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What is Inventory Management? Objectives, Challenges, Importance & 10 Benefits of Implementing Inventory Management in 2023

What is Inventory Management? Objectives, Challenges, Importance & 10 Benefits of Implementing Inventory Management in 2023

It's critical to assess your company on a frequent basis to verify that you're on the right route. Inventory management or Stock management is among the most important aspects of any company. How has inventory management worked out for your online business? Ever had the proper stock levels when you needed them? Ever lost sales because an item was out of stock? Or did you lose money because you had too much inventory? Address these questions to yourself and in the end, you will be having answers and solutions for your queries. We also got you covered over some standard practices for managing inventory in this article, as well as fundamentals of inventory management strategies. What is Inventory Management? There are many different meanings of inventory. Some people define inventory as the total value of all the things used in your firm. This encompasses anything to do with your business operations, such as business supplies and the security of the products. We feel that thinking of inventory as the total of all products utilized in your business that are meant for sale is more beneficial. This entails examining all of the components that go into producing your goods. Materials directly tied to your manufacturing process include both goods that are ready to sell and items that you plan to sell in the future. Inventory management, in its most basic form, is the management of your industrial inventory, often known as product inventory. These are all of the supplies and materials in your warehouse or storage area that are intended for product manufacture. Only things ready to sell, or merchandise inventory, are kept in the inventories of retailers and wholesalers. However, before going into the intricacies, it's always a good idea to brush up on the basics or you might end up following others like a blind sheep if you don't. In this scenario, we need to know not just what inventory is, but also what the goals and objectives of good inventory management for small businesses are. Read our blog on perpetual inventory systems to know more about the methods, benefits & how perpetual inventory is different from periodic inventory systems. What are the Different Types of Inventory to be Managed? Source While handling and controlling stock, a corporation may encounter a variety of various forms of inventory. All of these concepts are crucial to grasp to achieve successful inventory management. When it comes to the things that a company could sell, there are seven different types of inventory- Raw Materials Any goods utilized to make completed products or the separate components that go into them are referred to as raw materials. These can be manufactured or sourced by a company, or they can be acquired from a vendor. Work-in-progress (WIP) Inventory Retailers who make their items have work-in-progress (WIP) inventory. These are unfinished or in-progress goods or components that are not yet available for sale. Finished Goods The term "finished goods" refers to things that are finished and ready to sell. These might have been produced in-house or obtained as a complete, finished product from a vendor. Most shops will either buy entire, finished items from a provider or commission a third-party to create unique products for them. As a result, finished items are frequently (but not always) one of the few forms of inventory that require attention in retail inventory management. Safety Stock Safety stock is an important inventory categorization that allows producers to maintain planned output levels in the event of an emergency. This sort of inventory is simply a stretch surplus of anything required to finish the manufacture of some or all products, such as raw materials, parts, products, and any other necessary items. The purpose of safety stock is to guarantee that firms do not experience any production disruptions that result in incomplete items or idle industrial machines. Any substantial delays in finishing and distributing items might result in a drop in income as well as a loss of customer confidence. The amount of safety stock inventory required will be specific to the items being created, as well as the anticipated demand and supply of the product. Ready to Sell Inventory Ready-for-sale inventory products are finished goods that are sitting in warehouses waiting to be dispatched to merchants. This is the amount of ready-to-sell inventory held by a manufacturer or retail warehouse. Nothing prevents these things from being processed, packaged, and dispatched to merchants or straight to customers from the warehouse. Anticipation Inventory Anticipation inventory refers to things that are only available at certain periods of the year. Retailers and manufacturers alike must keep a close watch on forthcoming seasons and inventory levels. Packaging Materials Everything needed for packaging and delivering items is the final category of inventory that merchants and manufacturers alike cannot disregard. Pallets, shrink wrap, wooden boards and planks, nails, and everything else needed to properly deliver items to merchants fall under this category for manufacturers. Bubble Wrap, Styrofoam peanuts, and other cushioning materials, as well as a range of boxes and adhesives, are available to online merchants and retailers who offer delivery. Objectives of Inventory Management Objectives of Inventory Management should be both operational and financial. In terms of operations, stored items should be accessible in appropriate quantities, and working capital should be kept to a minimum. The following are some of the most important objectives of inventory management - Processing the Orders If you don't know how much stock you have at your hand, you won't be able to meet a received order. To fulfil orders, you must have the appropriate items on hand at all times. Otherwise, directives may throw you into disarray. Assume you're selling apparel and you've gotten an order for 500 men's denim jeans, but there are only 300 pieces of denim available at the warehouse when you checked out. If the order is received without knowing the stock level at the warehouse, then chaos will follow. An inventory management system should be utilized to avoid this, and team members should be aware of the inventory level. Having Adequate Supplies Inventory should be conveniently stocked in advance, from raw materials to completed goods. You should provide enough of the essential material to ensure that items are not harmed when a client requires them. Supply tracking ensures that goods are available to fulfill client demands. It also allows for the shaping of demand depending on the available supply. After you have adequate supply to match client demand, you create specific targets based on customer demand. Stock Management To make things go more smoothly, you'll need a thorough inventory record. This approach allows you to keep track of your inventory and stops you from making mistakes like duplicating orders or maintaining the wrong quantity of inventory on hand. Situations of overstock or understock should always be considered. We already know that understocking may lead to shortages and disrupt the ordering process, but overstocking is just as dangerous. Assume you're working with perishable goods and have an excess of them. Perhaps you plan to keep such stockpiles on hand as a backup in case of higher-than-usual demand. However, holding an excessive amount of stocks may create more problems than not being able to satisfy the actual supply and demand. Also holding stocks for too long can spoil the quality of products and may cost you money. Minimizing Expenses  The basic objective of inventory management is to save expenses as much as possible. To be financially secure, you should reduce superfluous capital. After all, money is a critical restriction. To lower manufacturing costs, you should restrict your investment to a minimum and keep material costs under control. If the things don't sell, your assets might become liabilities overnight. As a result, one of the objectives is to guarantee that you do not lose money as a result of holding inventory. Items should be used while their original worth is still intact. Working capital should be kept to a minimum because it is also required for other activities like operations and sales. When you manage your inventory well, you can avoid extra expenses. Dealing With Losses When it comes to coping with losses, managing inventory effectively helps to a great extent. When there is no effective tracking system in place, items are prone to be squandered or misplaced. Besides, no matter what sort of employment you conduct, theft is always a danger worth addressing. Keeping a record of things reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of loss. Having a record on hand eliminates potential waste and protects your firm from theft. Such dangers are heightened in situations when large quantities of items must be handled. As a result, an inventory management system is a lifesaver when it comes to keeping track of everything and minimizing any losses. Strengthening Production Managing your inventory benefits productivity in a variety of ways. When you want to update something in the manufacturing process, having an inventory system makes it easier. If you wish to grow or downsize