A Detailed Guide to Stranded Inventory and How to Avoid Stranded Inventory on Amazon and Other Online Marketplaces in 2023

A Detailed Guide to Stranded Inventory and How to Avoid Stranded Inventory on Amazon and Other Online Marketplaces in 2023

Amazon is the largest eCommerce company in the world and operates localised websites in more than 20 countries, spanning 5 continents. It is the dream of many retailers to be able to sell their products on Amazon, so they can access their enormous customer base, get exposure to the latest features and expand their business efforts across various facets. However, even though Amazon provides its sellers with multiple fail safes to prevent mishaps from occurring, the nature of eCommerce is such that it cannot have a 100% success rate at all times. On some occasions, certain factors can cause inventory to be isolated in their respective fulfillment centers, with no means of getting it out. This is akin to a human being stranded on a deserted island with no communication from the outside world. Sounds dramatic? That’s because it can be. Inventory is the central pillar of every online and offline business, so if it starts going to waste, businesses instantly lose money and resources. In this blog, we will take a look at the meaning, causes and preventive measures of stranded inventory. What Does Stranded Inventory Refer to? Stranded inventory refers to goods or materials that are no longer being promoted or cannot be sold. This can occur due to a multitude of factors, such as a change in market demand, a shift in business strategy or the expiration of a product. Stranded inventory can tie up capital and storage space, and it can also be difficult and costly to dispose of. Additionally, Amazon will continue to charge you for the storage space you use, regardless of whether the inventory is useful to you or not. Amazon has also implemented an Inventory Performance Index (IPI) to judge the efficiency with which sellers manage their inventory on a scale of 0 to 1000. Stranded inventory can have an adverse impact on your IPI and according to Amazon policy, if it falls below 400, you could be penalised by the company limiting the amount of storage space you can access in their fulfillment centers. As a result, it is important for businesses to manage their inventory carefully to avoid the accumulation of stranded inventory. What are the Primary Causes of Stranded Inventory on Amazon? Extreme Product Pricing This generally happens when Amazon’s algorithm perceives the price of a certain product as being too high or low in relation to its value compared to other products in similar categories. Due to this, the specific listing is then restricted by Amazon, which diminishes its visibility to customers and affects the purchase procedure of that particular item. However, this can be rectified relatively easily in the “Manage Inventory” tab by having a maximum and minimum pricing threshold for the product.  Penalised Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) Amazon assigns a unique Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) to every product so they can seamlessly be tracked wherever they are and the status can be reflected accordingly. There are a variety of reasons that cause Amazon to place restrictions on the ASIN of a particular item, such as plagiarised product descriptions and images, quality control issues, requirements for more detailed testing and more. When an ASIN gets penalised, it prevents that product from being bought by customers. To restore the ASIN to its regular status, you will need to contact customer support and follow the steps they mention. Listing Errors and Other Discrepancies Listing errors generally occur due to products not being associated with or assigned a particular ASIN. For instance, this can happen when a product shipment cannot be identified with a specific listing or when a listing is mistakenly or intentionally deleted, resulting in confusion. Fixing this issue is relatively simple. You can just relist the deleted or misplaced ASIN and if you are still running into errors, you can contact customer support and follow their instructions. Suppressed Listing Pages Product listings can be suspended for a variety of reasons, including required information not being properly filled, a high rate of RTO initiations, multiple customer complaints and more. If Amazon is dissatisfied with the performance and reviews of a particular listing, they can suspend it, causing it to be temporarily removed until the issues associated with it are rectified. If you want to restore the listing page, you will have to inquire about the reason for which it happened, the steps to get it rectified and contact customer support if it still shows the same error even after you have followed all the steps. Detection of Expired Products Amazon can determine the expiry dates of groceries and other perishable products. If a certain item is expired and continues to be listed, Amazon will automatically stamp the product as stranded until the inventory is replaced with fresh stock. The only way to correct this is to get rid of the expired items so that it does not accumulate in the warehouse and inform Amazon if the warning persists. The Simple Procedure to Locate and Fix Stranded Inventory on Amazon in 2023 Identifying Stranded Inventory Step 1: Head to Seller Central and hover the cursor over "Inventory" to see whether you have any stranded inventory. Click on "Manage Inventory" to proceed. Source Step 2: If you do have any stranded inventory, the top of the page will include a section labelled "Fix Stranded Inventory." Alternatively, you can access this by pressing the "Inventory Dashboard" button. You can view all your stranded inventory on this page, along with a description of why it is stranded. Source Step 3: In the image below, inventory is stuck because of a listing mistake. You'll find a dropdown section with methods for dealing with the stranded inventory on the right side of the screen. The only available alternative for this specific problem is to initiate a removal order. Instead of taking this inventory off of FBA, it would be preferable to relist it. Hover your cursor over the “Stranded Reason” tab and choose "Listing Error" in this instance.  Source Step 4: In the below case, Amazon is instructing us to get in touch with seller assistance to try and solve the problem. It could take a little time and patience to get it successfully resolved, so it is important to keep that in mind. Source Submitting a New Case to Seller Support Step 1: You might discover that instead of opening a new case, Amazon's support staff may try to assist you in resolving the existing issue. But if you do have to present a fresh case, click on "Help" in Seller Central's upper right corner. After that, click "Get Support" under "Need More Help?" on the lower part of the page. Source Step 2: Select "Selling on Amazon" from the "What Service Can We Help You With?" section. After that, click on  "Fulfillment by Amazon", then " Investigate Other FBA Issues", then  "Stranded Inventory or FBA No Listing." Once that is done, click on "Select Issue", then fill out the  ASIN or FNSKU. This could explain precisely what the problem is and how to resolve it! However, if this doesn't resolve your issue, select "Need Further Help With This Issue?" and choose “Speak With Us”. You will frequently have a choice to modify or relist your inventory. However, it shouldn't affect whether you relist your inventory. Typically, it is fairly simple. To avoid being hit with unforeseen fines or having your product put in danger for disposal, it's simply a matter of keeping track of your inventory. To make sure there are no problems, we advise monitoring your inventory dashboard frequently, at least once every week. Suggested Read: Amazon Inventory Performance Index (IPI) Guide: Definition, Factors, 5 Simple Methods to Improve Your Amazon IPI Score in 2023 Source Check Now: Best Practices and Top 10 Best Shopify Inventory Management Apps in 2023 5 Methods to Prevent the Accumulation of Stranded Inventory in 2023 Hold Off From Deleting Product Listings If the inventory levels of certain items get depleted to the point they go out of stock and you have no immediate plans of replenishing them, it is important to hold off from instantly deleting the listing. This is because if certain items are still in transit, haven’t yet been accepted by a customer or have been returned, it could cause mismatched ASINs and result in those items being marked as stranded inventory. Wait for all the orders to be successfully delivered and delete them only after that is done. Ensure Your Listing Information is Updated Properly By ensuring all your listing information is added appropriately, you can prevent stranded inventory from accumulating and mitigate any errors or warnings that could occur if fields are not filled in properly. When you first create a product listing, Amazon gives you the option to add certain details later. However, if you opt for this route, it could lead to issues further down the line. It is best to add all the information at once and ensure the listing is ready to go from the time it is created. Conduct In-Depth Research Before Stocking Inventory Since Amazon has many restrictions on the type of goods its retailers are allowed to sell and imposes various regulations on various business processes, it is important to conduct detailed research to ensure the products you are selling meet all the criteria. This will help you fix stranded inventory and prevent further stranded inventory from accumulating. It also helps to forecast demand for various SKUs and order them accordingly so they will not have to sit idle for long periods of time. Price Your Products Within the Maximum and Minimum Price Settings As mentioned earlier on, it pays dividends to set maximum and minimum pricing thresholds so that Amazon does not deem certain products to be overpriced or underpriced, which prompts the company to mark those items as stranded inventory and suspend those listings. You have the choice of setting any pricing you want, so make sure to price your products within the upper and lower limits so that no pricing disparities arise. For example, if you set your minimum price as $5 and your maximum price as $20, and accidentally priced 2 products at $4.99 and $21, respectively, the listings would be placed under scrutiny. Confirm That Your FBA Shipments are Accurate One of the most common reasons for stranded inventory is a disparity in the quantity and variations of products that are stored in the warehouse and those that are mentioned in your shipping plan. This instantly causes Amazon to label these items as stranded inventory. Cross-check that the products mentioned in your shipping plan correspond accurately with those that are stored in the warehouse to prevent any confusion and penalisation. Conclusion: Use InventoryLogIQ to Fix Your Stranded Inventory in 2023 Stranded inventory can be a significant problem for businesses, as it ties up valuable financial and storage resources and can lead to financial losses. It is important for businesses to carefully assess the root causes of their stranded inventory and take steps to prevent it from happening again in the future. This may involve improving inventory forecasting and planning processes, better-managing production and purchasing or adapting to changes in consumer demand and preferences. Additionally, it is important to keep an eye out for changes in Amazon’s policies regarding stranded inventory so you can constantly adapt and stay ahead of the curb. If you need assistance with improving your inventory management procedures to lower the risk of stranded inventory, InventoryLogIQ should be your number one choice. InventoryLogIQ specialises in inventory optimization and management by providing its partners with all the tools they need to accurately forecast future demand, ascertain the order quantities of various SKUs based on a variety of factors, automate reorder triggers to prevent stockout situations and much more. We can help your business in the following ways: Expand Your Operational Prowess We help you analyse inventory (with ABC inventory analysis and other) and forecast situations so you can prepare your business accordingly. Prevent Inventory Bloating We help you identify items that have been overstocked and have low demand to avoid bloating of those products in your storage facility. Increase Sales Velocity We assist in highlighting high-demand products and help you maintain the optimum levels of those SKUs. Streamline Operations We provide multiple automations that can help you optimize different facets of your inventory management process. Accurately Place Your Inventory We utilize state-of-the-art AI and ML algorithms to ensure the right quantities of inventory are stored at the most relevant locations. Suggested Read: What is Consignment Inventory? Stranded Inventory: FAQs Why is it important to prevent stranded inventory?Once a product is labelled as stranded inventory, its listing is suspended, which means that it cannot be sold, resulting in lost sales and profits for the business. What does Amazon do with stranded inventory?Amazon gives sellers a 30-day period to address stranded inventory, post which it initiates the disposal of all items marked as stranded inventory. Can you rectify products that have been labelled as stranded inventory?Yes, items labelled as stranded inventory can be relisted and the label is removed once the necessary steps have been taken. How can stranded inventory impact your business?Stranded inventory has a negative impact on business because it can create confusion, resulting in misplaced items, unhappy customers and additional storage expenses. What are some of the causes of stranded inventory?Some of the causes of stranded inventory are listed below:- Errors relating to bulk uploading- Deleted listings- Expired items- Insufficient brand qualifications- Suspended listings

January 04, 2023

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The Definitive Guide to Consignment Inventory Including How it Operates, Pros and Cons, Best Practices and More in 2023

The Definitive Guide to Consignment Inventory Including How it Operates, Pros and Cons, Best Practices and More in 2023

