Guide to doing a stock count

First click "Stock Count" and then "Start Stockcount". Then enter the date and time, and then choose a stock count method out of the 2 choices (more on that part below). Then enter the quantities of each item, and click save. Be sure to observe what the unit of count is. For example you might have set up an item to be counted per individual unit, per pack, per box, per pallet, etc. It depends on your business. You will be reminded of the unit of count next to the product. e.g. Budweiser - Bottle. Therefore count the bottles.

You can save the count at any point and come back to it.

What are the differences between the two stock count methods.

1) Item by Item - Searching item by item if a good method if you want to systemically count shelf by shelf, box by box, row by row, room by room, area by area etc. In each section (say a shelf) you have a mixture of stock which might change location occasionally. And you don't want to miss anything. So this more linear, visual approach, is great in this situation.

In our shelf example you would literally start at one end of a shelf, search for a product, add the quantity, then search for the next product and add the quantity etc. Until you got to the end of the shelf. Then you would start the next shelf. Occasionally you might have the same product in 2 or more locations. In this case the software will remind you that you have already entered a count for this item, and you will have a choice of either updating the count, or adding a new location for that item. By adding a new location it helps to keep things very clear should you wish to go back and recount any item.

Counting item by item is a good way to ensure absolutely everything is counted. The drawback is, it might take longer.

2) Full list, organized by Group Name - In many ways this can be considered a faster method, and if you use good group names it can be very easy. The slight drawback is that sometimes people can miss products when they don't use a linear method like item-by-item

....and the secret 3rd method....

3) Very specific group names - You can do a count organized by group, and improve your count speed and ease by giving very accurate group names. And this generally means, locationally accurate. For example, say we had groups called "top-shelf whisky at bar", "whisky shelf in storeroom", "vodka-gin shelf in storeroom", "back-bar lowest spirits shelf". What this means is that when you are counting that specific location, you will see the list of all items at that location, and can quickly add in the counts. Then move onto the next location. In many ways, this is the best of both worlds of speed and accuracy.