your production, look at your tracking system and determine how to lead it. Furthermore, inventory systems assist manufacturing in running smoothly by assuring an effective supply. Production doesn't have to be reformed again if you retain your records and have enough supplies. Product Sales Optimization Analyzing product sales patterns is another thing you can do with stock management. The phase of sales is crucial to the entire operation. It aids in the comprehension of the existing situation and the formulation of future assumptions based on the analysis. For example - s Sluggish items can be detected and eliminated. Assume you're in the business of selling jewellery. Some of your items aren't performing well in the marketplace. The sales aren't going as planned, and they're all sitting on the shelf. Keeping things that are no longer in demand does not appear to be a wise idea. In that scenario, you may lower the pricing to sell them, or you can find another means to sell them. 7 Challenges Faced In Inventory Management Every physical product selling firm requires inventory management. Given the volatile nature of the business, managing inventory becomes extremely difficult. A competeCompetentng software may assist you in resolving a variety of issues, including inventory reorder limits, excess inventory storage costs, and many more, which we will go over in further detail later. The following are the most common issues encountered during stock management. Unpredictable Tracking Using manual management procedures across a variety of programming and accounting pages is time-consuming, repetitious, and impotent in the face of errors. Even small businesses can benefit from a solid stock global positioning strategy that includes accounting features. Because of the uncertain monitoring and invisibility of stock, more than 33% of enterprises will miss a shipment deadline, as they sold an item that wasn't truly in stock. For a large percentage of businesses, inadequate visibility is a difficult issue to deal with when it comes to inventory management processes, and the results may be disastrous. Improving data collection and inventory analytics by improving your procedures, and equipment as part of warehouse management services helps solve inventory and supply chain concerns. Transparency The finest companies will include transparency in their satisfaction to guarantee that reps and clients are aware of what is going on. Request difficulties can occur in any circumstance, even with the special challenges of inventory management in internet purchases. If your client is aware of the delays, they may adjust their expectations and be certain that their item will arrive in the end. Your success depends on your ability to communicate and be honest. This includes informing the client that the second item they are waiting for returns stock. Poor Operational Processes At the distribution centre, inventory management controls are escalated actions that include getting and putting away, picking, pressing, and transportation. The goal is to do each of these tasks in the most efficient manner possible. Inefficient Software Inventory management programming must combine your present company measure stages to scale to support complicated coordination. Various arrangements and a big group of highlights requiring preparation and progress help are perusing many demand and supply management arrangements and dominating a large number of highlights requiring preparation and progress support Businesses count specific items in the stockroom rather than totalling the entire stock at once. Cycling calculating is a method of fact-checking. The computation of individual things serves as a type of lens through which the rest of the stockroom may be viewed. You'll probably see similar inaccuracies in various zones if your stock is wrong in the cycle tallies. Similarly, if your store's cycle checks verify it's accurate, you'll have accurate tallies. Keeping Track Of Warehouse Space Managing space effectively is a daunting task. You may better control the situation of new stock conveyances by arranging and organizing stockroom spaces using inventory management stages. It can represent important elements such as available spaces. Collaboration Between Workers One of the most common challenges in inventory management is labour cooperation. To guarantee that their eCommerce warehousing process is executed correctly, communication and teamwork are essential. When departments are averse to sharing information, it's far more difficult to discover inventory patterns and find ways to improve. Employees cannot be informed about tasks, requirements, progress, or work condition if information flow is delayed and disturbed. As a result, firms will face warehouse-related problems. Production Scheduling Production planning is critical for reducing production costs and delays. Businesses must summarise their production results each month, identify the problem and its remedy, and set objectives for the next month. Based on the solution and monthly KPIs, they generate detailed production plans. It may have an impact on sales predictions and project timelines if not done appropriately. Importance of Inventory Management Inventory Management is an important part of supply chain management, which is the process of keeping track of inventory levels and goods flow, whether it's providing raw materials to manufacturers or satisfying orders for finished items. Inventory management is a critical component of a company's long-term success, as it helps them save expenses, enhance cash flow, and increase profits. The balance of your supply chain will fall into place once your inventory is correctly arranged. Mis-shipments, shortages, out-of-stocks, spoiling (when dealing with vulnerable inventory stock), excess stock, incorrect pick-ups, and other mistakes are all possible without an effective inventory management system. Small business owners still don't track their inventory, and supply chain inventory accuracy in U.S. retail operations is just 60 per cent on average, implying that many merchants aren't productively managing their inventory. An Inventory Management system, unlike an enterprise resource planning (ERP) IM system, concentrates on a single supply chain operation. It can link with other software systems, such as POS (point of sale), multi-channel sales management, and branded shipping, allowing you to create a customized integration stack to match your business's particular requirements. 10 Benefits Of Efficient Inventory Management Increased Competitiveness in the Market Inventory control is aided by utilizing efficient ways of managing inventory. In establishing a business's competitive strength, criteria such as commonalities with values, high factor loadings values, and substantial mean values are taken into account. These reasons unquestionably highlight the necessity of inventory management and control, which increases market competitiveness. Improved Service Quality due to Lesser Lead Time It's still true that managing inventory efficiently leads to repetitive customers, which is something that every firm strives for. If you want your loyal customers to keep coming back to buy your products and services, you must always enhance your service quality so that you can quickly respond to their requests. Inventory management and control assist businesses in fulfilling such demands by allowing you to give the appropriate levels of hands-on service as soon as your clients request it with an acceptable lead time which ultimately emphasizes the necessity of quality stock management. Reduced Storage Costs The advantages include concentrating on inventory planning and lowering storage costs while maintaining enough stockpiles. By adopting proper inventory management and control, the factor minimizes storage costs and boosts income, emphasizing the necessity of managing inventory levels. Efficient inventory management help avoid excess stocks or stockouts. Revenue Growth Inventory planning may be used to bridge the gap between increasing revenues and lower costs in any firm. A company's profitability may be increased by using efficient inventory management and control. If a company ignores the advantages of managing its inventory in its trade, sales, and manufacturing, it may find it difficult to maximize its operational efficiency. The cost of procurement and manufacturing of inventory has a significant impact on gross profit. A company's gross profit can be increased by lowering its manufacturing costs. As a result, appropriate inventory planning is necessary. And, with all things equal, such a corporation would report more revenues, which in turn leads to higher profitability, demonstrating the necessity of inventory management once more. Better Utilisation of Warehouse Space Proper management and control entail keeping track of all commodities produced, purchased, and sold to fulfil consumer demand. These inventory management advantages have an impact on the management approach that helps an organization's warehouse achieve better space management. It will always be tough to manage your inventory successfully if your warehouse is disorganized. Several firms choose to improve their fulfilment centres by grouping higher-selling items in conveniently accessible sections within the warehouse. This procedure helps to expedite order fulfillment while also ensuring client satisfaction. Simplified Cost Accounting Tasks Due to Inventory Control Better inventory management will undoubtedly land you in better financial