According to Statista, in 2023, the eCommerce market is expected to generate US$113.50 billion in revenue. By 2027, the market volume is predicted to reach US$191.40 billion, with revenue forecast to expand at a 13.96% annual rate (CAGR 2023-2027). As any store will tell you, buying merchandise entails a certain level of risk. It usually happens after the retailer gets things from the supplier and resells them for a profit before stocking retail products. The retailer has left with unsold goods that they must either markdown or unload if buyers need to buy more things. Hence, selling a brand-new product can be a costly undertaking. Also, predicting whether a product will be profitable and popular is almost impossible. Of course, you may have conducted the required research and kept up with all current market trends. But for whatever reason, the product could be better liked. Isn't it simpler to test new products without purchasing them in-store? Consignment inventory, a type of business concept, fortunately, provides for this. Consignment inventory is defined, but how does it operate? We'll examine this business model's concept in more detail and explain how it operates so that you can use it to your advantage. What is Consignment Inventory? Consignment inventory is a type of business arrangement or supply chain strategy in which the consignor—a manufacturer, supplier, or wholesaler—gives inventory to the consignee—a retailer or retail store—so that they can resell it through various channels of distribution. The consignee pays the consignor only after a client purchases the items and retains the profits. When things are consigned, the consignor owns them until the retailer or consignee sells them to a customer and pays the consignor the appropriate amount. For instance, a consignment agreement between a retailer and a manufacturer of women's clothing might be reached peacefully, with the shop agreeing to pay the retailer up front for an inventory of the manufacturer's products. The inventories will be transferred from the manufacturer to the retailer, and the manufacturer will only be paid for the sales of the devices. Unsold merchandise inventory that a shop cannot sell will continue to be the manufacturer's property. In the best-case scenario, well-handled consigned inventory can benefit both the consignor and the consignee while still retaining ownership of the manufacturer or supplier. How Does Consignment Stock Operate? How can you implement consignment inventory in your store? Although every arrangement may differ, strong consignment agreements usually result when you use these basic practices. They are listed below: Develop a Solid Vendor Relationship The successful consignment will be based on having a strong relationship with your merchants. Make sure you sign a consignment agreement with merchants you trust whose principles coincide with your own if you're thinking about doing so. There are numerous techniques to locate vendors. These may be vendors you've dealt with in the past. However, you might also run upon them at trade events or when actively looking for goods. Whatever the situation, make sure you thoroughly check them out before creating the papers. Create an Agreement That Benefits Both Parties Making and finalising a formal consignment agreement is the following stage. Both sides should work to create a situation where they may benefit. Although your situation will determine the contents of your agreement, you should generally include the following provisions: Include an Ability To Sell Clause The agreement is merely formalised under the "right to sell" clause. It should state that the consignor has given the consignee permission to sell and exhibit the items in their retail location. Use a Pricing Clause The pricing clause in your contract must specify the price at which the retailer will sell the goods. This section may occasionally determine the "minimum price" at which the consignee is permitted to sell the goods. Specify a Fee For Consignment The percentage of sales that would go to the consignee and consignor is described in this section. In addition, this contract section frequently specifies when the consigner will receive the money. For instance, it should be specified in writing if the consignor wants the sale funds provided within ten days following the sale. Mention the Products' Location  The precise location (address) where the committed things will be kept and stored should be included in this section. Specify the Time Frame  A deadline for when objects must be sold should be specified. The goods must be returned to the consignor if they sell after the deadline. The Benefits of Consignment Inventory For Consignors in 2023 Consignors are makers, wholesalers, or suppliers of goods, as was previously indicated. The benefits of a consignment model are available to the consignor because consignment inventory is comparable to a leasing agreement. These consist of the following: Avoids Inventory Carrying Costs Inventory carrying costs are the financial and inventory costs incurred by a company while holding a specific volume of inventory. In a nutshell, it refers to the expense of keeping the products in stock, owning them, or storing them. Consignors and suppliers can pay little or no holding expenses because they transfer ownership and are not required to hold onto the consignment items. As a result, they will have more cash available to use for other business-related costs. Tests the Market Before investing in producing and storing a sizable number of their goods, consignors can use consignment inventory to determine the demand for their wares. This is because a merchant typically owns a sizeable portion of the consignment merchandise they acquire. This is something that the consignor may take advantage of and showcase things to the market in a more limited way. They can assess the level of demand for their goods in this way. Streamlines the Supply Chain The main advantage of a consignment inventory strategy is that it reduces expenses and eliminates inventory. But it also involves simplifying the supply chain. Suppliers, producers, and distributors can save money using consignment inventory instead of buying stock and renting storage space separately. It is more effective for the complete consignment process to design a supply chain that doesn't have additional expenses and space. Establishes Relations With Retailers The consignee assumes many risks because a retailer is ready to take on most of a product's stock. They are, therefore, more likely to remain devoted to their consignor. When you consider the possibility that a retailer's success depends on their supplier, a consignor wants to keep their retailer satisfied to ensure that they don't have any plans to transfer consignors. Amplifies Cash Flow Consignors who use a consignment inventory model can improve their company's cash flow. This is because, depending on the ownership models, selling some of the stock to customers may free up room for another vendor-managed inventory, enabling them to generate more profit. Consignment Inventory Benefits For Consignees in 2023 Retailers or businesses that accept the obligation to sell consigned inventory on behalf of a manufacturer or supplier are called consignees. It implies that consignees can be either person, corporations, or businesses. These people and companies can profit from consignment inventory in the following ways: Provides a Variety Of Products To Choose From Most of the time, when a retailer buys consignment inventory, they order the item in quantity and stock it at their establishment. Depending on the product, they will have a large selection of consigned products to choose from and can base their decision on their target market, location, and customer. Cuts Costs It is crucial to remember that a merchant must pay for the number of committed products they sell from their store. In exchange, businesses can avoid any potential markdowns or inventory losses and not have to bear the expense of consignment goods that do not sell. Enhances Cash Flow This strategy enables consignees to boost sales and cash flow. This is so they may make room in their store for additional vendor-managed inventory, which will help them make more money by selling part of the stock. Strengthens Relationships With Manufacturers A retailer takes on a significant financial risk when they agree to purchase most of a product's stock. Since they have a common goal, they build relationships with their suppliers the more they market and advertise the consignment products. Significantly, they are more inclined to stick with their supplier. Main Disadvantages of Consignment Inventory Consignment inventory has drawbacks, just like anything else. The following are some of the more typical ones: Low Visibility of Products Low visibility can be detrimental to retail establishments, particularly regarding newly consigned goods. As a result, they are typically challenging to sell. The most popular solution to this issue is marketing the product to attract new clients. Although it could be a reasonably straightforward process for consignees, selling takes a lot of work. High Carrying Prices for Retailers The inventory must be retrieved from the warehouse by the retailers. Therefore, the more it costs them to keep it on the shelves of the shops, the greater their carrying costs will be. Additionally, they will have to pay for extra expenses like warehouse maintenance and storage of their inventory. In other words, it will cost them more and impact their profit margins after selling. Issues Regarding Cash Flow Retailers using the inventory will be able to get paid once the item is sold. It implies that even when they anticipate more significant sales, they can only sometimes spend their money immediately. Involves a Lot of Risks The consignor is taking on quite a bit of risk by being able to take on the majority of the product's stock from the warehouse. This is due to the possibility that shops will only effectively sell the goods. When this occurs, the consignor/supplier could lose much more money than usual and might even need to increase their inventory. It may also be challenging for the retailer to sell some consignment products because they lose their effectiveness after a set time. Additionally, this will increase inventory costs and prevent the provider from losing money. Challenges Relating to Inventory Management This supply chain strategy may make stock management more difficult. This is necessary for merchants to track consigned items independently from non-consigned items. They can track sales more quickly and replenish consignments from the supplier's warehouse as needed. It would be challenging for retailers to track their margins, making it tough to profit because these consigned items do not include any upfront supply costs. 4 Recommended Best Practices for Consignment Inventory in 2023 Recommended practices can help you avoid the drawbacks of consignment inventory in the simplest way possible. The most important ones are listed below: Make a Reliable Contract Source It is imperative to emphasise this idea. Before sending or receiving goods for your consignment inventory, you must create a firm contract. Both parties should accept the Terms. Include due payment dates, supply replenishment terms, inventory damage terms, inventory reporting, and all other essential details. Clarity is essential because you're beginning a collaborative partnership. Before you start, go over all the specifics in the contract. You'll spare yourself future hassles. Employ the Appropriate Technology Source We said in the last section that managing consignment inventory differs from your regular stock. However, many businesses need to pay attention to this and end themselves in trouble. Select inventory management software that can assist you in managing your consignment inventory, and you may avoid this problem. We promise that using this software will significantly simplify the management of your consignment inventory project. Collaborate With Your Team Source Keep in mind that consignment inventory is a team effort. Because selling the consignment items is in everyone's best interest, the two businesses should cooperate. Consignors, this involves assisting merchants in better comprehending your goods so that they may market them more successfully. Additionally, consignors must make sure that they communicate with suppliers whenever inquiries or problems emerge. The benefit of using consignment inventory is that you don't have to carry the weight by yourself. With your partner, discuss information and a plan of action. Use Marketing Strategies Source Whatever side of the consignment inventory debate you're on, you should always have a few different options for sales channels. Multiple sales channels reduce risk if one consignment agreement fails. You can read here in detail about multiple-channel inventory management. Conclusion: How Inventory LogIQ Can Help In Managing Your Inventory Consignment inventory can be quite advantageous for both suppliers and retailers. Your chances of success with consignment are higher when you have a mutually beneficial agreement and employ the appropriate inventory management solutions. This arrangement can be beneficial for both parties, as it allows the supplier or manufacturer to reach a wider market without having to invest in retail space or staff, and it allows the retailer to offer a wider range of products to its customers without having to carry the inventory itself. Why is Inventory LogIQ the finest solution for managing inventory? Because we are a dedicated inventory management company that offers a variety of solutions. As you grow your eCommerce business, you'll learn that in-house inventory management can quickly become a headache. You can completely expand your inventory procurement and management strategy while lowering inventory storage and running costs. All of your needs for inventory management and fulfillment are met by Inventory LogIQ. Here are some reasons why adopting a 3PL is superior to all other options for inventory tracking: Inventory Segmenting By providing your company with inventory that is segmented according to various factors and stored on pallets, shelves, and bins, Inventory LogIQ is intended to help you quickly turn over your inventory. In addition, using our services may avoid unnecessary storage costs and save time and money. Inventory Tracking Making wise business judgements is more straightforward with accurate data. To make your business function more smoothly, we assist you with demand predictions, reorder points and more. For example, you can view SKU performance over time and determine the days' worth of inventory you have on hand in real-time from the Inventory LogIQ dashboard. Efficient Data Management The ideal inventory management solution will vary from company to company, but we can be an all-in-one tool that is more economical than using many devices at once and more effective than attempting to synchronise dissimilar systems and handle every step of the inventory management process on your own. Your inventory management system will function flawlessly as a result. Suggested Read: What is Distributed Inventory? How It Works & When To Consider Adopting Distributed Inventory Systems Using Multiple Fulfillment Centers? Consignment Inventory: FAQs What is a consignment inventory?Any item or piece of property that has been transferred from a consignor to a consignee with the intention of sale is considered to be consignment inventory. This is because the goods are sold post-transfer in the consignee's retail setting, but the consignor continues to possess the consigned item. How is consignment inventory valued?Items sold on consignment are often 25–40% more expensive than when new. The consignee's profit is made up of this extra margin; without it, the consignee wouldn't be motivated to sell the items. How do I calculate the quantity of consignment inventory to order?You have to strike a careful balance when stocking the appropriate product. Customers will shop elsewhere if you do not order enough products, resulting in excess stock and storage costs. By examining historical data and trends from earlier months, you can estimate how much stock you'll need going forward. Also, free up storage space for extra inventory before it arrives if you're introducing a new product.

January 02, 2023
What is the FIFO Method of Inventory Valuation? How to Value Inventory Using FIFO Inventory Valuation in 2023?

What is the FIFO Method of Inventory Valuation? How to Value Inventory Using FIFO Inventory Valuation in 2023?

Inventory valuation is figuring out the worth of the products in stock at a specific moment in the eCommerce sector. The cost of goods sold (COGS) on financial accounts, the amount of taxes due, and decisions regarding how much inventory to hold and when to refill all depend on this value, which is crucial for many reasons. In the eCommerce sector, inventory can be valued using a variety of techniques, such as: First-In, First-Out (FIFO): This method evaluates inventory because the first items entered are also the first to be sold or used.Last-In, First-Out (LIFO): Here, inventory is valued based on the notion that the last items added to it are the ones that are sold or used first.Average Cost: This method calculates the average price by dividing the entire cost of the inventory's goods by the total number of items on hand.Specific Identification: Using the item's cost as a basis, this method values each item in the inventory. An eCommerce company's financial statements may be significantly impacted by the method employed to value inventory. If you use the FIFO method of inventory valuation, your cost of goods sold may be greater, and your profit margin may be lower, but if you use the LIFO approach, your goods sold may be lower, and your profit margin may be higher. Therefore, it is crucial for eCommerce companies to assess which strategy is best for their operations carefully and to maintain consistency over time with their inventory valuation techniques. What is FIFO Inventory Evaluation? Source According to the FIFO method of inventory valuation, the first things added to the inventory are also the first ones to be sold or used. This means that while the newest things continue to be in stock, the items that have been in stock the longest are the ones that get sold or used first. This approach is predicated on the idea that items with the longest inventories will probably have a lower value due to depreciation or obsolescence. The FIFO method of stock valuation is widely utilised in the industrial and retail sectors because it accurately depicts how goods are typically sold or used in these business types. For example, a merchant typically sells the oldest things in-stock first because they have been on the shelf the longest and are more likely to expire or go out of style. Similarly, a manufacturer would generally start using the oldest raw materials and components first because they have been in the warehouse the longest and are most likely to go wrong or need to be updated. The FIFO method of inventory valuation is one of several approaches that may be used to assess inventory, and it's crucial to select the one that's most suitable for a particular firm. The LIFO (last-in, first-out) method, the average cost method, and the specific identification method are more approaches. How To Value Inventory Using the FIFO Method of Stock Valuation? You must determine COGS after the accounting period or fiscal year because eCommerce inventory is regarded as an asset. Therefore, your balance sheets and inventory write-offs are impacted by ending inventory value. More current merchandise often costs more than older stuff due to inflation. Since the lower-valued items are sold first using the FIFO method of inventory valuation, the ending inventory usually has a higher value. Furthermore, any excess inventory after the fiscal year does not impact the cost of goods sold (COGS). It is critical to remember that FIFO method of stock valuation was created for inventory accounting requirements and offers a straightforward formula to determine the value of ending inventory. However, it's only sometimes the case that what's received first is sold and fulfilled first. However, the FIFO method of inventory valuation offers a double benefit of excellent inventory management and a simple method for determining ending inventory value if you sell goods with a limited shelf life, are perishable, or tend to become obsolete rapidly. You can track and control quality, reduce the risk of high inventory holding costs for retaining out-of-date or no longer marketable inventory, and calculate inventory value that corresponds to the natural movement of inventory throughout your supply chain (also known as dead stock). The drawback of employing the FIFO method of inventory valuation is that it might result in considerable disparities when COGS climbs dramatically, even though it is the simplest and most popular valuation method. Profits will suffer if product costs triple, but accountants use figures from months or years earlier. Additionally, it only provides tax benefits if prices are declining. Using the FIFO Method of Inventory Valuation to Calculate Inventory Cost The FIFO method of inventory valuation is used to compute inventory costs as follows: Assume a product is produced over a year in three batches. Each batch's costs and size are as follows: Batch 1: 2,000 pieces, $8000 in production costsBatch 2: 1,500 pieces, $7000 in production costsBatch 3: 1,700 pieces, $7700 in production costs 5,200 pieces were made with a total cost of $22,700. $4.37 is the average price per piece to make. The unit costs for each batch that is produced must then be determined. Batch 1: $8000/2000 = $4Batch 2: $7000/1500 = $4.67Batch 3: $7700/1700 = $4.53 Let's assume that, of the 5,200 units produced, 4,000 were sold over the year. First, you need to determine which items were sold for what price. Under FIFO inventory valuation and accounting, you begin by assuming that you have sold the oldest (first-in) produced items first to calculate the cost of units sold. Accordingly, using FIFO, of the 4,000 units sold: You presume the first 2,000 goods from Batch 1, each costing $4, were all sold. The cost per unit for the first 2,000 units from Batch 1 sold was $4.00. Eight thousand dollars total.$7,005 was spent on 1,500 units from Batch 2 for $4.67 each.For a total of $2,265 and $4.53 per unit, the final 500 pieces from Batch 3 were sold.The cost of the 4,000 goods sold comes to $17,270 when these expenses are added together. This computation must accurately reflect what occurred because it is challenging to know which products from which batch were sold first in this kind of scenario. Therefore, it's only a means of obtaining a calculation. Advantages of Using FIFO Inventory Valuation We have already covered the definition of FIFO, its significance, and some examples in this post. The numerous benefits of utilising the FIFO method of inventory valuation are introduced to us in this section: Unquestionably Popular FIFO method of stock valuation is widely used and accepted around the world. Its adherence to the IFRS makes it a globally favoured application approach. In contrast to LIFO, primarily utilised in the US, FIFO is accepted worldwide. Logical and Simple Almost all firms may quickly adopt the FIFO inventory valuation method, which is also simple to understand. This strategy functions well for most firms with a cycle from selling oldest to newest. Additionally, it is user-friendly due to the straightforward cash flow analysis. Prevents Manipulation A significant benefit of FIFO is that it makes it challenging to manipulate the reported income in financial accounts. This can save your business from the stress of dealing with instances of theft and mismatched inventory records. Saves Time and Money FIFO method of stock valuation can help reduce the time and costs associated with estimating the cost of the inventory being sold. This is so that the price can directly reflect the cash flows from previous purchases that would be utilised first. Increases Gross Profit The FIFO approach produces a cheaper cost of goods sold (COGS). As it shows future development and profitability, this can excite potential investors, which will lead to more capital and also results in increased profit margins per item. Aligns Costs With Inflation By keeping the newest inventory on hand for future sales, businesses can use the ability to align expenses with inflation. The newer stock can then be sold for more money, keeping up with inflationary times and giving the businesses a competitive advantage. Avoids the Danger of Obsolescence By employing the FIFO method of stock valuation, firms may eliminate the possibility of suffering losses from sales of out-of-date or expired goods. Companies can determine and establish a predictable flow of commodities by clearing the oldest stock first. Disadvantages of Using FIFO Inventory Valuation Because the FIFO method of inventory valuation is simple to comprehend and apply, many firms like it. There are certain drawbacks, though. The immense disparity between costs and revenue under the FIFO technique may mean higher income taxes for the business. The company's profits may be overstated as a result of this. Here are some of the drawbacks of using FIFO: Increased Tax Burden The First In, First Out approach will provide more significant profits, leading to higher "Tax Liabilities" in that specific period. This is one of the most significant drawbacks of the FIFO accounting method. This can lead to more extensive tax obligations and financial outflows for taxes. Reduced Functionality During Unforeseen Circumstances In times of "hyperinflation," using the First In, First Out approach is not an acceptable inventory measurement method. When this happens, there is no consistent pattern of inflation, which could cause sharp increases in the cost of commodities. Therefore, it would not be suitable during these times to match the majority of previous purchases with the most recent sales and would provide a skewed picture because the profit might be inflated. Not Suitable During Price and Demand Fluctuations If the goods/materials acquired fluctuate in price patterns, the FIFO method of inventory valuation would not be a suitable measurement. This can lead to inaccurate profits for the same time frame. Large Amounts of Data is Needed Although the FIFO method of inventory valuation is simple to understand, extracting and operating the costs of products can be laborious and awkward due to a large amount of needed data and the potential for clerical errors. Best Practices to Make the Most of the FIFO Method of Stock Valuation in 2023 Source It's crucial to consider both the accounting and inventory management sides when implementing a robust FIFO inventory valuation system in your warehouse or store. Both have best practices that you should adhere to manage your inventory effectively, acquire an accurate cost analysis of your company, and provide the best possible customer service. Businesses can successfully use the FIFO method of stock valuation and guarantee that their inventory is priced accurately and consistently by adhering to these best practices. Observe the following excellent practices: Create Explicit Policies and Processes To guarantee that the FIFO method of inventory valuation is implemented consistently, it is crucial to have policies and procedures in place that are both clear and well-defined. Establishing protocols for receiving, storing, and selling merchandise may be part of this. Use a Computerised Inventory Management System Keep track of the age of items in your inventory and ensure the FIFO approach is constantly followed. By utilizing advanced inventory management software, you can have access to all the information you need from a single dashboard, which makes inventory management using the FIFO inventory valuation more efficient and streamlined. Keep Accurate Records In order to properly apply the FIFO method for stock valuation, it is important to keep accurate records of the dates when items are received and sold. This can be done through a good inventory management system or through manual record keeping. Some ways to do this could involve recording the date things are added to inventory, their price, and applicable expiration dates. Track Inventory Levels Monitoring inventory levels is essential to ensuring that the FIFO approach is constantly used. When necessary, goods should be reordered. Regular physical inventory checks can help ensure that the records of what is in inventory are accurate and up to date. This is especially important if the business has a high turnover of inventory. Train Your Employees Employee training is crucial to guarantee that workers know the FIFO approach and how to apply it to their everyday activities properly. This will help them understand the procedures they need to follow to ensure that the relevant products are moved out quickly. Consider the Type of Goods Being Sold Some types of goods, such as perishable items or seasonal products, may have a shorter shelf life and should be sold more quickly. It may be necessary to adjust the FIFO method for these types of goods in order to ensure that they are sold before they expire or become obsolete. Use Batch Tracking If a business manufactures products or receives goods in large batches, it can be helpful to track the specific batch or lot number of each item. This can make it easier to identify the oldest items that should be sold first under the FIFO method. Conclusion: How Inventory LogiQ Helps With Inventory Management in 2023 The inventory cost in your accounting system can be calculated using the popular FIFO method of inventory valuation. It can also relate to how inventory moves through your warehouse or store, both used in tandem with one another to manage your inventory. The most straightforward inventory management strategy is FIFO. Several accounting software systems employ it as their sole technique. It is advised that you manage your inventory using one of these accounting software choices to ensure that you accurately record the cost of your merchandise when it is sold. This way, you'll better understand how much money you're generating with each item you sell as a result of doing this. The tech-enabled retail fulfilment solution Inventory LogIQ is intended for direct-to-consumer and B2B eCommerce businesses that are rapidly expanding. Inventory LogIQ employs a tracking system with a lot of features that let you divide SKUs based on their lot numbers for inventory tracking and precise fulfillment. If you have a lot of items, you can be assured that your inventory will be stored safely and securely to avoid confusion. Inventory LogIQ can recognise which items are at risk of expiring first and always ships those items first using the FIFO inventory valuation method. We will always ship the bin that has been updated with a lot date if you have products kept in two different bins, one with no lot date and the other with one. The integrated inventory management solutions in our premium fulfillment software also assist you in: Real-time inventory monitoringManaging every SKUAnalyzing sales patterns to predict demand FIFO Method of Inventory Valuation: FAQs How is FIFO calculated?Using the FIFO technique, you would multiply the price of the oldest inventory units by the number of units sold to determine the COGS. Is the FIFO method of inventory valuation superior to LIFO?Even though both approaches are legal, it is advised that you speak with a CPA. For inventory value and accounting purposes, most organisations choose FIFO. Compared to LIFO, it gives more precise calculations and is considerably simpler to administer. Additionally, FIFO frequently increases profits, which increases the attractiveness of your eCommerce business to investors. Why is FIFO method of inventory valuation the ideal approach?Because it is simple to apply and will make your earnings look the best if you're trying to impress investors or possible purchasers, FIFO is the finest approach to utilise when accounting for your inventory. In addition to being the most popular way, it also makes computations simple to complete with the use of automated tools like accounting software. What is the FIFO method's biggest drawback?The major drawback of employing FIFO is that it's likely to result in higher tax payments than alternative strategies. This is because the cost usually rises with time, so your profit will be maximised if you sell something today and ascribe your COGS to the price you paid for it months ago.

