6 Tips for Tackling Physical Inventory Counts

Every company that deals in products must complete physical inventory counts. And companies that ditch pen and paper in favor of inventory and warehouse management systems (WMS) can vastly improve their numbers. This happens because a better understanding of inventory and its allocation helps businesses:

• Rely on a demand-based production model
• Reduce the inventory on hand
• Decrease storage overhead costs 

Below, we’ve listed six ways inventory and warehouse management systems make physical inventory counts faster, easier, and less frequent.

MOBILE SCANNERS

A WMS that supports mobile scanners allows employees to scan bins of items, generating farmore accurate counts thanmanual recordings. These machines also facilitate tracking bylots and serial numbers.

PATH SEQUENCING

Mobile devices also guide workers through physical or cycle counts, mapping out the most efficient paths based on item locations. This sequencing produces much faster results than when employees wander around the warehouse trying to find products on their lists.

WAREHOUSE LAYOUT

Your physical inventory counts will be quicker and less hectic if you set them up based on warehouse geography. A WMS can label all items down to the zone, aisle, shelf, and bin, allowing for efficient inventory plans that follow your warehouse layout.

GENERATE RECOUNTS QUICKLY

Once a physical count is complete, the system immediately identifies any discrepancies between counted and recorded inventory. You can then generate a recount for those products.

AUTOMATIC INVENTORY COUNTS

An inventory management system features parameters and reminders for inventory counts, including which products to count and how frequently. You can assign reminders and send them to staff, automatically prompting the required counts.

FREQUENT CYCLE COUNTS

Regular cycle counting ensures the accuracy of your most important inventory. And an inventory management system can generate cycle counts daily or weekly, which should limit the need for physical counts and minimize discrepancies. So, you can ensure your inventory’s accuracy without disrupting production—just incorporate cycle counting into your staff’s regular schedule.