situations. Internal plans and measurements are frequently developed by business owners to provide better management and planning of production and sales. Such approaches connect every participant in the firm, including managers, to providing actions that make accounting activities easier. Typically, these tactics assist industries in order, accounting for inventory values, maintaining inventory flow, and assisting in the control of stocks. Several organizations may effectively control their cash flow by using such approaches in inventory planning. Safety And Environmental Considerations When employees strain to walk on the shop floor, can't move things easily, and tumble off the shelves, having too much inventory in the warehouse can be a health and safety hazard. Efficient stock management results in less packing, which results in less waste generation and helps the environment. This is one of the strongest reasons to emphasize the necessity of inventory management. Increased Customer Confidence With improved methods in place, any business may employ inventory planning and management to boost cash flow by delivering better customer service at consistent prices. Small businesses may use an inventory control and planning tool to learn which goods sell well than others. They will be able to change their product range and make informed business decisions as a result of this phase. Better Human and Equipment Utilization If steps to control and manage inventory are properly implemented, it saves time in terms of human resources and equipment consumption. Less time spent maintaining inventory translates to improved productivity for both your company and your clients. With these advantages, your company will always be one step ahead of the competition and will always have adequate items on hand depending on inventory movements. Improved Product Quality Inventory management and control may help improve corporate efficiency and product quality significantly. These advantages help to reduce waste and improve emphasis on creating quality managing processes. It is undeniable that having an effective inventory management system leads to greater success and repeat customers. If you want your loyal clients to keep coming back, you must improve the quality of your products in every manner imaginable. Source 7 Step By Step Processes To Implement Inventory Management Examine Your Budget The ABC of inventory process management, the only basis of this approach, is planning and attentively monitoring your budget, as mainstream and widespread as it may appear. It is equally important since it dictates the breadth of your inventory management and the amount of raw inventory you can afford to spend. This can be accomplished in one of two ways: The first is manual budgeting and activity-based costing (ABC costing), which identifies and assigns a cost to raw materials so that you may plan. The second method is to use budgeting software that is specifically designed for this purpose. You may use it to automate this procedure and have the software assist you in managing your money more efficiently. Make a Warehousing Plan After analyzing your budget, the next step is to choose a place. Because some organizations have many sites, the warehouse where your items will be stored and await transportation is critical. It's also critical to choose the right storage for your merchandise. Different industries and raw materials necessitate different warehouse types. As a consequence, thinking about it ahead of time might save you a lot of trouble. The sort of warehouse determines where your high-demand raw materials go, how often they're carried and shipped, and how much lead time you can provide your customers. You'll be able to manage products and reduce logistics costs once you've chosen a facility or third-party logistics partner. This can be done manually or with the help of an inventory management solution. You'll be able to automate activities and make the process of shifting merchandise between various types of warehouses or organizing it in a precise sequence much easier with the latter.  Whether you're a small, mid-sized, or large business, using Inventory Management software will be less time-consuming and cost-effective than doing it manually. You'd be able to use it to automatically transfer items from one facility to another and rigorously control the present status of your products. Make a Preliminary Order List Create a preliminary order list based on the past level of demand for your items. This is critical since you'll be able to predict when a piece of your supply will be gone and act quickly to avert such disasters. You'll also find it easier to create cycle counting if you use this method. You should be able to start using the Inventory Management program once you've figured out the budget, the location, and the most critical items. Select and Implement The Appropriate Software Picking the proper tool for you can be a difficult undertaking, thus this is the phase where you should spend the most attention. With each passing day, it becomes increasingly difficult to pick inventory management software due to the plethora of products on the market. As a result, when selecting it, you should consider the following measures: Decide on a Pricing Range to Work With Remember what we discussed in the budgeting portion earlier? This is where it comes in handy: there are a lot of wonderful alternatives on the market, but the best one for you will be determined by your price constraints. As a result, you should have a pricing range in mind that you can use to limit your search. Recognize Your True Requirements Before you install software, you should know what you'll be utilizing it for. Different instruments on the market can meet a variety of demands and desires Are you planning to utilize it to create personalized product pricing? Do you want it to do inventory forecasting based on current stock levels? Or to keep track of orders and monitor every action in your warehouse? You must answer these questions before deciding on an integration option, since the objective may have a direct impact on the tool's efficiency. Determine Specific Integrations You'll Require It's critical to select a system that you can combine with your existing apps and tools. Otherwise, you'll have to manually enter all of this information, which will result in data time delays and data loss, negating the value of acquiring an inventory management system. As a result, you should be aware that different inventory management software products are appropriate for different circumstances - are you utilizing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, or something else? So, your choice is strongly reliant on these systems and their ability to work together. Taking these actions before entering into the deep area of inventory management, you'll be able to assess your internal demands and determine what you need to accomplish. However, as previously indicated, deploying such software might be pricey. As a result, even while analyzing the budget, keep in mind that, while it is an exceptionally advantageous option, it may not be appropriate for all small or mid-sized businesses. You may think of automation software as a supplemental service and do keep these factors in mind. 10 Best Practices Of Inventory Management for Online Businesses in 2023 The most important strategies for efficiently managing your inventory for greater profitability and cash flow management- Make A List Of Your Inventory's Top Priorities Organizing your inventory into priority categories will help you figure out which things you need to purchase more of and more regularly, as well as which are critical to your business but may be more expensive and take longer to move. Experts recommend categorizing your inventory into three categories: A, B, and C. The A category consists of higher-ticket things that you will need less of. Low-cost products with a high turnover rate fall into the C category. The B group consists of things that are modestly priced and move out the door slower than C items but faster than A items. Keep Track of All Product Details Keep track of the product details for each item in your inventory. SKUs, barcode data, suppliers, countries of origin, and lot numbers should all be included in this information. You might also want to keep track of the pricing of each item over time so you're aware of things like scarcity and seasonality that might affect the price. Examine Your Stock Once a year, some firms do a complete count. Others do spot inspections on their most popular goods on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. Many people engage in all of the aforementioned activities. Make it a habit to physically count your inventory regularly, regardless of how often you do it. Examine the Performance of Your Suppliers Your inventory may be harmed by an unreliable supplier. It's time to take action if your supplier is consistently late with deliveries or consistently under-delivers an order. Talk to your provider about the difficulties and figure out what's wrong. Prepare to change business partners or cope with erratic supply levels and the risk of running out of goods as a result. Follow the 80/20 Rule When it Comes to Inventories Generally speaking, 20% of your stock accounts for 80% of your profits. Make inventory management of this 20% of products a top priority. You should be aware of the whole sales lifetime of these things, as well as how many you sell in a week or month, and keep a constant eye on them. These are the