January 02, 2023
Inventory Transfer: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Transfer Inventory & 3 Factors to Consider Before Deciding on Warehouse Transfer in 2023

Inventory Transfer: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Transfer Inventory & 3 Factors to Consider Before Deciding on Warehouse Transfer in 2023

Inventory is frequently moved from one location to another to accommodate demand as online companies expand. The eCommerce warehousing industry experiences a lot of inventory movement due to many fulfillment centers and sales channels, mainly if you operate a multichannel inventory fulfillment operation. But if inventory transfers between storage facilities are not handled effectively, an inventory management crew will undoubtedly get overworked. Additionally, there are strategies to prevent inventory transfers for a more effective supply chain, even if they help control storage and demand. In this post, we go into what inventory transfers entail, when it makes sense to start a transfer and how to carry out a seamless transfer to prevent fulfillment delays. What is an Inventory Transfer? Products are moved from one warehouse location in a distribution chain to another during an inventory transfer, a warehouse logistics procedure. Inventory transfer aims to maximize your storage space so that when the workload is heavy, managing inventory will become easy and can be done quickly. What is the Need For an Inventory Transfer in 2023? Retailers may need to shift goods under the following circumstances: Increase inventory availability when you offer products through various outlets and locations. Typically, retailers will keep their goods in the main warehouse. The warehouse employees will deliver goods to retailers upon receiving orders from them. Additionally, shopkeepers shift things from neighbouring stores to swiftly refill if one of the businesses runs out of something when they sell well.Some companies help with consignment inventory, as in they will ship their products to consignment partners to complete consignment tasks. Merchants must maintain track of these transfers as warehouse transfers as these things have not yet been sold and are still company assets.Control rotten, out-of-date, and damaged goods. Staff at the warehouse will need to shift any damaged products to a different area. The Function of Inventory Transfer in the Fulfillment Process The ideal situation is to have sufficient inventory at the location nearest to the client when an order is placed. This guarantees that packages are delivered on the cheapest, quickest path. An agile supply chain is made possible by having various warehouse sites and the capacity to transport inventory. As a result, you can match customers' expectations for quick, low-cost delivery while selling through multiple channels and expanding into additional global markets. The inventory transfer might delay the eCommerce fulfillment procedure; therefore, a company shouldn't rely entirely on them. Instead, you should ensure access to real-time inventory management system information and visibility into the flow of products across your network to monitor crucial inventory KPIs and distribute inventory accordingly. For instance, if historical order data indicates that particular products are in high demand in a specific market or sales channel, you would first ensure adequate stock is available to satisfy that demand in the appropriate area. Developing a strategic distribution plan may minimize the possibility of fulfillment delays, maximize logistical savings, and ensure that orders are efficiently completed and distributed. How to Carry Out the Inventory Transfer Procedure in 5 Steps? For a broader geographic reach, e-commerce companies frequently split inventory across many fulfillment facilities. You'll probably have to handle inventory movements even if you have two warehouse sites. Fortunately, it's a straightforward inventory transfer procedure requiring only five steps. They are listed below: Step 1: Plan to Transfer Your Inventory Understanding when an inventory transfer makes the most sense is the first step. Here are a few causes: Low or insufficient inventory levels are present in one area.At a specific place, an increase in demand is anticipated.Moving inventory is required to sell on a specific channel.A brief or long-term shutdown of a warehouse Spend some time on inventory planning to determine the goods and amounts that must be sent out, the transfer's timeframe, and create an inventory transfer list. Put all this information into an inventory transfer request, and if necessary, get the source warehouse's inventory manager to authorize it. Step 2: Request for an Inventory Transfer The destination warehouse's inventory manager must receive a formal transfer request after the transfer proposal has been accepted. You will probably be in charge of choosing what goods are kept where if you rent a warehouse. But if you're in charge of several warehouses, you work with a 3PL. So to make sure you have all the required documentation and information, check with the 3PL first. They will already have a transfer request process for you to follow. Make sure there is sufficient storage at the other site to accommodate your request regardless of what. Details for a successful inventory transfer may include the following, depending on the type of transfer: Source data from a warehouseThe intended storage facilityNames of items and SKUsMeasurement unit Quantities that must be transmittedRequest number for stock transfer Step 3: Carry Out the Transfer The warehouse staff will determine if the products are available once the transfer request is approved. The objects are then selected, and an inventory scanner is used to read the serial numbers on each one. The inventory units have already been removed from the transmitting warehouse's stock. The order is then prepared for delivery and sent to the recipient via internal transportation, a shipping company, or a freight shipping partner. Order tracking is also enabled to guarantee that the items in transit arrive at their destination on time. Step 4: Product Receiving and Storage The workers at the destination fulfillment center must verify that the delivered items match the information on the delivery slip during warehouse reception. This is standard for any warehouse receiving procedure, whether it's inventory received from a supplier or an internal inventory transfer. The transfer is finished when every item has been scanned, a receipt is generated, and the goods are securely stored away. Following an inventory storage system that meets your company's demands, the warehouse staff will store the physical goods in bins, shelves, and racks. You should be able to observe when inventory is stored and prepared for fulfillment if your inventory and warehouse management systems are linked. Step 5: Double Check the Received Inventory Tracking the movement and utilizing inventory management software to automate this procedure is the best approach to determine whether the inventory transfer was effective. Inventory visibility is essential for carrying out a successful inventory transfer. Get confirmation of the following, and make sure to: Are items received at the appropriate warehouse location?Was the amount deposited correctly?Was any SKU damaged when it was received? You can check more about inventory carrying costs here. Types of Inventory Transfer We might categorize the different kinds of stock transfers used in the market in two ways. The first one depends on the distances from which the procedure is performed. The execution of the process is the second way. Let's quickly comprehend these before moving on: Transfer Between Companies Here, the inventory transfer involves involvement from two separate businesses. This necessitates the participation of several corporate divisions, including sales, procurement, logistics, and liaison. The difficulty is additionally increased because both firms utilize unique identifying codes. Within Company Movement The same company's inventory is transferred between its two sites. The activities are straightforward because just one entity is involved. To ensure efficiency, though, documentation is as essential. Both are possible through various combinations and permutations of the respective factories and warehouses of the two companies. As we go on to the more significant classification, let's find out how they are carried out in the established method. One-Step Method Here, both the problem and the receipt are created in one motion. Then, through a single STO, the chosen item is distributed to the targeted destination (Storck Transfer Order.) This technique is typically applied to internal transactions inside the same business. As a result, the firm's inventory holdings are still valued at the same amount. At each site, just the amount changes. This is not advised, even if used inside the same company, and if used, the sites should be relatively close to one another. Two-Step Method The ability to measure efficiency and apply it between two entities makes this a superior method of managing operations. Both ends issue the STO document. The item will be removed from the first warehouse or facility and marked as "in transit." The STO document designates the transaction as "finished" once the product arrives at the destination. After the transfer, the value and quantity at both sites are altered. This assists inventory management and tracking the stock movement's effectiveness. Factors To Consider Before You Get Started With Inventory Transfer in 2023 The procedure's effectiveness when it comes to maintaining and moving your inventory is influenced by several elements. How efficiently the warehouse staff can handle the merchandise inventory, may be impacted by the placement of the products on the shelves, the design of the warehouse, and the order of the barcodes on the boxes. Follow the best procedures listed below before you begin a stock transfer: Control Both Maximum and Minimum Amounts Source You may avoid under or overstocking at any site by accurately tracking maximum and minimum numbers. Set minimum and maximum stock levels for each item and alerts to notify you when supplies are running low. Consider applying the 80/20 inventory rule, which says that 20% of your stock accounts for 80% of your sales. Prioritizing inventory management for those things will enable you to determine which products make up that 20 per cent. Additionally, you should be aware of the whole sales lifecycles of these products, including how many of them you sell each week or month. Finally, it would be best if you kept a careful eye on these items since they provide you with the most earnings. If some of your best-selling products are only popular during certain times of the year, it might be challenging to keep track of them. By investing in an inventory management system, you can track your stock levels across many locations and quickly compare them over time. In addition, by using warehouse management software, you may better organize your stock movements and prevent under- or overstocking. Effectively Communicate Between the Warehouses Source In inventory transfers, miscommunication is a frequent cause of problems. You can watch what inventory is being transferred when the products arrive at various locations and whether any stock was damaged or lost in transportation, thanks to effective communication between warehouses. Automation and cloud-based technologies may enhance internal communications in your business. For example, inventory management requires automation to decrease human mistakes and computation oversights. To ensure scalability and reliable communication, cloud-based software syncs between your sites. With the help of this, you may rapidly obtain a detailed understanding of the goods you transported, their quantity and timing, and their current location. Organize Purchase Orders Source Strong management abilities and the capacity to successfully manage various purchase orders are crucial, whether you run a small, emerging firm or a large, established one. There can be different procedures at every store location if your company has more than one. \You might not have a complete picture of your inventory levels since various sites may have different procedures for filing purchase orders and moving goods. This lack of insight might result from overspending or losing out on bulk discounts. For each site, making a bulk purchase may save overhead costs, enhance inventory management, and result in better pricing from the supplier. Conclusion: How InventoryLogIQ Helps You in Efficiently Managing Inventory Transfer in 2023 Effective inventory transfer can have several benefits for a business, including improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness, enhanced customer service, and better inventory management. It is important for businesses to carefully consider their inventory transfer processes in order to optimize their operations and maximize the value of their inventory. Managing inventory across many locations and sales channels might take a lot of time and effort. By giving you complete visibility into inventory levels throughout your supply chain, InventoryLogIQ makes the process simple. In addition, real-time inventory tracking is available on InventoryLogIQ's platform at every level, allowing you to track what is coming in, what is already on hand and what is now being moved. InventoryLogIQ can improve your business in the following ways: Reduces the cost of keeping inventory by 40%Raises product availability to at least 99%Delivers more quickly for more than 70% of the demand Suggested Read: What is Inventory Position? Inventory Transfer: FAQs What are warehouse transfers?When inventory is distributed among various warehouses within a factory, the process of moving it from one warehouse to another as needed is typically referred to as "transfer among warehouses," whereas the process of moving it from one factory to another is referred to as "transfer among factories." They are referred to as an "Inventory Transfer" together. What paperwork is needed for stock transfers?For intra-state or local movements, the stock transfer document should include the heading "STN or Delivery Challan" with the appropriate amount, and for inter-state movements, it should have the heading "Invoice" with the relevant tax information. What distinguishes an inventory transfer from a transfer order?The form used to record each inventory transfer is called a transfer order. These files should be kept up to date often to make warehouse audits simple.

