Inventory Accuracy: Mastering the Hidden Challenge in Retail

Published by riteshkapur on

Many companies have their own in-house inventory management system.
There are some ready-made solutions in the market:

1. 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 inventory management systems: Web-based systems like TradeGecko, SkuVault, Zoho Inventory, Odoo and Brightpearl.

2. 𝗢𝗻-𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 inventory management systems: Programs that are installed on a business’s own servers and can be accessed only from within the business’s network. Microsoft Dynamics GP, QuickBooks, SAP Inventory Management and Fishbowl Inventory.

3. Point of Sale (𝗣𝗢𝗦) systems: These systems allow businesses to manage inventory and sales transactions in one place. Square POS, Lightspeed POS and Shopify POS.

4. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 scanning systems: These systems use barcode scanners to track inventory and update inventory counts in real-time. AssetTiger, Wasp Inventory Control and Zebra Inventory Management.

5. Radio-frequency identification (𝗥𝗙𝗜𝗗) systems: These systems use RFID tags to track inventory, and the information is automatically updated in real-time. Alien RFID, Impinj RFID and Motorola RFID.

Walmart: Retail Link. Helps suppliers manage their inventory in Walmart stores.

Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola Freestyle. Tracks inventory levels and sales data for its self-serve soda dispensers.

Nike: Retail Pro. Manage inventory levels and sales data across all of its stores.

Apple: SAP

https://lnkd.in/gkCzTfUc

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹

As a CEO, you know that accurate inventory counts are crucial for running a successful retail business.
However the challenge lies in maintaining these counts across multiple locations and systems.

This can result in stockouts, overstocks, and lost sales.

Imagine a customer coming into your store looking for a specific item, only to be told that it’s out of stock.
Or worse, imagine that same customer finding the item online from a competitor and purchasing it there instead.

This not only results in lost sales but also damages your brand reputation.

The solution to this problem lies in implementing a centralized inventory management system that can track inventory in real-time across all locations and systems.

By having accurate inventory counts, you can ensure that the right products are available when and where they are needed, reducing stockouts and overstocks.

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀:

1. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀: Accurate inventory counts ensure that products are available when customers need them, leading to increased sales.

2. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲: By avoiding overstocks, you can reduce waste and optimize your supply chain.

3. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Customers expect products to be in stock when they need them. By ensuring inventory accuracy, you can meet their expectations and improve their satisfaction.

4. 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Real-time inventory data can help you make better business decisions, such as when to reorder products and which products are selling best.

5. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲: By having accurate inventory counts and real-time data, you can stay ahead of competitors who may be struggling with inventory management.

Remember, maintaining inventory accuracy is crucial for running a successful retail business.

By implementing a centralized inventory management system, you can overcome the challenges of maintaining accurate inventory counts across multiple locations and systems.