goods that bring you the most money; don't let them go to waste. Maintain a Consistent Approach to Receiving Stock It may seem obvious to ensure that incoming inventory is handled, but do you have a standard procedure that everyone follows, or does each person that receives and processes new stock do it in their unique way? Small inconsistencies in the way new stock is received may leave you scratching your head at the end of the month or year, unsure why your figures don't match your purchase orders. Ensure that all employees who receive goods do so in the same manner and that all boxes are confirmed, received, and unpacked together, tallied precisely, and checked for correctness. Keep Track of Your Sales This may appear to be a no-brainer, but it entails more than simply totalling up revenues at the end of the day. You should know what things you sold and how many of them, and you should keep track of your inventory totals. But you'll also need to study this information. You should know when particular goods sell quicker or when they become obsolete. Is it a one-time thing or do you sell certain things on a given day of the week? Is it true that certain things usually always sell together? If you can answer these questions, you are on track to know your sales in your business. To keep your inventory under control, you must understand not only your sales totals but also the bigger picture of how goods sell. Order Restocks on Your Own Some suppliers provide inventory reordering services. On the surface, this appears to be a positive thing: you save money and time by delegating the procedure for at least a few of your products to someone else. However, keep in mind that your vendors may not have the same goals as you. They want to shift their inventory, but you want to stock the most profitable things for your company. Take the time to inspect inventory and place reorders for all of your goods. Invest in Inventory Management Software It's possible to manage the first eight items on this list manually, using spreadsheets and notes, if your company is small enough. However, if your firm expands, you'll need to spend more time on inventory than on your business, or risk having too much stock. All of these activities are made simpler by good inventory management software. Before you pick a software solution, make sure you know what you're looking for, that it has the metrics you need, and that it's simple to use. Use Technology That is Easy to Incorporate Inventory management software isn't the only tool you can use to keep track of your supplies. Mobile scanners and POS systems can assist you in staying on schedule. Prioritize systems that function together when investing in technology. It's not the end of the world if your POS system can't interact with your inventory management software, but it might cost you time to move data from one system to another, making it easy to wind up with wrong inventory counts. Conclusion Regardless of the size of your company, inventory management is essential. It reduces losses, storage expenses, and stock-outs for the firm. These technologies enable you to successfully manage various sites while maintaining accurate records. By recording everything methodically and quickly, an inventory solution saves you time and money; moreover, this strategy promotes customer happiness by eliminating errors along the route and providing them with the best possible experience. Better customer interactions lead to more successful businesses. As a result, inventory management systems have a significant and favourable impact on overall performance. You can start improving your inventory by finding the correct tool for your firm. You May Also Read: What is Shopify Inventory Management? How Can InventoryLogIQ Aid in Managing Inventory? Inventory planning can be tremendously complex, and if not executed adeptly can lead to a significant loss in sales. To simplify this, InventoryLogIQ uses advanced AI algorithms to generate deep SKU-level actionable insights which will enable you to enhance your inventory turns, and lower RTOs, by placing the right product at the right fulfillment center at the right quantity. You may tackle inventory difficulties with the aid of InventoryLogIQ's multifaceted approach. Some of the ways we can assist you are as follows: Optimizing Your Inventory Management System Many parties involved in the supply chain have chosen to switch from just-in-time to just-in-case inventory management techniques. In order to prevent stockouts in the event of a disruption, this shift entails stockpiling extra goods. Unfortunately, carrying excess stock increases related storage and handling expenses, and figuring out how much safety stock you actually need can be challenging.  In order to maximise your profits by keeping the right SKUs in stock and avoiding overstocking and out-of-stock situations. InventorylogIQ offers AI-based monitoring software to identify and increase product availability and mitigate potential sales losses through smarter inventory planning.  Optimized Inventory Holding Costs You won't have money invested in idly present goods thanks to effective inventory management. InventoryLogIQ helps you detect inventory that moves slowly or that is out-of-date and won't sell at all, enabling you to get rid of surplus stock and save money on storage costs. Our analytics and straightforward reports help you find the best products and promotional bundles to sell non-moving goods and cut your inventory holding expenses by up to 40%. Solutions for Regional Distribution and Fulfillment Our fulfillment center location suggestion engine analyses regional purchasing trends to help you choose the best fulfillment center faster. When you integrate our technology with your online business, we help you quickly get up and running. Orders are instantly transferred to the fulfillment facility closest to the order's destination for picking, packing, and shipping as soon as we receive your goods. You can track inventory in real time, examine order fulfillment and shipping analytics, estimate demand, and do much more from the InventoryLogIQ dashboard. Inventory Management FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) What is the main goal of inventory control?Tracking your inventory and making sure you have the appropriate items in the proper locations is the process of strategic inventory management (at the right time). You can swiftly adapt to fluctuations in demand with an efficient inventory strategy, ensuring that you correctly satisfy each order. Isn't using spreadsheets to manage inventories a smart idea?Spreadsheets are ineffective inventory management tools because they must be manually updated, which takes time and results in data that is frequently out of sync. Spreadsheets also don't scale with your business, don't interact with your POS, and don't show you how well your things sell. How does InventoryLogIQ's platform help in inventory planning and management?InventoryLogIQ's platform has an ML (machine learning) based prediction engine that results in smart inventory placement. It helps in Inventory forecasting, identifying purchase trends, estimating purchase orders, and optimizing stock for multiple warehouses. What are the objectives of effective inventory management?Utilizing inventory management will help you save money and meet the demands of your clients. In other words, it makes it possible to successfully regulate operating costs. The foundation of every business is knowing what you have, what is in your warehouse, and how to manage the supply chain effectively. What are the primary benefits of managing inventory?Spend less money on management operations. The most fundamental benefit of inventory management is that it saves the firm money. Inventory is frequently a company's most valuable asset. Inventory is also costly to buy, placing a firm in the red until those things are sold for a profit. What is eCommerce inventory management?Ecommerce inventory management is a technique that assists merchants in growing their business in all areas through effective inventory planning & control. Business owners may use the technology to optimize warehouse operations and make better financial decisions. Everything else comes into place once you know how much inventory you have and how much inventory you need to have in order to prevent out-of-stock situations. What does the inventory 80/20 rule entail?According to the 80/20 rule, only 20% of efforts, consumers, or other units of the measurement result in 80% of results. The rule says that businesses make about 80% of their revenues on 20% of their inventory when applied to inventories. Which inventory management system is the most popular?ABC Analysis, Inventory Production Quantity, and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) are three of the most often used inventory control methods. To determine how much inventory you should keep on hand, each inventory model takes a different technique. How is inventory managed?Using a reliable, user-friendly inventory management software system is the best method to keep track of your inventory. With inventory management software, you may automate normally time-consuming, error-prone operations, receive real-time notifications, add useful images to your inventory list, and scan barcodes and QR codes.

July 04, 2025

What is Dead Stock? How Does It Affect Businesses & How to Get Rid of Dead Stock Lying in Warehouses in 2022?

What is Dead Stock? How Does It Affect Businesses & How to Get Rid of Dead Stock Lying in Warehouses in 2022?