December 23, 2022
Merchandise Inventory: Definition, Importance, Calculation and Examples in 2023

Merchandise Inventory: Definition, Importance, Calculation and Examples in 2023

In the United States, only 43% of small businesses track inventory either manually or not at all, which can seriously hinder their capacity to operate profitably in the long run. Operations that don't manage their inventory are more prone than those that do experience inventory forecasting issues, which may result in higher inventory carrying costs, unanticipated stockouts, or an abundance of unsold inventory. No matter the size or business, inventory is a valuable asset for the firm's balance sheet. Merchandise Inventory is a crucial accounting tool that may be used at every level of the manufacturing process to connect production with order processing. This critical source of revenue is essential to a business's commercial operations and directly impacts how well it performs in terms of fulfillment. Regarding selling the inventory, manufacturers' inventory differs from merchandise inventory. While merchandise inventory concentrates on purchasing the completed items, manufacturers' inventory creates the inventory.  Effective inventory management is one of the cornerstones of business success for distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. These businesses frequently have substantial sums of money invested in stocks meant for consumer purchase. But, of course, the most significant asset for many companies is their inventory ready for sale or retail merchandise; car dealers, for instance, may have millions of dollars invested in their vehicle inventory.  What is Merchandise Inventory? The word "merchandise inventory" refers to the items that wholesalers, retailers, and distributors purchase from suppliers and manufacturers intending to sell. Finished items or raw materials prepared for sale and intended for resale to clients can be included in the merchandise inventory. All items bought but not yet sold are included in the merchandise inventory. This unsold inventory is a current asset on a company's balance sheet. Inventory of goods falls within the concept of existing assets since it is typically anticipated that businesses would sell their stock within a year via routine business activities. In addition, the total amount paid to suppliers for the completed items/raw materials, as well as any related expenses, such as insurance, shipping, and storage, are included in the value of the inventory of goods. The profitability, competitiveness, customer happiness, and, ultimately, the existence of a business may all be impacted by how well it manages its merchandise inventory. Objectives of Merchandise Inventory An internet business's most noticeable present asset is its merchandise inventory, which directly affects its performance. Therefore, for correct calculations relating to total costs, assets, and profitability, the company needs to understand the process of merchandising inventory. Additionally, the expertise necessary for accurate computations aids a corporation in comprehending the crucial associated financial factors. Here are the main objectives of merchandise inventory:  Determining Gross Income Source The gross profit, the difference between sales and the cost of goods sold, is calculated using inventory. Then, the cost of goods sold is compared to the revenue for the accounting period to estimate the gross profit or trading profit. Opening stock plus purchases less closing stock equals to cost of goods sold. The calculation demonstrates how inventory value influences cost and gross profit. For instance, if the closing stock is overpriced, the gain for the current year will increase while the profit for the years after will decrease. Analyze The Financial Situation Source A current asset is designated as closing stock. The closing stock value determines the company's financial status on the balance sheet. The working capital situation and the overall financial position might be misrepresented by overvaluation or undervaluation.  Prevention of Insufficient Inventory Stocks Source For most firms, running out of inventory may be a fatal mistake. Understocking decreases client loyalty to your brands and directly affects company revenue. Additionally, failing to satisfy clients owing to a lack of inventory puts your company on a fast track to losing its favourable brand reputation. Thus calculating merchandise inventory is beneficial in maintaining inventory levels, which helps the organization in the long run.  Importance of Merchandise Inventory in Accounting in 2023 Since product inventory is typically one of an online brand's most valuable assets, maintaining precise inventory management and tracking is essential since it directly influences a brand's financial health. Engaging a CPA when your firm expands is crucial since inventory accounting may be a challenging business procedure to handle. However, it doesn't imply there aren't resources a company can use, such as knowing inventory turnover rate and other crucial inventory reporting indicators, to maintain product inventories better. You may lower your risk of inventory loss, stockouts, and holding too much inventory by prioritizing item inventory control and management. An indication of how liquid your inventory is, for instance, is the turnover of your item inventory. The absence of unnecessary financial ties to dead stock inventory, which also raises carrying costs, is demonstrated by a greater turnover rate. Once the inventory has been sold, the cost of goods sold (COGS), also known as the logistical cost of procurement, is considered to calculate gross profit. Several alternative inventory valuation techniques (such as FIFO method for inventory valuation) may be used to track inventory and its worth. It depends on your business which option makes sense, given the advantages and downsides of each approach. You must regularly use your chosen technique to ensure accuracy in reporting inventory. Methods of Valuing Your Inventory for Accounting First In, First Out (FIFO) The First-In, First-Out (FIFO) strategy works well to maintain a high level of profitability and a fresh inventory of goods. The company may ensure that the shipments are of the best quality by prioritizing the sale of the first-acquired goods over the purchase of later-acquired goods. When selling seasonal items, FIFO enables a business to value its inventory by calculating the cost of goods sold from the first item it purchased and using that figure to value the remaining stock. This guarantees that profits continue to increase despite changes in the market. As a result, FIFO makes the company more efficient and profitable. Last In, First Out (LIFO) The LIFO approach assumes that the most recent additions to the goods inventory will be sold first. Therefore, businesses that specialize in non-perishable goods benefit the most from LIFO. However, the cost disparity between the pricing of the items in the current market and those in the previous one can raise COGS and lower gross profit margins. Weighted Average Accounting Method The average cost of things throughout a company's accounting period is the main foundation of the intermediate cost inventory accounting technique. It is distinct from the previous two methods in that it does not keep track of the cost per inventory unit for every purchase or delivery. Instead, dividing the cost of the goods in the merchandise inventory offered for sale by the total inventory available will get the weighted average. Just-In-Time (JIT) In the just-in-time approach, merchandise is only bought as required rather than being held on hand. This can help firms with erratic sales since it keeps them from having too much inventory. In addition, this approach lowers risk, storage overhead costs, and wasteful loss from unsold goods. Specific Identification Method Every item in the product inventory is tracked using the specified identifying technique from purchase to sale. The method functions well for inventories of large, readily recognized objects with various attributes and prices. However, the strategy necessitates businesses tracking each item individually using an RFID tag, the particular ID affixed to objects that offers the most precise inventory carrying cost and profit record. The unique identification approach increases the accuracy of the inventory valuation process, but it is mainly limited to valuing expensive and unusual things like real estate, jewellery, and cars. ABC Analysis Using the ABC Analysis, a firm may decide which products to sell first based on the cost of goods sold (COGS). The product inventory is divided using this manner into three separate groups: A: High-value, low sales: consists of the inventory of goods, which generates a healthy profit but requires considerable upfront expenses. An extended stay with this group may put a burden on finances.B: middle-value, average sales: Consists of products with a stable foundation and infrequent sales.C: Low-value, high-sale products in the inventory make up category C, which boosts the balance sheet without adding much to profit margins. Methods To Measure Merchandise Inventory in 2023 After selecting a methodology, you must choose a system that establishes how frequently you will monitor inventory value. An infrequent physical count is a "periodic inventory system" carried out by hand. Real-time inventory management is regarded as a permanent approach, which is more prevalent in inventory accounting since it takes less time and is more precise. This is particularly true if your company has to track every item as it passes through your eCommerce supply chain. Here are the methods to measure your merchandise inventory: Perpetual Merchandising Inventory The perpetual merchandising inventory system is the most popular technique businesses use to track all aspects of merchandising inventory in real-time. Companies must constantly update the data on the goods being sold as part of the perpetual inventory method. The firm can examine the inventory activities and transactions during the accounting period thanks to frequent updates on financial reports. The following transactions were made within the time frame: Purchases that were recorded as credits to the payable accounts and debits to the inventoriesPurchases that are deducted from the cost of items soldTotal monies credited to the inventory accountsChanges to the quantity debited and recorded in the price of goods sold, as well as credits to the inventory accountChanges in the placement of inventory Periodic Inventory System for Merchandising Companies do not need to maintain an ongoing update of the inventory value and amount when periodically marketing inventory. Instead, a company conducts periodic inventory by taking an inventory report at predetermined intervals to monitor changes to the merchandising inventory. In particular accounting cycles, the procedure involves manually accounting for and comparing the inventory. Organizations that use periodic inventory include: Small businesses can manually account for their inventory within the required time frame.Businesses have no resources to invest in inventory automation hardware and software.Businesses that offer lower-quality goods in large quantities, such as hardware stores that sell nuts, bolts, nails, and screws or candy shops that sell thousands of chocolates. For small enterprises, when the inventory loses some value with consecutive transactions, permanent merchandising inventory management appears to be redundant. The procedures used for periodic merchandising inventories are frequently incorrect and subject to human error. As a result, this inventory system cannot give the organization any real-time insights into its cost of goods sold, turnover rate, or other inventory indicators. How is Merchandise Inventory Calculated and Tracked? The examples below show how a store determines and tracks item inventory to help you understand merchandising better: Let's say a business that sells cleaning supplies in bulk is figuring out how much inventory it has. The accountant consults several sections of the balance sheet to determine the current worth of the company's inventory on hand. The accountant uses the following financial information: Beginning Merchandise InventoryCost of Goods Sold (COGS)Ending Inventory Beginning Merchandise Inventory Calculation The value of the inventory at the beginning of the accounting period is referred to as the beginning merchandise inventory or opening merchandise inventory. Before any new inventory is purchased or the current inventory is sold, the opening merchandise inventory value is determined. The ending merchandise inventory value from the prior accounting cycle is included in the beginning Inventory for the current accounting cycle. Beginning Inventory = (Ending Inventory + COGS) - Purchased Inventory Calculating The Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) The overall cost of producing the finished goods inventory of commodities, including labour, raw materials, etc., is calculated as the cost of goods sold. The primary method of valuation used to estimate how many gross profits were generated by a single or series of sales is COGS. Cost Of Goods Sold = (Beginning Inventory Cost + Purchases Cost) - Ending inventory Calculating the Ending Inventory  Since it is the last quantity to be reported on the balance sheet for the designated accounting period, merchandise inventory is referred to as the "closing inventory." This is because the cost of goods sold is subtracted from the initial inventory, and a new amount is added to determine the merchandise inventory (COGS). Ending Merchandise Inventory = (Beginning Inventory + New Inventory) - COGS  Example of Calculating Merchandise Inventory An illustration of how a business determines and records its goods inventory is shown below: Let's imagine a business that produces and prints T-shirts. The T-shirts are $20 each. 5,000 T-shirts are sold, 800 fresh products are added to the inventory, with 400 items left in stock. Ending Inventory - 400 x $20 = $8,000 COGS = 5,000× $20 = $100,000 Inventory purchased - 800 x $20 = $16,000 The formula for calculating the starting inventory is:  Beginning Inventory = (Ending inventory + COGS) - Purchased inventory. Beginning Inventory = ( $8000 + $100,000 ) - $16000 = $92000 Cost of goods available for sale or initial Inventory = merchandise inventory - COGS Inventory of goods equals ($92,000) - $16,000 = $76,000 As a result, $76,000 worth of merchandise inventory at the firm during a given accounting period. Use of Merchandise Inventory Once it is Calculated According to the given example, $76,000 worth of merchandise inventory during the accounting period. The accountant may use this information to decide how to allocate extra resources, distribute cash for essential supplies, and other uses for the company's earnings. Therefore, understanding the company's item inventory is critical to correctly assessing the profitability and financial health of the business. Furthermore, since that is the amount businesses disclose on the balance sheet, accountants frequently see product inventory as the ending inventory balance. As a result, companies may better define revenue targets and inventory management KPIs by using this figure, which indicates how much of their inventory is available for sale. Conclusion: Use InventoryLogIQ to Keep Track of Your Merchandise Inventory in 2023 The inventory of commodities that a business purchases for resale to clients is known as merchandise inventory. Typically, firms that use inventories of products are merchants and wholesalers. The financial stability of a corporation depends on effective inventory tracking and management. To save costs, boost performance and profitability, and enhance customer happiness and loyalty, a corporation must comprehend and optimize its goods inventory. Managing eCommerce logistics operations while your online business grows is challenging since your attention must be directed toward activities generating income. A top-tier inventory management company with a tech-enabled logistics network is InventoryLogIQ. With InventoryLogIQ, you can maintain complete operational visibility and have access to integrated inventory management solutions. Some of the key features we provide a listed below: Monitoring Stocks In Real-Time You can quickly track inventory and manage SKUs from the InventoryLogIQ dashboard, giving you total inventory insight in real-time. This will make it easier for you to precisely track inventory flow, storage and inventory warehousing expenses and the typical number of units on hand over time. All of the top eCommerce systems may be connected to InventoryLogIQ within minutes. Once your store is connected and your items are synced, you can: View current stock levels by SKUSet reorder points for each SKU according to the number you want to receiveCombine several SKUs for promotionsMonitor your items across multiple channels Inventory Optimization Your order volume will rise as your company expands. However, this may make it more challenging to estimate demand effectively, manage real-time inventory, and optimize inventory storage. With built-in inventory optimization tools, InventoryLogIQ's inventory management system enables you to estimate demand more accurately, strategically distribute inventory and monitor storage and warehousing costs across fulfillment locations. Reporting and Analytics At InventoryLogIQ, we offer an inventory analytics and reporting solution that aids in forecasting future client demand and ideal stock levels. With these insights, you can increase the efficiency of your warehouse and logistics operations, enabling you to exceed client expectations while lowering costs and travel times consistently. Our robust analytics and reporting platform can help you find the answers to queries like: What were the historical stock levels for my company at any given period or place?How long do I have until an SKU runs out of stock?When must I place new orders for each product's inventory?How frequently are certain products sold?Which products are not selling and cost a lot to store for eCommerce? Merchandise Inventory: FAQs Is merchandise inventory an asset or an expense?It is always regarded as a current asset when the inventory of goods is bought with the aim of selling. Any unsold inventory that remains at the conclusion of an accounting period or fiscal year is recorded as "ending inventory" on your balance sheet. How can a business record merchandise inventory?On a company's balance sheet, merchandise inventory is often shown as a prepaid expenditure. Due to the fact that the inventory has already been acquired for resale, it is seen as a prepaid expenditure. Inventory of goods is transferred from the asset category to the cost category when it is sold. This is due to the fact that every product that is sold must either be produced or acquired, both of which are costly. What should be included in the merchandise inventory?The price the retailer or other reseller paid for the products out of their own pockets is included in the inventory of goods, along with any other expenses the business spent such as shipping, insurance, and storage. Whether it is in shops or warehouses, all unsold inventory that is available for purchase is included in the term "merchandise inventory."

