A stock count (or inventory count) checks the numbers in your system against what's really on the shelf. Counts catch what sales and deliveries can't: breakage, theft, mistakes, and things that turn up.
Count a little at a time
A full count once a year means a closed shop and a long night. Counting one shelf or category each week (a cycle count) keeps the numbers right all year, and spreads the work out.
Count many items
- Open Counts.
- Choose the location, and a category if you're counting one at a time. Or tick Only items needing a count.
- Type what you counted in each box. Only the boxes you fill in are saved, so you can count part of a list and stop.
- Choose Save counts.
Count one item
Open the item and choose Count. Type what you counted, and if it's different, choose why: Damaged, Lost or stolen or Found, for example.
What happens to the difference
IAPZ puts in the number you counted and keeps the difference in the item's History, with the reason. The Changes report shows what counting found for the dates you choose, next to what was sold and received, so a pattern of losses stands out.
Tips
- Count when the shop is quiet, and before receiving a delivery rather than after.
- Count by location: a storage unit or a vehicle is its own location.
- Items marked Needs a count, such as stock that was below zero after an import, are listed for you.
More: Getting started with Inventory and Stock reports.