The goal of the inventory is to be sold. However, unsold goods may accumulate over time and become "dead stock." Dead stock is money that isn't being used and may seriously affect a retailer's bottom line. High-profit margins must be maintained through offloading dead stock, but as eCommerce businesses grow, challenges with inventory optimization occur. Dead stock builds up over time due to a lack of inventory management methods and procedures. A healthy firm typically has 15% dead stock (or less) in its active inventory. However, for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, that figure often rises to over 33%. This locks up cash and significantly raises operational costs. This post will go through what causes dead stock, how to get rid of it, and how to keep earnings up. We'll also discuss how to avoid dead stockpiles with proper inventory management. What is Dead Stock? Inventory that a business believes will be hard to sell is known as dead stock or dead inventory. Items that do not sell as well as anticipated are out of stock. Dead stock can also refer to faulty, out-of-date, out-of-season, or damaged products. The most frequent types of dead stock are seasonal items that are no longer in demand. In some circumstances, they are unlikely to be sold before their expiration date and are wasted. In addition, they only occupy valuable warehouse space that might be utilized for goods that sell quickly as a consequence. Slow-moving inventory thus has some high hidden costs. Types Of Dead Stocks There are several types of dead stocks that a corporation may encounter. Each of them may be traced back to specific events and may necessitate a different method of dealing with them. Outdated Inventory Obsolete inventory is products that have not been utilized or sold in a long time owing to a lack of demand. In many respects, inventory may become outdated. For example, in the clothing and electronics sectors, new trends and models frequently replace old ones. When the holiday season is over, a firm may find an abundance of unsold holiday-themed products. A manufacturing corporation may employ other materials or components in a product, leaving the replacement items on the stockroom shelves to accumulate dust. Poor sales due to bad marketing may force a corporation to discontinue a product line entirely. Damaged Products Damaged goods are materials or items that have become useless due to irresponsible inventory handling, production errors, or horrible warehousing conditions. For example, a pallet with an imbalanced load may tumble off a forklift, the malfunctioning gear may render some materials worthless, or a leak may spoil a batch of items that must be kept dry. Expired goods The food business is the most vulnerable to product expiry. However, some industries, such as medicines and chemicals, require makers and distributors to keep track of expiration dates. Rigid restrictions in businesses that deal with expiring items necessitate organizations meticulously track the expiry dates of their inventory, which may be accomplished with tracking software. Defective Products Items that have not been explicitly damaged at your facility but are flawed in some way are considered defective products. These flaws can occasionally be traced back to the supplier, but they might also result from engineering or design flaws at your factory. Unused Inventory Inadequate inventory management techniques may result in items being stocked and forgotten. For example, if inventory is not adequately accounted for, a corporation may order more stock without realizing that useable products remain in the stockroom. Forgotten inventory is frequently still usable, although it can also become outdated in specific instances. How Does Dead Stock Affect Your Business? Dead stock costs money and depletes essential resources in your firm. This should be self-evident to you and your staff. Aside from replenishing your discount department, there is little benefit to keeping merchandise hanging around your store or warehouse (not a good thing). Here's a closer look at dead stock inventory's three immediate adverse effects on your business. Dead Stock Has a Multiplier Effect on Your Business Finances Dead inventory strains your budget and additional resources exponentially. Not only do you lose the initial investment in the unsaleable goods, but you also lose the margin you were expecting to gain from selling them. If finished goods remain on your shelves across your business, you're also losing out on prospective sales of other products. This is less critical for online stores, but it might significantly impact your inventory, or the eCommerce platform charges you per SKU. Having outdated, undesired, out-of-season things polluting your physical and online store is a poor reflection of your business.  Dead Stock Limits Future Growth Prospects From the previous point, slow-moving stock can be detrimental to future development prospects. We've demonstrated that it's a drain on your already-thin margins and scarce resources. The harmful consequences extend not just into the present but also to the future. Your investment in dead stock represents additional funds that could have been used to test another product, replenish a proven product, or increase your marketing efforts. Unfortunately, these wasted chances are keeping you from reaching your full potential. Dead Stocks Takes Up Warehouse Space Another critically limited resource that slow-moving stock influences are your warehouse or general inventory space. Dead stock incurs carrying expenses on top of eating into your valuable and limited space, whether you have proper storage, a vast closet at the rear of your business, or just your storeroom floor. Depending on the nature of the items, the amount left over, and your warehouse storage plan, your slow-moving stock may necessitate additional insurance coverage. These actual retail wastes of space can also accumulate over time and increase your labour costs. With little room and too much dead stock, retailers drive staff to get inventive to navigate inventory counts and order pulls correctly. What Causes Dead Stock? Understanding what causes dead stock to accumulate in the first place is essential for avoiding it. If you can find out what's causing the dead stock to pile up, you'll be in a better position to move it out and prevent it from piling up in the future. The following are some of the most common causes of dead stock. Over Ordering Ordering excess inventory without knowing how much you'll sell at a particular time is the quickest way to accumulate dead stock and increase carrying expenses. It might be challenging to determine how much inventory you will require to satisfy future demands. There is a delicate line between having too much and too little stock. Still, by devoting effort to setting up an inventory management system and tracking important distribution indicators such as turnover percentage, you may make better decisions regarding inventory replenishing, how much inventory to buy, and when to acquire it. Another way businesses can reduce over-ordering is to purchase fewer items more frequently. For example, you may reduce the danger of gathering dead stock by purchasing inventory to meet a month's need rather than a year's demand. Erroneous Demand Forecasting Future demand is underestimated when the relevant data is not tracked. As a result, eCommerce firms are in the dark about which goods are popular and how quickly they will sell. Rather than acquiring slow-moving items that take up warehouse space and affect your bottom line, you may need better forecast demand by getting precise prior order data. Furthermore, if you have accurate inventory forecasting, you may decide how much inventory to purchase to meet future needs. Ineffective Marketing and Sales Efforts If you offer a high-demand product and your inventory isn't moving as quickly as you'd like, it's probably due to a lack of marketing and sales activity; this is a significant potential expense. Furthermore, poor communication between you and your sales and marketing teams on selling goods, incorrect product messaging, a poor online experience, and a lack of consumer comprehension can lead to high-demand products being unsold. Inadequate Quality Control Even though the inventory is brand new, it does not mean high quality. To maintain proper quality control, it is critical to establish a solid working relationship with a recognized manufacturer or supplier. This guarantees that adequate quality control standards are in place before acquiring other items. How To Avoid Dead Stock? Dead stock is an inescapable part of the retail industry, especially if you've been in business for a few years or more. A few additional Christmas items here and there aren't going to bankrupt your company. However, you are harmed by big over-orders and under-sells. There are several techniques for reducing this risk. There are also a few efficient methods for relocating unsaleable objects, such as just giving them away. Strengthen Your Inventory Management System  Inventory management software levels the playing field when preventing dead stock. Your inventory management system offers the same fundamental automated, measurable, and analytical features used by major retailers to avoid dead stock. The underlying inventory control technologies are the same, but the feature set and specialized employees are much different. On-hand inventory throughout your business and warehouse sites, sales monitoring and forecasting, supplier management, and accurate, automated reordering capabilities are essential inventory management tools that assist reduce the risk of dead stock. Aim Low, Miss Low You may minimize dead stock by placing fewer orders with your suppliers or producing fewer products if you are in charge of manufacturing. This is particularly vital for those annoying seasonal things, and it's also crucial if you want to test a new product on your clients. Aim low and miss low by having a modest stock on hand in case the product fails or a small number of missed sales while you're waiting to restock in case the product succeeds. This tactic is priced because you'll miss out on manufacturer savings for purchasing bulk. However, it's a minor, temporary cost to bear to demonstrate the feasibility of a new product. Examine Your Purchasing Procedures Maintaining a minimal inventory is a specific strategy to guarantee that the risk of amassing finished goods is as low as possible. You can do this by introducing just-in-time inventory policies or placing more frequent orders for smaller volumes. Effective communication with your suppliers is crucial regardless of your approach. Utilize Precise Forecasting To maintain ideal inventory levels and prevent dead stock, distributors and make-to-stock manufacturers must do accurate forecasting. Forecasting gathers data from all organization sectors to identify demand patterns and provide information about when to purchase extra stock. Therefore, it is advised to employ software, such as an ERP/MRP system that gathers substantial volumes of data throughout your company to provide precise projections. Examine Incoming Products You have the opportunity to find any non-conformance early on by inspecting arriving products, at which point you may ask your suppliers for a refund or a replacement shipment. However, it is challenging to demonstrate to your suppliers that the issue was on their end if you do not discover that the supplies or goods are defective till they are on the factory floor or, worse yet, in the hands of a consumer. Utilize Inventory Management Methods Most inventory situations need tried-and-true inventory control procedures like ABC analysis, safety stock, reorder point, First-in-First-out, etc. These techniques allow you to manage your inventory operations by offering a clear framework for inventory management, replenishment, and consumption. By classifying your inventory goods according to their consumption value or frequency, ABC analysis enables you to deploy resources or arrange your stockroom physically more effectively. A mathematical method of keeping buffer stock is called safety