December 22, 2022
What is a Just in Time Inventory Management System? A Detailed Guide for Online Businesses in 2023

What is a Just in Time Inventory Management System? A Detailed Guide for Online Businesses in 2023

Successfully managing your inventory is crucial to operate an online store. But it may also be difficult, costly, and time-consuming. Because of this, businesses worldwide employ various alternative inventory management solutions to reduce their inventory costs and streamline their various warehouse operations. A just in time inventory is a well-liked technique, which, if effectively executed, can reduce inventory costs by 10%, and this money might be put to use for expansion, automation projects, hiring workers, and research & development. The list is endless. Businesses may better manage their demands for raw materials, manufacturing, and customer orders by using a just in time inventory system. However, for things to go well, the business must have a well-oiled supply chain in place to ensure that everything happens at the precise right time. This article will examine just in time inventory, its benefits and drawbacks, and how it may be used to help you determine if this system will work for you. What is Just In Time Inventory? Traditional supply chains are replaced with a just in time inventory system, which lowers the overhead expenses of maintaining a warehouse and stocking inventories. With just in time inventory management, you may place orders with suppliers for items or materials in quantities sufficient to fulfil immediate customer demand without carrying extra inventory. Why Should You Utilize Just In Time Inventory Management in 2023? A modern cost-cutting tactic that has gained popularity and acceptance is JIT inventory. It aids businesses in minimizing waste, increasing productivity, minimizing mistakes, and maximizing profit. However, due to vast stockpiles of useless goods that cause manufacturing uncertainty and turmoil, businesses frequently suffer losses. Using a JIT inventory management system, businesses may bring manufacturing under better control and cut expenses associated with handling inventory. To cut expenditures on inventory management, the firm can store little stock as needed by using JIT inventory. As a result, it guarantees less material waste, more productivity, defect-free goods, and complete elimination of waste related to inventory handling. Additionally, it enables companies to do better market and sales analyses, demand forecasting, and inventory forecasting. Businesses utilize a just in time inventory management system to produce goods precisely and cut down on wasteful spending. JIT Inventory is a productive approach created in Japan to reduce waste and increase revenue. It is a technique that increases cash flow and ensures ROI (Return on Investment). How Does Just in Time Inventory Management Work? For the just in time model to function, a client must first place an order with the manufacturer. The manufacturer recalls an order with their suppliers as soon as they get the order. After receiving the order, the suppliers give the manufacturer the materials required to fulfil the customer's purchase. The manufacturer then receives the raw ingredients, assembles them, and sells them to the client. The fundamental JIT inventory steps are as follows: Step1: Order From a Client After a business gets an order, a project manager examines the requirements and chooses the materials - along with their quantities - that will be used to construct the product. Step 2: Purchase Supplies Next, they make the precise number of purchases of materials required for the order. Step 3: Manufacture and Deliver the Product After receiving all the supplies, the manufacturer produces the product and delivers it to the customer. Step 4: Cycle Maintenance It is possible when a business has a contract with a client that requires it to renew orders regularly based on a timeframe. An Example of Just in Time Inventory A just in time inventory example is as follows: Let's say your automobile manufacturing company assembles vehicles. You would need to order steel frames to build the chassis and other components, but steel cannot be stored in a warehouse for an extended period due to its susceptibility to rust. Not only does this increase the likelihood that the steel will rust, but it also raises storage costs for steel frames that you may or may not use. As a result, you wait for a client to place an order for the automobile they want to buy before ordering steel from your supplier and using it to make the car's chassis and assemble the other components. This is how the JIT inventory system works. For the efficient aspect of this method to kick in, your business needs to be able to deliver the inventory very quickly. A customer who orders a car doesn't want to wait any longer than necessary for it to arrive. If so, you should utilize an effective inventory management system to acquire the steel components and other essential items and have them delivered to your production facility more rapidly. [contactus_lilgoodness] Pros and Cons of Using Just in Time Inventory Management in 2023 Just-in-time operation demands meticulous supply chain planning, and top-notch inventory management software completes the entire process until delivery, improving productivity and reducing room for error because each activity is tracked. A just-in-time inventory management system has the following significant benefits and drawbacks: Pros Improves Efficiency  The expenses of acquiring, controlling, and keeping surplus raw resources and inventories are decreased by the JIT approach. This causes an increase in the inventory turnover ratio, which keeps stock from accumulating in your warehouse for too long and becoming outdated. Additionally, you may accept and store supplies in the lowest numbers feasible, thereby decreasing surplus raw material stockpiles. Finally, local sourcing ensures that your suppliers are close to the manufacturing facilities of your business, allowing for prompt delivery and minimizing the need for safety stock. Mitigates Inventory Waste A just-in-time approach prevents overproduction, which occurs when the market's supply of a good exceeds its demand and results in the buildup of unsalable stocks. These unsaleable items become dead stock in the inventory, which increases waste and takes up space. In a just in time system, you only order what you require, eliminating the possibility of building up unnecessary inventory. Lowers Holding Expenses Excess inventory can cause your holding expenses to quadruple, making warehousing expensive. Warehouse holding expenses are kept to a minimum in a just-in-time system. You only place an order when a client does, so by the time it gets to you, the item has already been sold, negating the need for long-term storage. Businesses that employ the just-in-time inventory approach can completely scale back or do away with their warehouses. Enables Control Over Manufacturing In a JIT approach, the manufacturer controls the demand-pull-based production process. They may immediately increase the production of a product in high demand and decrease the production of those in low need to meet client demand. As a result, the JIT approach is adaptable and able to meet the constantly shifting market demands. For instance, Toyota waits until it receives an order before buying raw materials. Due to maintaining less inventory, the firm has been able to save expenses and swiftly adjust to changes in demand without worrying about current inventory. Improves Relationships with Clients and Suppliers Fewer things need to be moved on the shop floor at once when using JIT inventory management. This enables your management to concentrate on streamlining procedures and creating top-notch items. As a result, less defective, higher-quality items increase customer satisfaction and reduce waste. In addition, because suppliers in the JIT manufacturing model ensure the product's quality, deliveries move straight to production, avoiding delays from inspection. Companies may be more adaptable by maximizing resources, including people and equipment, and by cutting down on turnaround times, thanks to the dynamic and agile manufacturing process. It enables businesses to devote more time to marketing, sales, and client acquisition rather than dealing with product flaws, surplus inventory, and ambiguous production methods. In addition, it will enable the production plan to schedule work accurately and release machines and equipment for new work orders. JIT inventory has various advantages, including less rework and greater time, space, and resources for upcoming orders. In addition, companies may enhance the quality and dependability of their products and their relationships with suppliers and consumers by accurately anticipating and predicting demand. Cons Relies Heavily On Future Predictions JIT inventory management necessitates that businesses fully comprehend sales trends and variations. For example, many companies must have more inventory due to seasonal sales to meet rising customer demand. As a result, you must prepare for situations like these and ensure that your suppliers can meet the needs. Since demand can sporadically change, a prediction cannot be relied upon. This may make it harder for your company to satisfy those needs. Because you won't be able to help your clients in such circumstances, you risk losing customers and money. Risk of Stock Running Out  With JIT production, you carry less inventory, and this is because you base your stock decisions on demand predictions. If those predictions are erroneous, you won't have the appropriate quantity of goods accessible to your customers. One of the most frequent problems with production that applies JIT and lean approaches is this one. Dependence on Suppliers  When you rely on suppliers to fulfil each order, you risk holding up the delivery of items to your clients. In addition, customers could go to a competitor if you didn't meet their expectations. Because of this, it's critical to select trustworthy suppliers and build solid working relationships with them to ensure you have access to the supplies you need to satisfy your customers' requests. Top Companies and Industries That Utilize Just In Time Inventory Management Industrial Examples OF JIT Inventory Systems While other sectors have been using the just in time lean management method for much longer, it has recently been developed and improved. Just in time inventory industry examples include: Restaurants Source The process of preparing food is based on a just in time inventory concept. A chef will purchase meat and produce daily because many of the raw components for meal preparation are not shelf-stable. The morning before the dinner service, the chef must make an educated guess about what the customers will order. At most eateries, food preparation is also done right on time. Only when someone places an order are meals prepared and cooked. This technology makes it easier for eateries to deliver hot, fresh meals to customers. Additionally, it gives the restaurant the most flexibility in using the ingredients it has on hand to fulfil erratic client requests. Big Manufacturers Source Just-in-time production and inventory management systems are employed by many of the largest corporations in the world. These include Dell, Apple, Tesla, and General Motors. In addition, just in time stocking is a strategy used by retailers like Walmart and Target, particularly for seasonal goods. Clothing and Fashion Source An entire industry sector, fast fashion, has been created as a result of just in time processes. For example, chain stores like Zara and H&M don't place orders in advance for the entire season. Instead, brand-new clothing is created, produced, and sold in record time. As a result, fast fashion companies can stay current with trends that might alter after an Instagram post. Print on Demand Source Even one of the oldest businesses in the world—book printing—has benefited from technological advancements that arrived just in time. The size of a print run doesn't have to be estimated by publishers anymore. Instead, they may print a book copy once a consumer puts in an order, thanks to print-on-demand technology. As a result, customers continue to obtain their reading material swiftly because binding and printing are automated and done rapidly. In addition, because books may be printed and distributed from places all over the world, near the buyer, printing on demand significantly reduces shipping costs. Dropshipping Source Dropshipping is a type of just in time inventory in the online retail industry. With the dropshipping business model, you wait until a consumer puts an order before buying things from the supplier. The online merchant does not maintain any inventory. Dropshipping outsources inventory management and storage to the dropshipping 3PL provider. Organizational Examples Of JIT Inventory Systems Many organizations, but primarily those that employ a manufacturing line or need to maintain a raw material inventory, use this system as an example. Here are a few of the best examples of JIT in use: Toyota Source One of the best-known instances of just in time production simply because it was a pioneer in the efficient use of this concept. At Toyota, raw materials are not transported to the assembly line until after the client has placed the order and the product is prepared for assembly. No pieces are added to the next node during the procedure unless necessary. This minimizes the amount of inventory, which results in cheaper expenses. Furthermore, by using this method, Toyota can respond to client requests rapidly without worrying about keeping too much inventory or disposing of it. Toyota's success may be attributed to several things, including that modest quantities of raw materials are stored at various stations to ensure that there is always enough to begin manufacturing any product. For raw materials to be supplied, it is also essential to accurately predict the demand for those resources. Dell Source Another excellent example of a manufacturing process that has shown this approach's effectiveness is Dell. They use a somewhat distinct strategy in that they help their clients reach their objectives and also offer lower lead times than in most cases. To do this, they bargain with suppliers to hold inventory rather than carry it themselves. By doing this, they may request components with short lead times, which makes it simple for Dell to assemble and ship to consumers. Their technique is mainly successful because of their trustworthy suppliers and the short lead times. Harley Davidson Source After World War II, there was a significant shift in this situation when they switched to JIT after demonstrating a less-than-efficient procedure. By keeping inventory on hand, they could reduce lead times and provide clients with a much more effective service. For example, at Harley-Davidson, inventory levels dropped by 75% after adopting JIT, yet production increased simultaneously. Because the process could no longer hide behind a mountain of expensive goods, they were able to see and address its inefficiencies. McDonald's Source Except for a few finished goods, fast food outlets like McDonald's typically have everything they need to build a meal and wait until the customer places an order. As a result, the procedure is so uniform that each time a consumer uses it, they have a similar experience. Conclusion: Manage Your Inventory With InventoryLogIQ in 2023 Any approach you choose will usually fall somewhere between the just in time or just in case inventory management. After a season, you don't want to be left holding a lot of inventory that hasn't been purchased. However, you also don't want supply chain hiccups to result in empty shelves for you. Sales may be lost as a result. eCommerce logistics companies should ideally have enough inventory to match demand until the manufacturer's next order comes in. Additionally, you should retain a backup supply to guard against supply interruptions. Your turnover ratio rises when your stocking levels are optimized. As well, storage costs are reduced. Although it necessitates extensive planning, the Just in Time inventory management model is a suitable operational framework. Again, this strategy's cost-efficiency is excellent, but there is little opportunity for error. It is to your organization's best advantage to collaborate with a reliable third-party logistics provider that can assist you in evaluating your supply chain and putting changes in place for your business flow to migrate to this new framework smoothly. To improve our clients' inventory management, we at InventoryLogIQ collaborate with them and provide the tools and services they need. Members of the InventoryLogIQ team are well-versed in just-in-time inventory management and other lean inventory management techniques. We are aware that our success depends on the success of our clients. We can't wait to work with you to expand our business and yours. We can assist you in: Determining your replenishment levels based on how long it takes for your items to travel from the production to the warehouse shelvesAssign automated triggers whenever stocks are running lowProviding real-time updates regarding any changes in inventory across fulfillment centers and selling channelsGrouping your inventory in an organised manner, so the relevant items always get pickedReducing the amount of time and effort you spend on inventory management Suggested Read: What is a Periodic Inventory System? Just in Time Inventory: FAQs What is the JIT inventory concept?The just in time inventory system, sometimes known as JIT inventory, is a kind of inventory control where supplies are only procured when needed. This approach's primary goals are to lower the cost of keeping inventory and boost inventory turnover. How does JIT inventory management improve businesses?JIT inventory systems are excellent for cutting costs and increasing productivity. A JIT inventory strategy can reduce your inventory storage costs and enable you to spend less on your inventory over time, freeing up important money for other business needs. What traits distinguish a just in time inventory system?Consistent production rates, smaller batch sizes, closer supplier relationships, high product quality, rapid and economical setups, adaptable facilities, multi-skilled labour force, efficient maintenance, and continual technique development are all traits of a JIT inventory system. What are the just in time inventory system's five guiding principles?By utilising methods like complete quality management, continuous quality improvement, targeted factories, minimising setup times, flexible resources, group technology layout, and pull production system, the just in time inventory system focuses on the elimination of waste. How can a system of just in time inventory increase productivity?By optimising production procedures and reducing inventory, the JIT inventory system aims to reduce waste and boost efficiency. Creating just what is needed, when it is needed, and in the amount needed at a certain moment is what just in time inventory really entails.

