suitable for:

• products that are permanently unavailable
• successor products
• replaced product variants
• changes to the product range

The 301 redirect provides clear and straightforward user guidance. It can also help route existing product visits to an available product in a useful way.

Typical uses

• Sold-out products: Customers immediately see an available alternative instead of reaching a dead end.
• Successor products: Ideal when old products have been replaced by new ones.
• Long delivery times: Customers can be directed to products that are available sooner.
• Promotional or seasonal products: Alternative products can be highlighted specifically.
• Conversion optimisation: Fewer visitors leave because products are unavailable.

Why this module makes sense for modified eCommerce

Many online shops lose sales because a product is viewed but is unavailable or has an inconvenient delivery status. This is exactly where MITS Alternative Products comes in.

Instead of leaving customers with a product they cannot buy, you immediately offer a suitable alternative. This looks professional, improves usability and increases the likelihood that visitors will still complete an order.

Especially when combined with structured product maintenance, this module is a valuable extension for any shop operator who wants to expand the functionality of their modified eCommerce Shopsoftware and improve the likelihood of a purchase when product availability is problematic.

Features at a glance

• Alternative product can be assigned to each product
• Display based on stock level
• Display based on selected delivery statuses
• Global configuration of module conditions
• Optional product dropdown when editing products
• Option to hide the add-to-cart button
• Optional 301 redirect to the alternative product
• Ideal for replacement products, successor products and sold-out products

SEO and conversion benefits

The module not only improves shop navigation but also supports a strategically sound approach to directing customers to products. Visitors reach products they can buy more quickly, which can reduce the bounce rate and increase the conversion rate.

The optional 301 redirect is a particularly useful tool when old or no longer relevant products need to be redirected properly to suitable alternatives.

Conclusion

MITS Alternative Products is a well-designed, practical modified eCommerce module for all shop operators who want to make the most of products that are unavailable or have inconvenient delivery times.

By automatically displaying suitable alternative products, offering flexible control based on stock levels and delivery status, and providing an optional 301 redirect, you improve user guidance, increase the relevance of your product pages and create a more professional customer journey throughout the shop.

A useful extension for greater usability, better product guidance and more sales opportunities in your modified eCommerce Shopsoftware.