stock. It gives you the ideal amounts of excess stock to keep on hand. Calculating the inventory levels at which you should restock your products is called the reorder point. When an SKU's quantity reaches the reorder point, it is time to order or make more. Reorder point and safety stock work well together. First-in-First-out (FIFO) is a strategy for consuming inventories. You will drink stock lots in the order they were brought into inventory if you stick to it. This is an excellent method for managing goods that have an expiration date. Utilize ERP/MRP Software to Organize Your Inventories ERP/MRP systems with integrated buying modules and inventory management software have quickly become necessary in manufacturing and distribution companies. Companies that manage their inventories, process orders, plan production, schedule jobs, handle accounting, and other functions using spreadsheets or several isolated systems recognize that these antiquated systems and procedures impede their ability to expand. Instead, companies may design efficient communication methods, produce precise timetables, and quickly maintain their inventory using a single piece of software for everything, including expiration date tracking. Spend on Marketing You run the danger of poor demand for your items when you are not visible to your target market, which increases the likelihood that your inventory may go out of stock. While word-of-mouth advertising is excellent for gaining customers, employing other media to spread the word may considerably boost sales, enhance inventory turnover, and improve cash flow. The secret is to be visible where your target audience congregates, such as gatherings, print and online periodicals, internet forums, social media platforms, etc. How To Get Rid Of Dead Stock in 9 Easy Ways? There are various strategies to save the situation if you find yourself in a dead stock position where inventory occupies an excessive amount of space in your warehouse and badly impacts your balance sheet. Also one can sell the dead stock in order to get rid of dead stock and free the spaces in the warehouse. Offer Customers a Free Gift When you offer products, increasing the order value by giving customers a free present encourages them to buy from you. As an alternative, you might please customers by surprising them with a gift. This will improve the customer experience and increase the likelihood that they will make another purchase from you. This may be an excellent marketing strategy, whether you use surprise elements or gifts with purchase promotions. It provides an additional incentive to purchase, which should ultimately increase your conversion rates. Recent research indicated that shoppers preferred "freebies" over "discounted merchandise," which shows how useful this may be. For example, customers chose the "33% free" offer over the one that offered a 33% reduction off the usual cost of a particular brand. Combine Products Like free presents, you may utilize product bundles to boost an order's perceived value. Multiple things are bundled together and sold at a discounted rate. These are often goods with a common theme. The combined cost is frequently less than what a customer would have to pay if they had bought each item separately. Offering complimentary gift wrapping or a bag or container, such as a cosmetics bag, to put products in can also increase the perceived value of a transaction. Pair surplus products with best-selling items to employ product bundling to remove dead inventory. Even if you don't profit from these things, they will no longer take up valuable storage space. Promotional Sales You might hold a sales event advertising all of your finished goods on the website and making sure it's accessible in your physical and mortar shop locations to shift finished products swiftly. Please make sure you use email wherever feasible to inform them about the offers. Even while you won't necessarily raise your profit margins by doing this, you will create some cash flow and free up space on those shelves so you may stock them with more lucrative products. Start modestly when discounting, such as with a 20% discount, and increase the values if it doesn't work. Customers might feel a sense of urgency from flash deals, but make sure it has a significant impact. This will help you sell off different products and expand your clientele. Send Goods Back to The Provider This is a simple solution to the problem of deadstock. To discover if you may return any dead merchandise, contact a supplier. They might not fully reimburse you for the consignment inventory, but they could agree to repurchase specific inventory at a reduced cost. While not ideal, at least you may somewhat mitigate your losses in this situation. Remember that you'll likely have to pay both postage and a restocking charge, and it's doubtful you'll be reimbursed for the shipping fees you previously paid. In addition, a vendor could give you credit rather than a cash return. In this situation, you must determine if a supplier or quality fault is to blame for the deadstock. It seems logical to resolve this right away. Make a case for returning it if they offered you a product that wasn't appropriate for your market. Your providers should work to maintain your satisfaction since they want to keep you as a client. If you have only had the stock for a short period—say, let's a month as opposed to a year—you have a better opportunity to improve the situation. But, first, verify that the products are in brand-new packaging and are not damaged. Dead Stock Donations Growing numbers of customers consider a brand's corporate social responsibility (CSR) when determining whether or not to buy from them. Research supports this, showing that 52% of customers think producers are responsible for the planet's future. According to a recent Mintel research, three-quarters of American consumers are influenced by a company's philanthropic giving activities. People feel as if they are helping their community when they participate in charitable endeavours, and they also help a company's reputation. In addition, giving away finished goods enhances consumer perception of your business and qualifies as a tax deduction when you file your accounting. Given how simple it is to donate brand-new clothing, fashion stores have a solid chance to give dead stock to charities. Finding a charity to work with and donating the extra merchandise to their worthwhile cause are the only two steps required. Always follow the correct documentation requirements, and if you need assistance navigating the tax write-off procedures, contact a registered tax professional. Look For Collaboration Possibilities Any connections you may already have with other brick-and-mortar stores or e-commerce enterprises might be helpful regarding dead stock. Discuss the most significant applications for a dead stock item with them. Relationships may take many various forms, so be aware of that. For instance, you may try to collaborate with another retailer to develop a co-branded product package. Or plan a jointly funded "garage sale." Sell Products on Online Stores Although it will take some effort on your part, selling extra stuff on Amazon, eBay, and Etsy might be a wise option. If you haven't already, you'll need to take product photos, create product pages with descriptions and SKUs, and upload your products. Make sure to read the instructions before registering because each marketplace has its restrictions. Resell Your Products Unsold inventory may not always be a result of the product itself. Instead, it could have something to do with how the products were positioned or advertised. Updating products with fresh merchandising and marketing initiatives might be worthwhile in this situation. When you have a physical presence, one method to achieve this is in-store. It can be enough to move some things about or rearrange the shelf to give them a new life. Items may be made more aesthetically pleasing and offer a better shopping experience for customers by installing fresh, bright signage and changing worn-out price tags. Rephotographing items for the website is another option, and if you run a blog, you could write a post outlining the product's benefits. The reward might be worthwhile even if it requires additional time or resources. Consider Liquidation You can choose to liquidate your surplus inventory by offering it to businesses that buy only dead stock products. It's doubtful that you will make money this way as these firms are known to "cherry-pick" products and offer to buy your stuff for a significant discount. Nevertheless, at least you'll be giving the company more room and money. Conclusion Several things, including shifting consumer expectations, ineffective inventory management, and straightforward spoilage, can result in dead stock. On your warehouse shelves, though, the product lines are accumulating dust. As a result, the most potent businesses put forth a lot of effort to keep dead stock to a minimum. Several tactics may be used to reduce the danger of dead stock. Two include enhancing inventory control and paying greater attention to consumer expectations. However, if you come across lines that are moving glacially slowly, act right away. Dead stock can be eliminated by giving it as presents, donating it to a good cause, or selling it for less than it is worth. Dead Stock Management With Inventory LogIQ By regularly monitoring and controlling inventory levels to ensure you have just enough inventory to satisfy demand, InventoryLogIQ helps avoid reduce dead stock. By monitoring usage and demand, and automatically determining the best time to restock inventory goods, advanced inventory management software at Inventory LogIQ may enhance forecasting skills—this aids businesses in avoiding retaining surplus inventory that can remain on shelves permanently. In addition, leading software solutions enable organizations to track things through their complete life cycles to identify product quality concerns and facilitate inventory management across different locations. It can be challenging for firms of any size to avoid dead stock. For various reasons, including uneven ordering patterns, economic downturns, and quality related issues, businesses may end up with dead stock. However, strict product-quality standards, keeping track of client demand, and inventory management software can help firms reduce the danger of dead stock with Inventory LogIQ. Suggested Read: What is Stranded Inventory? Dead Stock: FAQs What makes it "dead stock"?Dead stock is a term used to describe e-commerce inventory that isn't now selling and probably won't in the future. These items are no longer in high demand due to inferior quality, a decline in order, and seasonality, which reduces profit margins. How is dead stock managed?Deadstock often remains unsold in a warehouse or the fulfilment facility of a 3PL until it is removed. While there, it rapidly raises carrying costs and may take up the storage space required for a fresh, marketable product. Deadstock, not selling, can reduce profit margins and affect a company's bottom line. In addition, dead stock can be seen as an inventory write-off since it frequently results from a shift in market demand. What are the typical reasons for dead stock?Various factors can cause deadstock; the most frequent are incorrect inventory forecasts, excessive order amounts, poor sales, low demand, and subpar product quality. How can dead stock be avoided?You may use inventory management software, keep an eye on sales patterns, determine precise reorder points, survey consumers, diversify your product mix, and buy high-quality items to stop the deadstock from building up in your inventory in the first place. Why does dead stock harm businesses?Stocking up on finished products might hurt a company's bottom line. Dead inventory has high holding costs and reduces sales for the company. Additionally, it would help if you improved the pay for your personnel to avoid employee unhappiness due to the increasing workload at the warehouse. Last but not least, dead stock takes up space in the inventory that might otherwise be occupied by things that drive sales.