December 21, 2022
The Ultimate Shopify Inventory Management Guide Including Definition, Importance, Setup Process, Best Practices and Top 10 Best Shopify Inventory Management Apps in 2023

The Ultimate Shopify Inventory Management Guide Including Definition, Importance, Setup Process, Best Practices and Top 10 Best Shopify Inventory Management Apps in 2023

One of the most well-known eCommerce businesses today is Shopify. Many organizations and billions of individuals use this platform. Shopify maintains a dominant position in the industry despite the presence of several rivals by consistently offering users new and enhanced services. Managing an eCommerce logistics business involves more than just purchasing and reselling goods. Owners must exercise caution regarding various issues, including displaying items, having reliable logistical systems, satisfying client needs, and many more. The most crucial and underappreciated of all those issues is inventory management.   Small eCommerce businesses in the US fail to maintain track of their inventory in about 43% of cases. As a result, they frequently have to cease operations or, in severe circumstances, dissolve. You're at the proper spot if you don't want to suffer that destiny. This article will discuss Shopify inventory management, its importance, advantages, and the best practices to improve Shopify inventory management. You'll also learn about the best apps to manage and enhance your inventory management. So let's get started. What is Shopify Inventory Management? The techniques used to regulate inventory holding levels, cut expenses and manage supply requirements are called Shopify inventory management. Although it is more of a problem for physical things, inventory may also be set for digital products if you want only to sell a specific number of them. Inventory management is a procedure that aids in keeping track of the goods and supplies you have on hand in your Shopify business. To better comprehend it, let's look at this illustration: Let's say you run a shoe store. You must keep track of sales, income, and future estimates to properly manage a Shopify store selling shoes. You must also understand how many pairs of shoes you must sell to make the appropriate earnings. However, you must first know how much to purchase to know how much to sell. The significance of the Shopify inventory management system is now evident. The following situations may occur if you don't know how much footwear you have or need: You can run out of shoes at your business and miss out on prospective purchases.The worst-case scenario is when a client expects you to complete their order, but you run out of shoes, and your promise to deliver the product goes in vain.You may also have extra pairs of shoes in stock, but if you keep them there for too long, you risk degrading their quality and having to throw them away. Utilize Shopify inventory management system to prevent all of these situations. Effective inventory management is the key to a prosperous Shopify store. The aim is to keep inventory at a lower cost while assuring stable stock levels and quick same-day delivery. For many retailers, efficiently managing inventory is about finding a balance between ensuring enough stock is accessible without overstocking or squandering items. Discover the significance of the Shopify inventory management system by reading further. Importance of Shopify Inventory Management to eCommerce Businesses in 2023 Shopify Inventory management is crucial to the expansion of an online store. It's not just about giving data about the products you offer; it's also about earning money, enabling effective cost control of operations, and satisfying your consumers. To reduce the risk of overselling, prevent stockouts and excess inventory, boost efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve other goals, an online business firm needs an effective Shopify inventory management system. After all, exceptional client experiences increased revenues, and analysis of everything from order status to stock level are the goals of every firm. It is crucial to maintain track of inventories for this reason. An effective Shopify inventory management system ensures you have enough products to meet client demand. However, if you don't like using Shopify to manage your inventory, you can lose money by keeping too many products on hand or squandering cash on lost opportunities for sales. However, if Shopify inventory management is done correctly, it may significantly increase your cash flow and lower your business expenditures. Let us dive into detail and know why Shopify inventory management is crucial for your business: Keeps Track of Inventory Levels Shopify inventory management software enables entrepreneurs running online stores to create unique product listings. They may even arrange items according to their kind, seasonal availability, and client desire, among many other factors. In addition, owners can manually update the inventory field next to each product to maintain a real-time inventory count. Manages Product Variations Manage all of a product's versions from one location. For each variant of a product you sell on Shopify, you may alter the SKU, price, weight, and inventory number. In addition, you can create unlimited variations for a single product representing various sizes and colours. Owners may control variants of each product in this way without spending money or utilizing any other tools. Makes Inventory History Available The inventory history of any product and its variations is accessible to owners. For example, they can look up the time the modification was made, who did it, how many adjustments were made, and how much product was left or entered the store. Optimizes Cash Flow To generate income, eCommerce shop owners must purchase, stock, and sell items. In addition, owners must make payments for the goods while they remain unused at the warehouse. However, they can manage their cash flow if an inventory management tool directs them as they make purchases following the anticipated sales and warns them when the inventory is running low. Prevents Spoilage and Wastage It has historically been challenging to strike the right balance, with many maintenance departments frequently finding themselves with too much, which causes inventory waste. The expenditures are considerable because the consequences are widespread. The initial cost of the part plus any related inventory carrying expenses are lost when there is a waste. There are also opportunity costs because your capital was invested in the inventory. Waste has many root causes; thus, the answer must be comprehensive. Using the Shopify inventory management system, you can track inventory to ensure your counts are correct in real-time and use past consumption rates to set minimum and maximum levels. Inventory management may help you save time and money with exemplary efforts to minimize the spoilage and wastage of products. Mitigates Deadstock The dead stock may be a severe issue for businesses with extensive inventories stored in their warehouses. Dead stock is merchandise that has been unused on your warehouse shelves for longer than a year. Although it is doubtful that the dead product will move, it is taking up valuable storage space and costing the company money. There are several causes of dead stock. The Shopify inventory management system is helpful in this situation. It is a versatile tool that will enable various innovative inventory management strategies in your warehouse. One of these remedies aids in reducing dead stock. Such inventory management allows for the tracking of sales trends and inventory movements throughout an item's entire lifespan. It can facilitate forecasting, inventory procurement, and data analysis of past data. This implies that you may choose how much stock to buy with greater intelligence and knowledge. As a result, you reduce the chance of having dead stock on your shelf by making wiser purchases. Regulates Storage and Operating Expenses The more merchandise store owners stock, the higher their prices will be because they must pay for warehousing. However, with the help of Shopify inventory management software, companies can control their supply and only purchase things that will sell quickly. Enhances Customer Satisfaction A key component of effective customer service management is inventory management. Using readily available data, you may accurately tell customers about inventory supply levels and match the correct order to the right client. Successful inventory control is crucial to customer happiness and satisfying customer experiences. Inventory management encompasses a variety of functions that work together to provide excellent customer service. When it comes to product returns, Shopify inventory management software assists you in managing the customer experience. The inventory management system on Shopify can keep track of crucial information about returned goods and gives you a choice to hold additional inventory levels that correspond to your return rates. Additionally, you may keep track of the causes of returns and deal with problems to lower the number of returns, keeping customers happy. 3 Steps to Setup Shopify Inventory Management Here is a summary of some of the fundamental initial stages for inventory management utilizing Shopify's built-in capabilities:  Step 1: Set Up Inventory Tracking  You must first set up inventory tracking to adjust the inventory levels by product. After this is set up, you may view 90 days' worth of inventory history. The procedures for setting up inventory tracking are as follows: Go to "Items" in your Shopify admin and choose "All products."To monitor a product, click the name of the product. Then, click the version you wish to follow if the product comes in different iterations (for instance, in more than one colour or size).Choose "Track" quantity under "Inventory."After adjusting the quantity, click "Save." Step 2: Decide Where to Keep Your Merchandise The next step is choosing a place (or locations) for your inventory. As long as a product is supplied in at least one area, you can update the list of locations that carry it and alter the product's inventory levels at each site. The procedures are listed below: Open the product you wish to choose a location for by going to "Products" first.Ensure the product's amount is selected in the 'Inventory' section.Then choose "Edit Locations."Verify the places where the product is sold.Select "Save." Step 3: Change Inventory Levels  There are various ways to update and modify inventory levels from the 'Inventory' tab. Here are the steps to change inventory at a single location: First, utilize the areas drop-down menu to choose the place.Find the "Update Quantity" column, then type the revised quantity there. You can type a positive, negative, or zero value.After clicking "Add" or "Set," click "Save." 10 Best Shopify Inventory Management Apps in 2023 The difficulties of maintaining inventories across many sales channels don't have to be your responsibility. Instead, consult your third-party logistics management and fulfillment provider for assistance. Shopify inventory management tools help you assess inventory turnover, monitor and stock, and run a warehouse. They also provide ideas based on sales data. So let's start! The best Shopify inventory management apps are listed below: InventoryLogIQ  Source Planning your stock levels and determining when to place a purchase order for more inventory are both made possible by InventoryLogIQ's proactive inventory management. It's custom OMS software enables you to forecast your future inventory requirements, manage your cash flow and stop revenue from being lost due to stockouts and backorders. InventoryLogIQ is dedicated to assisting customers in expanding their inventory management capabilities. All of your sales channels are integrated into a single dashboard.  Clients that utilize InventoryLogIQ's inventory management solutions can determine their ideal stock levels. The unique approach to prevent merchandise from running out is to have automated replenishment triggers. Additionally, establishing ideal inventory levels can significantly lower the money invested in your items. Furthermore, if an item doesn't sell well, InventoryLogIQ's inventory management can assist you in minimizing your losses. InventoryLogIQ features include: Effective integration with multiple appsComprehensive technology platform for merchantsA strong inventory reporting systemMulti-location inventory mappingMultichannel inventory managementAutomated POS order fulfillment SkuVault Source The Shopify inventory management app from SkuVault is a fully functional solution covering all your inventory problems. Due to SkuVault's connectivity with Shopify, you can quickly sync quantities, sales, and goods to expedite processes and avoid overselling. For example, you may sync your POS and online orders with SkuVault. You may transfer inventory over so that the amount is automatically removed from your retail location, or you can sync unmet demands so that your warehouse can select and pack them. The best part is that SkuVault is reasonably priced. According to the business, many consumers recover their investment costs within 90 days. Other features include: Quick Implementation: SkuVault instantly syncs your goodsUtilize Shopify to Automate Inventory: No more manually updatingTo expedite fulfillment, it automatically pulls orders from ShopifyFor more precise statistics, SkuVault syncs with Shopify every five minutes ShipBob Source Direct-to-consumer companies may outsource their fulfillment using ShipBob. Their goal is to increase your online success by offering you hands-free order fulfillment and warehousing. Your store and ShipBob are connected invisibly through our integration. Once your product catalogue is synced, you can schedule the import of orders, ship your inventory to one of our fulfillment centres in the US, Canada, or the EU, and sync it all with just one click. ShipBob updates your store with the tracking data when shipments are made to finish the order. ShipBob's features include: Simple connection between ShipBob and your store(s)Automatic order fulfillment and information synchronizationSame-day deliveryAffordable nationwide coverage for two days (and a growing international footprint)Pricing that is clear and straightforward and based on delivery time Inventory Planner Source For your eCommerce firm, Inventory Planner is a market leader in inventory forecasting. This programme's automatic replenishment suggestions streamline and expedite the restocking procedure and estimate the sales estimate for thousands of goods in just a few minutes. In addition, Inventory Planner recognizes patterns and provides insightful reports outlining the state of your company so you can use your time and resources effectively. By sending purchase orders (POs) directly to suppliers and keeping track of pending orders, anticipated delivery times, and received inventory items, syncing Inventory Planner with Shopify will also help you save time on purchasing. With the Shopify Inventory Planner app, you can easily manage what goods to restock at each warehouse for all sales channels while viewing your sales patterns and inventory demands in one location. Features include: Recommends prioritizing the essential itemsSales promotion, anticipated inventory, purchase orders, etc.It tells how many of each item are leftSimple financial plan creationSends low-stock notifications via email TradeGecko Source TradeGecko guarantees to assist you in keeping tabs on your stock and orders across various channels and places. The programme has been seamlessly integrated with Shopify (as well as WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, and others). Other characteristics include: Route orders automaticallyOrders from multiple sources can be combined with inventory and accounting software.Track items across all channels, storage facilities, and fulfillment sitesKeeping records of purchases and customer-specific informationReports, computations, and projections must be provided EasyEcom Source EasyEcom offers a complete set of solutions for managing your Shopify business. Manage your retail, internet, and wholesale operations from a single platform. Benefit from omnichannel platform advantages and streamline your company. EasyEcom offers enterprise-level technology to speed up brand growth through improved inventory and order management. EasyEcom allows various inventory management across locations and channels to automatically sync your inventory level. Furthermore, it offers sophisticated predictive analytics and streamlines delivery by combining orders from many platforms. Other features of EasyEcom include: Inventory Management on ShopifyOrder management unified for Shopify salesModern Analytics for Business Development SKULabs Source SKULabs is another top-notch tool for Shopify inventory control. Its installation is simple and doesn't call for any specialized knowledge. Simply download it and you can start using it right now. SKULabs provides its users with several valuable tools that help them manage their inventory as efficiently as possible. For example, it scans items and verifies orders using barcodes. Features include: Real-time syncBarcode scanning and same-day support.Inventory forecastingBatch-picking custom reportsAPI access and dedicated customer support Katana Source Many inventory management solutions on this list may be used with Shopify and other channels and platforms. However, Katana can be the start and finish of your search if you're seeking a solution only for Shopify. Since Katana is a certified Shopify partner, you can be sure that the software you purchase will be compatible with the platform. You should check this option if you only require inventory management for Shopify. Features of Katana include: Ability to simplify manufacturing inventory trackingAn automated reservation systemA platform for synchronizing sales fulfillmentLaid out interface SellerCloud Source Another inventory management programme, SellerCloud, may help you increase sales on various platforms, including Shopify. "Simplify your processes and extend to additional channels," the software guarantees. Control your inventory, catalogue, purchases, and fulfillment seamlessly. With the following qualities, it can assist you in reaching these objectives: First, supply chain management is easy and practicalThere's no need to keep separate relationships with suppliers because all your orders and inventory will sync quicklyReorder capabilities for quick and simple salespractical toolsThe pricing is transparent and open ShipHero Source ShipHero is a fantastic alternative to think about if you want a multichannel inventory tool that can interact flawlessly across your sales channels. With the aid of ShipHero's toolkit, you can clear up overselling and overstocking while managing all of your sales channels from a single centre. ShipHero is a one-stop shop for Shopify retailers, including capabilities for batch order processing, refunds, and more. Some of the attributes are as follows: Management of several warehouse inventoriesExcellent functionality for selection, picking and packaging, and shippingReduce shipping expenses by streamlining the shipment processReal-time tracking of orders and inventoriesSoftware-based on the cloud can be accessed anywhereCycle counting and kit productioneBay, Amazon, and USPS integrations Best Ways to Improve Your Shopify Inventory Management Owners of online stores that currently adhere to tactics for improved inventory management may optimize their systems by putting the following advice into practice: Categorize Your Inventory You may determine which goods need to be ordered regularly and how slowly they are being depleted from your inventory by grouping them according to priority. This enables you to concentrate on lucrative items. Think about segmenting your inventory into different categories depending on profitability and turnover to improve it, beginning with three: First Group: Products with high sales and affordable prices.Second Group: Products with moderate sales and moderate price tags.Third Group: Expensive goods that sell slowly. Use a Shopify Inventory Management Software Spend money on inventory management software. A tiny firm may get by using the bare minimum of technology. However, intelligent inventory management technology is a superior investment rather than using the same spreadsheets and notebooks for owners who oversee several channels and deal in various items. Audit Inventory Regularly It is pretty simple to check your inventory using real-time tracking regularly. In contrast, some people may perform random product inspections on their items monthly or weekly; many audit inventory once a year. In any event, carry out audits to ensure that the stock amount and financial records are accurate. This will help you keep track of your inventory flow, profit, and loss and keep everything running smoothly. Assess the Performance of Your Supplier Analyze your supplier's performance. Since suppliers provide most of the firms' products, picking the wrong one might ruin your company. Your customers' operations and experience may be harmed if your supplier delivers items late or insufficiently. Prioritize Customer Satisfaction Avoiding having pointless content in the inventory should be your aim. However, if you arbitrarily reduce your stock levels from inventory, you'll lose sight of what's essential for your Shopify business: customer pleasure. You will lose sales if your inventory is poor and buyers choose not to purchase your goods. Try to create your merchandise in a way that will appeal to your clients. Conclusion: Use InventoryLogIQ for Your Shopify Inventory Management in 2023 Shopify inventory management may increase sales and profitability for your shop. When done correctly, it can lessen any product or financial losses and spare owners from unnecessary costs. In addition, a multichannel strategy by large firms may greatly benefit from effective inventory management. Owners should thus carefully consider the advice provided above. Shopify users who run online stores have access to several inventory management tools. However, managing inventory across several channels becomes challenging as businesses grow to operate on a multichannel basis. This is due to the extensive nature of manually updating numbers, rearranging stock, and entering SKUs into individual listings. InventoryLogIQ can link with Shopify to automate your multichannel inventory management and streamline your ongoing inventory duties. With InventoryLogIQ, your company may increase profitability and operational effectiveness while staying one step ahead in a crowded, cutthroat industry. Here's how we can benefit your business: Increases Operational Flexibility: We'll support your swift industry adaptability.Boosts Sales: Sales are increased and stock shortages are avoided with the use of auto-replenishment. We can assist you in focusing on the best-selling products.Avoids Bloated Inventory: In order to avoid inventory bloat, we help you flag slow-moving, overstocked items.Inventory Management: Inventory management is made easier thanks to our automatic parameter sets, which make each operation simple to do. Shopify Inventory Management: FAQs How WareIQ’s Inventory Management & Network Design helps in Shopify Inventory Management?WareIQ's software integration to Shopify inventory management helps in managing your Shopify store in the ways given below:• Recommendations to decrease inventory for Shopify store• Segment & clean product portfolio to concentrate on products on Shopify which create the most profit & increase sellthrough• Automating replenishment of stock on Shopify store• Inventory transfer requests from one warehouse to another through a tech platform• Flagging of inventory for liquidation• Optimize fulfilment network with network designer to store inventory closer to customers for same/next day delivery Can Shopify inventory management be used to control inventory?In Shopify's Inventory section, you may set up inventory tracking, monitor your inventory, and modify your inventory levels. Using the Shopify inventory management system allows you to examine the history of inventory changes for goods and variations. With Shopify inventory management, how do you manage your inventory?You can track inventory, add and remove SKUs, and make purchase orders using Shopify's own inventory management interface. For extra capabilities that assist in gathering and syncing data straight from your Shopify or Shopify Plus account into one single, practical system, you may also purchase a third-party Shopify inventory management programme. How can Shopify inventory management be optimized?You must first comprehend the demand for each SKU in order to maximise Shopify inventory management. You can estimate how much of each product you'll need at any given moment by looking at past sales data. Once you have enough merchandise on hand, but not so much that your surplus cash is locked up in inventory sitting in your warehouse, you need to work with your suppliers to make sure. Is Shopify inventory management good for small businesses?For small businesses as a whole, Shopify inventory management is good e-commerce software. Out of dozens of e-commerce software options, you may select the Shopify inventory management system since it comes with everything you need to start, run, and manage a successful e-commerce firm. Can you manage multiple locations with Shopify inventory management?With shopify inventory management software, you can create numerous locations, track inventory there, and process orders there. You may manage or store goods at any of your sites, including shops, storage facilities, pop-up shops, dropshippers, and more. Why is Shopify inventory management critical?Shopify inventory management is crucial to the expansion of an online store like Shopify. It's not just about giving data about the products you offer; it's also about earning money, enabling effective cost control of operations, and satisfying your consumers.

