Syncing from FTP or SFTP

Created by Stacey Kim, Modified on Tue, 17 Feb at 11:36 PM by Stacey Kim

If your supplier or warehouse drops updated files on an FTP or SFTP server, Alterify can connect directly and pull the latest file on every sync. This is the most common setup for suppliers who send automated data feeds.

Supported Connection Types

Type	Description
FTP	Standard File Transfer Protocol. No encryption.
SFTP	SSH File Transfer Protocol. Encrypted connection — the most common secure option.
Implicit FTPS	FTP over TLS where the entire connection is encrypted from the start. Usually runs on port 990.
Explicit FTPS	FTP that starts unencrypted and upgrades to TLS. Usually runs on port 21.

Not sure which to use? Ask your supplier. If they say "SFTP," choose SFTP. If they say "FTP with SSL" or "FTPS," try Explicit FTPS first — it's the more common variant.

What You'll Need

Get the following details from your supplier or IT team before setting up:

Host — The server address (e.g., ftp.supplier.com). Include the port if it's non-standard (e.g., ftp.supplier.com:2222).
File path — The full path to the file on the server (e.g., /feeds/daily/inventory.csv).
Username — Your FTP login username.
Password — Your FTP login password.

How to Set It Up

From the dashboard, click Get Started (or the + button if you already have profiles).
Enter a Profile Name (e.g., "Supplier FTP Inventory Feed").
Set Source Type to FTP, SFTP, Implicit FTPS, or Explicit FTPS.
Enter the Host (URL), File path, Username, and Password.
Confirm the File extension matches the file on the server.
Map your fields — choose how to match products (SKU or barcode) and which fields to update.
Click Create.

Running a Sync

Click the Start button next to your profile. Alterify will connect to the server, download the file at the path you specified, match rows to your BigCommerce products, and apply the updates.

For a fully hands-off workflow, set up a schedule so Alterify pulls the latest file automatically — for example, every morning after your supplier updates their feed.

Common Issues

Connection refused — Double-check the host address and port. Make sure you selected the correct connection type (FTP vs SFTP vs FTPS).
Authentication failed — Verify your username and password. Some servers are case-sensitive.
File not found — Confirm the file path is correct and includes the filename with extension (e.g., /feeds/inventory.csv, not just /feeds/). Check with your supplier if the filename changes daily.
Connection timeout — The server may be blocking your connection. Ask your supplier if they need to whitelist an IP address.