July 04, 2025

What is Inventory Planning? Importance, Challenges, and 5 Best Methods of Inventory Planning for eCommerce Businesses in 2023

What is Inventory Planning? Importance, Challenges, and 5 Best Methods of Inventory Planning for eCommerce Businesses in 2023

The eCommerce industry's ethos is placing products in storage in optimal quantities so they can eventually be sold when an order is placed online. There is a lot of strategic supply chain planning behind every successful eCommerce firm, especially regarding inventory planning and management. Inventory is the most valuable asset for eCommerce sellers. With good inventory planning, you can fulfill orders by efficiently forecasting demand and enhancing the customer buying experience. When inventory planning is done correctly, it helps online sellers save money and time and streamlines their entire eCommerce supply chain. Customer expectations will be constantly met, and enterprises will remain prosperous. If you struggle to plan your inventory, you need to identify the tactics and tools that will help you improve your inventory planning operations. What is Inventory Planning? Inventory is the greatest asset of an eCommerce business, whether it is a retail, wholesale, or manufacturing unit. If we set aside store management and human resource expenses, sellers invest considerable capital in inventory planning. Inventory planning is when an organization determines the optimal quantity of listed products concerning time and other factors. Inventory planning is an essential component in the supply chain management of eCommerce that involves demand and inventory forecasting to determine optimal inventory levels across each SKU that needs to be maintained in any period to avoid loss of revenue due to stockouts or excess inventory pileup situations. It is an integral part of a company’s supply chain management strategy alongside order management, accounting, warehouse operations, and customer management.  Inventory planning is unavoidable since it allows businesses to run continuously. Low inventory levels can result in unfulfilled orders, which ruins a brand’s reputation. On the other hand, having too much stock is detrimental to a healthy cash flow and stifles corporate growth because money held up in excess inventory cannot be spent in other parts of the company. It entails anticipating demand and determining how much inventory to order and when to order it. This allows businesses to meet demand while also lowering costs. In other words, by keeping the correct amount of inventory in the right place at the right time, organizations can lower their overall storage costs, improve inventory planning and control and ensure that there is always enough stock to fulfill demand (whilst avoiding obsolete surplus stock). Why is Inventory Planning Important? Increases Sales Sellers can stock up on products that appeal to their target demographic, increasing sales and revenue. During seasons of high demand, they will have enough inventory available to fulfill as many orders as possible. Improves Cash Flow Practicing inventory planning ahead of time might help eCommerce sellers to avoid problems like having too much capital locked up in their inventory. They will be able to keep inventory moving while also freeing up cash to reinvest in the company. Utilizes Storage Holding inventory costs a lot of money; if it is a perishable product and needs special conditions and temperature, the cost instantly multiplies. So here, tiny storage space can cost more than the business receives in profits. Inventory planning takes care of inventory space and utilizes it to the best of its ability.  Forecasts Demand Better demand forecasting helps to make better and more informed decisions about inventory planning and revenue generated in the future. Placing an order during high demand can cost more than procuring it during price slumps or discount periods. It not only assists a seller in meeting customer demand but also in making better financial decisions that affect profit margins, cash flow, inventory allocation, warehousing, staffing, and overall logistics spending. Improves Customer Satisfaction Customer satisfaction is the best selling point. Buyers are always choosy, but they will be satisfied if the seller has the right products at the right time. People often pay more to get a better experience and quality products. They are more inclined to return to the same seller if they can count on getting the things they need and want. Satisfying these desires will help them get a positive outlook on your brand, which will reflect in their feedback Minimizes Overstocks and Stock-Outs Inventory planning aids retailers in avoiding overstocking or understocking. It aids in the optimization of inventory storage and precise control over each item. Overstocking can hold up business capital for an extended period. In contrast, understocking can disrupt the supply chain process, resulting in more expensive procurement and an inability to fulfill orders. What are the Challenges of Inventory Planning? Managing Huge Amounts of Data When a seller runs flash sales, their sales velocity increases, and they store much data obtained from buyers. This data is instrumental while running campaigns, checking for follow-ups, and sending personalized offers and benefits according to customers’ gender, last purchase, amount they spent previously, etc. Managing this useful and colossal data is a challenging task. It needs a good inventory management application that stores data and takes care of qualified leads by marking them as prospects. In the absence of a cohesive view of the past, current inventory levels, and any other essential sales data, sellers may flounder in the dark regarding inventory-led decisions. This is why implementing a real-time inventory tracking system is non-negotiable.  Finding Reliable Data Real-time data is required for a smooth and efficient supply chain process. However, information is frequently not maintained in a meticulous manner, especially when it is done manually. It is distributed throughout several systems even when it is kept track of. This makes it challenging for merchants to consolidate all the data to get a complete picture of their inventory. A real-time inventory tracking system guarantees that sellers have reliable data as they expand into new sales channels and further develop their distribution network. Various inventory apps make it simple for online retailers to keep track of their inventory. InventoryLogIQ not only stores the seller's inventory at their preferred domestic fulfillment sites, but the seller also gets access to inventory data via a single dashboard. That way, sellers can save the time and effort associated with updating many spreadsheets while reducing human error. Suggested Read: When To Consider Adopting Distributed Inventory Systems Using Multiple Fulfillment Centers? Developing Inventory Management Software Customers have high expectations for the speed with which their orders are processed and shipped. However, getting bogged down in planning and managing inventory can harm supply chain efficiency. There is no surprise that more and more modern merchants are turning to Inventory Management Software to help with their inventory planning requirements. Inventory management software can help eliminate time-consuming manual tasks and increase inventory accuracy. It is common for online firms to use inventory automation to automate inventory planning processes that are time-consuming and prone to human mistakes, such as the pick up of incorrect inventory and inventory shrinkage. For the smooth running of operations, a seller needs an inventory management system. This requires a substantial one-time investment for developing an IMS and technical staff must be employed to manage it. This becomes a hurdle for small and medium-scale sellers. They are already short on capital and have narrow profit margins to compete with established eCommerce giants. Third-Party inventory planning software can help them with their requirements. Instead of investing in their inventory management software, working with a third-party logistics (3PL) supplier like WareIQ can save time, effort, and money. Lack of Trained Resources The warehousing process will likely slow down or fail if the employees are not appropriately trained. Sellers must equip personnel with knowledge of the newest procedures, data analytics, distribution metrics and technology involved in supply chain management to bring value to inventory planning. However, investing in training and technology implementation can be costly and time-consuming. Though many online firms have team members who oversee logistics, it is commonplace for online brands at all phases of development to collaborate with a 3PL that can provide the technology, data, and knowledge needed to plan and manage inventory efficiently. Suggested Article: What is Inventory Aging? 