December 20, 2022
Multichannel Inventory Management: A Detailed Guide to Successful Multichannel Inventory Management for eCommerce & D2C Sellers in 2023

Multichannel Inventory Management: A Detailed Guide to Successful Multichannel Inventory Management for eCommerce & D2C Sellers in 2023

Mismanagement of inventory costs businesses $1.75 trillion annually, and the probability of inventory errors only rises as organizations grow and sell through many channels. Brands must now use multiple retail and distribution channels to succeed in eCommerce fulfillment services. As a result, businesses must not only sell through various media but also navigate the challenges posed by the multichannel sales fulfillment model, such as tracking, managing, and delivering inventories. Inventory management may become extremely difficult rapidly, and your company may fail under strain if you don't have the framework and resources to acquire inventory and complete orders. In a multichannel inventory management system, purchases and manufacturing orders further increase the difficulty of managing inventory and storage space. Because of this, inventory management software (IMS) has grown to be a crucial component of multichannel operations. This kind of software provides various functions, including inventory, shipping, warehousing, accounting, and vendor administration, all of which work together to stop missed sales and dissatisfied consumers. Today, firms selling on several channels and managing inventory across multiple warehouses need to use multichannel inventory management. Let's examine what it is and the problems it resolves. What Is Multichannel Inventory Management? Monitoring inventory from various sales channels and storage facilities is known as multichannel inventory management. This comprises stock for retail, wholesale, online markets, and eCommerce. Your business can effortlessly manage stock levels, reorders, and inventory forecasts using multichannel inventory management, allowing you to precisely predict inventory turnover ratio each quarter. Instead of wasting time and resources managing your inventory details, multichannel inventory management solutions let you concentrate on expanding your company. A Practical Example Of Multichannel Inventory Management System Let's say your business deals in fashion and apparel. One of your products is men's jeanswear that you sell online and offline. All client orders are placed through the online platform, and you've listed denim jeans for sale in your shop. This makes it simple to keep track of your outgoing inventory and ensure you only sell what you have on hand. But when business picks up, you start searching for ways to grow and connect with other prospective clients who use different platforms for shopping. Because you created shops on Flipkart and Amazon, keeping track of stock levels is considerably more challenging because orders are now being placed on three distinct platforms. For instance, if you have 100 blue denim jeans ready to sell, you might set your inventory to 100 on all your sales channels. You now face the chance of overselling, in any case. For instance, you might end up selling 20 denim jeans that you haven't even created yet. Suppose you sell 70 pieces of denim of the inventory you have on hand on Myntra and 50 on Amazon the same day before. In that case, you can update the inventory counts on each site. Therefore, maintaining an accurate product count today is practically impossible without a centralized, automated system for inventory management. You could certainly give it a go. However, you now face the risk of upsetting clients when they place an order for an item only to have it delayed or even cancelled because there is no inventory on hand. Additionally, you'll need to acquire warehouse space and potentially even a business to manage your eCommerce fulfillment if your production increases and you need a place to store items and complete orders more quickly. Sending inventory to numerous sites is required, and you are no longer the sole person in charge of adequately wrapping and shipping each of your goods. Incorrect stock may harm sales, fulfillment processes, and your reputation, so providers won't want to cooperate with you. Your entire organization may fail if you can't keep it in check. Currently, 55% of eCommerce companies handle inventory manually, frequently using spreadsheets or pen and paper. But there are a few drawbacks to this approach. For starters, manually controlling inventories takes time. In addition, you'll waste time and resources tracking every transaction on every eCommerce platform rather than concentrating on growing your business. Thus there is an opportunity cost involved. It is also simple to make mistakes due to the lack of visibility across sales channels and warehouses, which results in overstocking and overselling. Additionally, it is more challenging to manage and obtain data to make informed judgments, making it more difficult to expand your firm. Multichannel inventory management is the answer. Let's examine how it will help your business and why it works. 8 Common Challenges In Multichannel Inventory Management in 2023 Making a significant influence on online markets like Amazon and Walmart requires using the appropriate technologies. However, there are still some potential problems faced during multichannel selling. This is because various sales channels expose organizations to multiple hazards, and depending on inadequate solutions will probably get you into trouble. The following are some of the most typical problems multichannel eCommerce businesses encounter: Multichannel Inventory Management Becomes Challenging Planning your inventory is crucial if you sell through numerous channels. It might be challenging to predict how much inventory you'll need for each channel and when you'll need it. Overstock, and you'll have too much stock for a month. You risk running out of merchandise if you understock when you need it most. The impact of overselling on client satisfaction can be significant. Directing your goods to the most effective warehouse reduces expenses and expedites delivery. A consumer at your physical store with an empty shopping cart and a credit card in hand is of little value to you if you have high inventory levels in a warehouse for your online business. Processes for Fulfilling Orders Gets Complicated When you were starting out and only selling on one channel, checking SKUs off on spreadsheets, printing individual shipping labels, and straightforward manual picking and packaging certainly sufficed. But now, since you're on several channels, everything is much more difficult. The number of orders that need to be completed increases, and so does the complexity of the order fulfillment workflows. Since you could apply various fulfillment strategies for multiple channels and move inventory between warehouses, the appropriate software may simplify the process by enabling you to process orders in a single location and in real-time, update order statuses automatically, and, most significantly, automate the multichannel order fulfillment procedures specific to your company. Excessive Stock Gets Accumulated Too much inventory is a resource drain that might prevent future investment since unsold inventory results in increased storage costs and insurance rates. This increased overhead will result in a cash flow restriction, which is never the intention. You can read more about excess inventory here. Inefficient Management Of Warehouse Space  Your finances and overall storage space are impacted when the incorrect items are stocked in many warehouses. It is tougher to restock things selling well with less space you have to fill. In addition, the insufficient room makes it much harder to satisfy customer needs, which leads to dissatisfied customers who could stop patronizing your establishment again. Additionally, you must pay holding charges for storing the unsold merchandise, which reduces your overall profitability. Overselling Various Items When a company sells through several channels, they frequently discover that there is a chance that they may accept payments for goods that are not yet in stock. As a result, overselling can make consumers dissatisfied. Cancelling an order may harm their experience, hurt your reputation, and raise the likelihood that they won't shop at your online business again. Erroneous Forecasting is Used Insufficient data has a cascading impact. Additionally, because business is constantly changing in eCommerce, it is incredibly challenging to reverse course once inventory planning goes awry. It doesn't help that, according to a Zentail poll, 54% of sellers still don't use forecasting tools and instead try to compute shifting objectives manually. In addition, the same merchants frequently use a conventional forecasting methodology of 30, 60, or 90 days. As a result, they lack unified, real-time data to identify new purchasing patterns and instantly reorder (or reduce) product quantities. High Rate Of Order Defects  Order cancellations, wrong shipments, delivery exceptions, or late deliveries might result from an absence of inventory control. Your selling performance will suffer if they get out of hand. An ODR over 1% on Amazon is grounds for suspension. The cutoff is 2 per cent on eBay and Walmart. Beyond understocking and insufficient data, an inventory storage system that doesn't connect your various facilities might sabotage your productivity. Inaccurate Performance Insights The most valuable player of any eCommerce organization is data. Unfortunately, having a selling presence across various platforms might leave you with a mountain of dispersed and disorganized data. That's before you factor in additional difficulties like dropshipping or Amazon FBA. Identifying your organization's areas where you should spend more time and energy might be challenging. You won't be able to see clearly how the demand is shifting or what's doing well. 6 Benefits of Having Multichannel Inventory Management Not only does a system that updates inventory automatically across platforms for sales and warehouses keep you organized and spare you the hassle of making manual modifications. Multichannel inventory management immediately benefits your businesses bottom line in several different ways. Some of them are listed below: Reduces Overselling and Overstocking When your inventory is off, you can sell products you don't have in stock. This can cause delays in order fulfillment, irate customers, and even lost revenues if you have to issue a refund and the buyer goes shopping somewhere else. Deadstock or overstocking of some products can also occur from not having a solid grip on inventory or customer demand for particular products. With contemporary software solutions, multichannel inventory management streamlines this procedure. Each sale of items made anywhere will draw from the same inventory if you have a central database. Thus you can always be sure that your inventory is accurate. Improves Visibility The merchandise availability across all sales channels and warehouses can be quickly seen and evaluated by sellers using a multichannel inventory management system. The impact of sales on inventory is also visible to sellers in real-time. You can thus check inventory at any time to know quickly what goods are available, which ones you need to refill, and which products are selling where – and you can do it all in real-time. Provides Insights Without data, no eCommerce company can grow and prosper. As an eCommerce merchant, you must know what products are in demand, which aren't moving, and how your inventory varies with seasons, trends, and sales to optimize your inventory and order fulfillment. This enables you to anticipate demand and plan for special occasions. Suppose you're planning for Christmas Day, for instance. In that case, you may consider what products you'll need to resupply before the event and then use historical sales data to forecast which things will sell quickly and make the necessary preparations. Using data and insights to influence your decisions, you may also rapidly take advantage of fresh possibilities. For instance, you can find that a specific pair of denim jeans isn't selling well and decide to give a one-day flash sale to persuade people to buy. Or, you can discover that sales of a specific product vastly outpace those elsewhere and opt to keep it solely in a local warehouse. You may streamline your business and concentrate on the most lucrative platforms by eliminating the selling channels that aren't doing as well. Improves Customer Experience It would be best if you offered the same high standard of service regardless of whether a consumer decides to purchase your product—on your website, Myntra, or anyplace else. Whether you conduct business online or in person, you need a multichannel inventory management system that offers real-time visibility. When a buyer visits your online store to buy a pair of medium denim pants, they are out of stock. To find the item, the consumer might travel to other shop locations or check online to see whether the trousers are in stock. However, a multichannel inventory management solution makes it simple for customers to ask a staff member to verify the inventory at different shop locations. Finding whether local businesses have the item in stock so the consumer can pick it up the same day or have the trousers sent right to their house will take a second. When an inventory management system is in place, it eliminates the need to search across many retailers for a pair of trousers. Expedites Delivery Regardless of your location, a multichannel inventory management system enables your company to handle inventories worldwide. As a result, shipping times will be quicker, and merchandise may be located closer to clients. With capabilities like route-optimization and last-mile delivery, multichannel inventory management software helps your company further enhance the fulfillment process and ensure that orders are delivered efficiently, precisely, and economically. Enables To Rapid Business Expansion You may scale your business in various ways, such as adding more items, expanding your distribution channels, partnering with more suppliers and manufacturers, and keeping inventory in multiple warehouses. Additionally, growing in any of these methods becomes more challenging if inventory needs to be manually tracked. By implementing multichannel inventory management to enhance the delivery process, you can also increase the productivity of your business. In addition, numerous software capabilities, such as automatic planning, route adjustment and order monitoring, analytics, and more, may completely transform your company. In addition to guaranteeing quick, correct delivery for your clients, doing this will free up your time to concentrate on the essential aspects of running your company: developing, promoting, and selling high-quality items. 8 Key Features Of Ideal Multichannel Inventory Management To have an impeccable multichannel inventory management system, look out for the key features mentioned below: Native Integrations Source Without extra third-party connectors, every multichannel management system is worth being competent. In addition, it should be able to connect to every eCommerce channel you use. By taking third-party integrations out of the picture, disconnections will decrease. A seamless connection guarantees a smooth workflow. Additionally, you often receive better and quicker assistance with native integrations built and managed in-house without an intermediary. Integrations for eCommerce can help speed up the payment procedure. For instance, businesses that accept payments through various payment gateways would want an order management system with robust integration capabilities. By doing so, businesses may control payments and refunds without ever leaving their main system. Flexible Alternatives For Order Fulfillment Source Flexible order fulfillment solutions are necessary if you want to deliver orders to customers as quickly and affordably as possible. Based on your procedures, a multichannel order management system should be able to automate multichannel order fulfillment. For instance, based on the channel the order came from and the location of the delivery address, it should be possible to choose the fulfillment strategy or warehouse automatically. Inventory Management At Multiple locations Source When it comes to inventory management, a multichannel order management system excels. You will be able to view all your inventory in one seamlessly connected location, as opposed to having to view it individually for each eCommerce channel or manually combine it with other goods into a basic inventory management system. For order fulfillment, the inventory may be sent to warehouses with stock available using multichannel inventory management software, saving you the time required for manual rerouting. They can even start backorders or buy orders with suppliers to restock stock levels in the future. Point of Sale Integration Source Do you ever wish that the inventory you sell through your eCommerce channels and the merchandise you trade in your physical shop could be promptly reconciled? That is possible with multichannel order management systems with integrated POS. This is extremely helpful if you give your clients a choice to buy online and pick up in person or to click and collect. Planning Inventory Levels Using Data Source When you use a multichannel order management system with integrated inventory planning, you can access all your data from every channel at your fingertips. As a result, you can predict which things to sell when and through which channels. A data-driven inventory planning system can improve your inventory management using useful inventory management KPIs, enabling an effective data-driven growth strategy. Process Automations Source The world is evolving due to automation. Nowhere is this truer than in the eCommerce fulfillment industries. Workflow automation may be scaled to your company's demands, taking over the time-consuming tasks so you can focus on the things that require human interaction. To build a seamless omnichannel customer experience, you may control the process automation across all of your various sales channels. Your order management software's incorporation of workflow automation will hasten order processing, reduce human error, and ensure quick delivery and order correctness to your consumers. Business Reporting and Intelligence Source You don't want to waste time while making decisions for your company. You want to have access to all the information you require immediately. A multichannel selling management system must feature simple yet capable reporting that can gather information from your sales channels and provide you with in-the-moment business insights. Additionally, you should consider using retail business intelligence, which will give a comprehensive account of your company's performance, if you want to gain more in-depth insights into your channels, goods, and customers. Consequently, you will have all the information necessary to make data-driven decisions. Accounting Purchases Source Post-purchase analytics are crucial for running your company. The ideal order management system should make them as simple as feasible. To transfer real-time data into your preferred retail accounting software, look for an order management system that offers inventory transfer, demand, warehousing, and buying information. You'll be able to make wiser business decisions if you have access to your financial data from several sources on a single platform. 7 Factors To Look For In Multichannel Inventory Management Software in 2023 The most excellent and dependable multichannel inventory software may be found by considering several options. First, you must thoroughly understand your unique business requirements, the size of your company, and the number of warehouses you have to select the appropriate software. In a multichannel environment, inventory management may be challenging. You must know the particular integrations and capabilities needed to sell and restock your items, which vary from business to business. Redundancies and workflow disruptions can be avoided by choosing the appropriate tool combination. So that you can select and incorporate the ideal software choice for your inventory management, there are a few things to consider. These consist of: Controlling Inventory and Predicting Inventory control and forecasting should be considered when limiting your software selections since they serve as the foundation of your inventory management. Therefore, it's to your best advantage to pay special attention to the following before committing to a specific system: Flexibility in Stock Keeping Units (SKU) The finest software enables autonomous tracking of bundles and kits and individual goods, key components, and product variants. This SKU flexibility enables instant access to your product data, aids in tracking your inventory across all channels for timely replenishment, and allows you to keep track of your best-selling goods. Forecasting One of the most critical factors in inventory forecasting is the sales history of a product. To be able to look back on it or use it in calculations for inventory planning, your programme should capture and preserve sales data for years. This is now more crucial than ever as COVID speeds up the adoption of eCommerce. In addition, accurate inventory and supply chain forecasting puts brands and marketplace vendors in a better position to benefit from the profits. Data from Every Channel The key to more efficient inventory management is to gather data from all your sales channels to create a single repository for your sales data, fulfillment data, and supply chain automation processes. In addition, to acquire a comprehensive understanding of product performance and operational profitability on a per-SKU, per-channel basis, you should ideally be able to combine the data from each sales channel. Scanning and Barcoding For larger companies with multiple warehouses and fluctuating inventory levels, this is one of the most crucial factors because barcoding and scanning make it much simpler to collect real-time data from your various warehouse locations and guarantee you're working with real-time, accurate stock data. If you use barcoding technology, it will be an essential part of managing your multichannel software. However, Barcode systems cannot be integrated with every multichannel inventory management software. Therefore, verify that your entire toolkit will function as a unit and that your operations software is compatible with your barcode accessories. Another option is to utilize a mobile device to scan stock using an app like Barcodes or Scout. Analytics The usefulness and efficiency of the tool will also be influenced by the inventory analytics you have access to in your programme. It is crucial to prioritize in-depth access to the data you want and to conduct research on the reports the programme offers. To make the necessary modifications or adjustments as your firm continues to sell, ensure the business information you get is actionable and quantifiable. Configurability and Customization It's not always simple to customize inventory management system. However, as no two organizations run similarly, customization and configurability are crucial components. Implementation will be more straightforward the more you can personalize and customize your multichannel software. Choose products with a robust App Store or integrations directory. Suggested Read: What is a Periodic Inventory System? Conclusion: How InventoryLogIQ Can Help With Multichannel Inventory Management in 2023 Software for multichannel inventory management is necessary for any company that wants to run smoothly and efficiently. As a result, companies of all sizes enjoy the most effective inventory management system that enhances customer satisfaction and facilitates a seamless customer experience while balancing the budgetary constraints associated with everyday operations. It would be best if you had a robust multichannel inventory management strategy to prevent overstocking and stock-outs and guarantee that customers receive what they request. Then, your eCommerce firm can quickly profit from using the proper software. For experienced merchants, InventoryLogIQ's integration offers a powerful multichannel inventory management solution. Our services ensure that your listings reflect the correct numbers and that your product data is accurate. At the same time, we can also quickly and affordably store and manage your inventory across your marketplaces and fulfillment centers. By collaborating with InventoryLogIQ, you can exceed customer expectations, prevent mishaps and reduce forecasting glitches from depressing your sales. Suggested Read: ERP Inventory Management System: When Your Business Requires an ERP Inventory System [2023]? Multichannel Inventory Management: FAQs What is a multichannel inventory system?A multichannel inventory system is a system that allows a business to manage and track its inventory across multiple sales channels or platforms. This can include eCommerce websites, brick-and-mortar stores, and marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay. Why is a multichannel inventory system important?A multichannel inventory system is important because it helps a business to accurately track its inventory levels and ensure that they are able to meet customer demand across all channels. Without a multichannel inventory system, a business may struggle to keep track of inventory levels and could risk overselling or running out of stock. What are the benefits of using a multichannel inventory system?Some benefits of using a multichannel inventory system include:- Increased efficiency and accuracy in tracking and managing inventory levels- Improved customer satisfaction by ensuring that products are available when customers want to purchase them- The ability to track sales and inventory data across multiple channels to identify trends and make informed business decisions- The ability to manage and fulfill orders from multiple channels in a streamlined manner How do I choose a multichannel inventory system?There are a few crucial factors to consider when choosing a multichannel inventory system:- Compatibility With Your Sales Channels: Make sure the system is compatible with the channels you use to sell your products.- Ease of Use: Search for a system that is easy to use and set up, as this will help you to get up and running quickly.- Features: Consider the features that are important to your business, such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and data analytics.- Cost: Determine your budget and look for a system that fits within it. Can you use a multichannel inventory system with your brick-and-mortar store?Yes, a multichannel inventory system can be used to manage and track inventory in a brick-and-mortar store in addition to online channels. Many multichannel inventory systems offer features such as point-of-sale integration and real-time inventory updates to make it easy to manage inventory in a physical store.