5 Best Inventory Planning Methods to Consider in 2023 Now that we’ve discussed the challenges, benefits, and fundamentals of inventory planning, let’s talk about how to actually implement it. There are a handful of inventory planning methods. Consider the right one depends upon your products, business type, and processes involved. The Work in Progress Model (WIP)  Merchants who deal in partially finished items, finished goods, or goods-in-transit should use this model. This inventory model emphasizes inventory holding, and there are three reasons for this: Purchasing raw materials in bulk saves money and lowers per-unit costs.It helps avoid stockouts and provides precautions against demand uncertainty.It encourages holding inventory to reduce the chances of price hikes for materials and labor. The Self-Consistent Inventory Model Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) The economic order quantity (EOQ) method determines the best inventory quantity to order. It considers product demand, unit pricing, and holding costs to assist sellers in figuring out how much to order.  The goal of EOQ is to assist sellers in determining the number of products that will allow them to meet demand without overordering and inflating their holding costs. To make this strategy work, a seller should have a firm grasp on the following: Order costs – Expense per merchandise orderDemand rate – Units sold during a particular time periodHolding costs – expenses involved in holding the product The EOQ formula is : EOQ = Square Root of [{ 2 (Order Costs) X (Remand Rate)} / Holding Costs ] Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)  The minimum order quantity (MOQ) estimates how much inventory a seller should order at any given time. This is perfect for sellers that wish to be careful with their ordering habits or who want to maximize their cash on hand while avoiding excessive inventory spending. There is not a set formula for MOQ, but a seller can calculate the correct MOQ for their eCommerce business by: Calculating Demand: It considers the seller’s historical sales data and current patterns to determine how much inventory they will need.  Being Aware of Holding Costs: Calculate the costs of storing a product. Keeping small and minuscule objects in a warehouse will be less expensive than keeping them in a climate-controlled setting. Knowing the Breakeven Point: Calculate how many products are needed to sell to reach the breakeven point before buying the product. Determining MOQ: The criteria listed above will assist sellers in determining the proper minimum order quantity for their products. FIFO or LILO First-in, First-out (FIFO), and Last-in, Last-out (LILO) are supply management methods in which products purchased first are sold first or vice versa. An ideal formula for retailers who sell perishable products, FIFO requires keeping track of the purchase date of each product and dispatching inventory according to it. The main motto is to monitor the expiration dates of perishable products. Structure the stock in the warehouse in such a way that makes it easy to implement FIFO or LILO. Setting Reorder Points Reorder points are crucial tools in inventory planning since they assist the store in avoiding stockouts. Product demand, sales velocity, order lead time, and safety stock levels determine the optimal reorder point. Calculating the reordering point requires two components: Safety Stock: (max daily orders x max lead time to get it) – (average daily orders x average lead time to get it)Lead Time Demand: the average number of units sold daily x the lead time of a product  To determine the reorder point, add lead-time demand to safety stock. Use the following formula: Reorder Point = Safety Stock + Lead Time Demand  Just-in-Time (JIT) Model Just-in-time ordering is an approach in which items are ordered just when required. Because it allows a seller to avoid sitting on too much stock at any given moment, this strategy can help them save a lot of money on holding expenses. It requires trustworthy supply chain management. Sellers will need a quick ordering process and dependable vendors who can deliver products on schedule for JIT to succeed. Here, the idea is to decrease waste and increase efficiency by ordering products as per demand and never prematurely. Conclusion: Inventory Planning with InventoryLogIQ A retail business that makes smart inventory decisions in advance will almost certainly succeed. The main problem is monitoring bulk orders while carefully monitoring data and upcoming inventory trends. Without adequate inventory planning, substantial consequences might arise, ranging from increased transportation costs to catastrophic stockouts and shipping order delays. InventoryLogIQ can help you save money on inventory planning. It provides the tools, experience and support you need to make smarter business decisions and grow your organization faster, from inventory planning to real-time inventory management. Be a part of our sophisticated Warehousing Management System by partnering with InventoryLogIQ while maintaining control and visibility over your multi-location inventory across the nation and supply chain. With our inventory planning platform, brands experience 80%+ regional utilization & 40% lower holding costs. Inventory LogIQ achieves this by utilizing the following: AI-based Algorithms for Product Bundling Recommendations: This generates rich insights in the form of minimalistic reports, which help businesses identify the product bundling strategy aimed at improving the sales of non-moving products and free-up working capital locked in slow-moving inventory. Ultimately, this helps in inventory liquidation and reduction in storage space required.Product Segmentation Tool & Planning Engine: This allows you to segregate your SKUs as per their performance and helps you enhance your product-level sell-through focus. Furthermore, with automated replenishment triggers, you will never miss out on any sale by stocking the right SKU at the right time.Sophisticated Fulfillment Network Planner: Our network planning engine analyses the regional buying patterns and enables you to optimize your fulfillment network so that you can place inventory closest to your customers and unlock speedy deliveries for a significantly larger share of regional demand. Suggested Read: What is Merchandise Assortment Planning? Inventory planning FAQs How to develop an inventory plan?To develop an inventory plan, understand your reorder points, the time taken to order products and any potential impediments. When you have a plan in place to receive essential goods fast if needed, set up a broad refill schedule for things you'll use frequently. What are the 3 primary inventory management techniques?They are:The pull strategyThe push strategyThe just in time (JIT) strategy How does InventoryLogIQ help in inventory planning?InventoryLogIQ, an inventory planner helps in smart inventory placement using an ML-based prediction engine. It helps eCommerce & D2C brands to forecast inventory & optimize stocks for warehouses by enhancing regional utilization. What is an inventory strategy?An inventory strategy is a method for ordering, managing and processing products in your warehouse on a daily basis. Inventory management is an easy task for a small business but as your volume grows, you'll require a strategy. How is Excel useful for inventory planning?Excel spreadsheets can be an intelligent approach to start tracking inventory management when you're short on resources. It's also an easy-to-use solution for getting you up and running with a simple method to manage inventory. What is the difference between inventory and stock?Inventory contains both finished goods and components that make up a finished product, while stock is the supply of finished goods that are ready for sale. To put it another way, all inventory is in stock but not all stock is inventory.

July 04, 2025

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