December 19, 2022
Inventory Report: Definition, Use Cases and 10 Different Types of Inventory Balance Sheets for eCommerce Businesses in 2023

Inventory Report: Definition, Use Cases and 10 Different Types of Inventory Balance Sheets for eCommerce Businesses in 2023

Inventory is one of the key aspects of any eCommerce enterprise. It is the means through which they can achieve their central goal - to sell products and generate enough revenue to offset all the expenses that were incurred in terms of research and development, production, marketing, logistics, and operations and have enough left to be profitable. Therefore, managing inventory effectively and efficiently also becomes a central task for retailers. One of the main ways to do this is to maintain a systematic inventory report that summarizes important details about the current status of the available inventory. In this blog, we will go into detail about inventory reports, what their use cases are, how to create one, and the different types that retailers can use. What is an Inventory Report? An inventory report, also called a stock audit report, provides a detailed look at the available inventory that a business has during a specified period of time. They can either be drafted physically or digitally and contains information regarding the number of products and units that a business can currently sell, inventory that is currently ordered or will be ordered in the future, and inventory that is utilized for internal purposes. An inventory report generally needs to consist of up-to-date information and visual cues, such as graphs and charts, to accurately represent the number of units of a particular item that are available in stock. This helps businesses ascertain the appropriate amount of inventory they require during a particular time period and helps in preventing overstocking and understocking situations from occurring. Use Cases of an Inventory Report in 2023 Managing Inventory Inventory management is a major business operation that requires the use of an accurate and legible inventory report. For inventory management to be successful, businesses require access to data and facts that can help them make well-informed decisions, and this is provided by a stock audit report. It can help businesses determine their reorder point and prevent them from ordering fresh stock too early, which could hold up capital, heighten the risk of damaged products, and requires additional storage space. Conversely, it also avoids situations where fresh stock is ordered too late, which results in items running out of stock and the inability to fulfill customer orders.  Tracking Inventory Across Fulfillment Centers Keeping track of the amount of inventory in storage is an important task for eCommerce businesses, especially ones that are expanding rapidly and have inventory stored in multiple fulfillment centers in various locations. This can seem like an insurmountable task but through the use of an inventory report, every unit of every product can be easily accounted for. Additionally, it can help to filter inventory by date, supplier it was ordered from and product type, among others, and can identify products that are damaged and need to be replaced. Categorizing Inventory At the manufacturing plant, inventory needs to be segmented into categories based on their completion, such as raw materials, works-in-progress, and finished goods, as each category has to be valued for accounting purposes. Once the goods are dispatched and have been stored in fulfillment centers, it is up to retailers to store their inventory as per their requirements. For retailers who deal in large amounts of inventory, trying to locate a particular product in an unorganised heap of boxes can be disconcerting. Alternatively, locating products that are neatly labeled and organised based on a variety of factors such as demand, price, supplier, or type can speed up the order fulfillment process and result in less wastage of time, effort, and manpower. How to Create an Inventory Report in 4 Simple Steps? Shortlist Reporting Topics  Source Shortlisting the topics that need to be tracked and mentioned in the stock audit report depends on a variety of factors, such as the goals of the business, the industry it operates in, the growth strategy it employs, and the type of products it sells. Different inventory management key performance indicators (KPIs) can be used for different businesses with varying goals. Retailers need to identify the ones that are best suited to their business and can paint a clear picture of their inventory currently in stock and that needs to be ordered in the future. Frame a List of Items Source After coming up with a list of reporting topics, retailers need to frame a list of items which can either be exported from their inventory management system or POS system or can be listed manually. The list of items generally needs to contain detailed information that is needed for each product such as the number of units that are currently available, different varieties if applicable, serial numbers, pricing and anything else that will help to identify it and provide insight that is needed. Create a Time Frame Source Choosing a time frame is critical to frame an accurate inventory report. Keeping up to it is arguably just as important because if all the KPIs are not measured during the same time period, it can create a vast amount of disparities in the stock audit report, which will result in a flawed summary of information that can lead to misinformed business decisions. Companies with a growing volume of sales will need to constantly refresh the data in their inventory reports to account for fluctuations in variable KPIs that could lead to a change in results.  Suggested Read: How to Achieve High Inventory Accuracy? Automate Wherever You Can Source Companies can automate a wide range of inventory management processes by opting to use an advanced inventory management software, including the tracking of inventory by receiving real-time updates whenever inventory is purchased or sold, across multiple fulfillment centers and eCommerce marketplaces. This enables the use of more accurate and fool-proof data recording, which can be used while framing the inventory report, which helps firms make efficient decisions. Additionally, these software solutions also reduce the amount of time, effort, and labour that is required to complete various important tasks. 10 Types of Inventory Balance Sheets to Scale Your Business in 2023 Customer Analytics Report A customer analytics report is a type of stock audit report that tracks various customer-centric metrics such as the geographic location that has the most demand, which customers have placed repeat purchases, the income levels and spending patterns of a company’s target audience and much more. This helps retailers assess patterns in terms of customer demand and which supply chain solutions are successfully tackling that demand and which aren’t, through which they can determine what practices are generating more revenue, repeat, and new customers, and enhancing customer satisfaction, as opposed to others so that the most successful ones can be permanently utilised to capitalize on the momentum.  Shipment Trends Report An inventory report that tracks trends in shipping, delivery, and warehouse management is known as a shipping trends report. These reports provide insight into various factors that affect delivery speed and efficiency, customer satisfaction, and warehouse performance. This allows retailers to streamline any process that is causing a delay or that is not performing up to the mark. It also assesses a shipping aggregator’s performance in comparison to other services that the retailer has used, allowing them to identify which service is providing faster and better operations. Purchase Order Report A purchase order report is a type of stock audit report that tracks KPIs relating to the purchase of inventory from a supplier or manufacturer, such as pricing, rate of on-time delivery, transaction details and much more. This enables firms to assess the performance of their manufacturing partner and can suggest ways to improve certain aspects that may be delaying the shipment of inventory to the relevant fulfillment centers. Companies can also determine when they need to clear space for incoming inventory and how much space they will allocate to the new shipment. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Report Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is the total amount of expenses incurred in the process of manufacturing, selling and delivering a product to the end customer. A COGS inventory report is needed to understand the collective costs that a business has spent on the sales and distribution of its inventory and how to reduce the expenditure on certain processes. It also aids in managing taxes, identifying areas that can help in scaling the business and determining if retailers need to spend more capital on their operations or inventory management. Sales Report A sales report is a stock audit report that provides vital information about a company’s sales, cash balance and an accounting summary for each selling channel, such as discounts, incomes, taxes and refunds. This helps businesses identify their best-selling products, locations that have the highest number of sales, slow-moving items and various trends that will help them improve their sales processes to generate more revenue. Inventory Forecasting Report The primary goal of an inventory forecasting report is to attain the optimum inventory levels that are required to fulfill orders, based on product volumes that a company is expecting to sell in a specified duration. This estimation is done by analysing historical sales data, previous promotional campaigns and any other factor that affect supply and demand, in order to provide the most accurate depiction of the future inventory that is needed by a company.  Stock Levels Report A stock level inventory report provides insights into products based on their risk of running low on stock levels and the rate at which they need to be replenished. This helps firms establish which types of inventory sell faster and need to be restocked more often depending on the sales channel and the fulfillment center they are stored in. This data assists in optimizing inventory levels and mitigating storage and operational costs, as the accurate amount of inventory will always be kept, in order to fulfill demand. Inventory Value Report An inventory value report is a type of inventory report that summarizes inventory based on the value of each product. This provides a look into the total value of all of a company’s products, the volume that is stored across all warehouses and fulfillment centers, and the performance of individual products, based on their value, lifecycle, storage duration, and inventory turnover ratio, which will help companies understand which items need to be handled with extra care and how long their shelf life will be. Inventory Profitability Report Companies generally track inventory profitability in 3 distinct phases - trending profitability, listing profitability and SKU profitability. Trending profitability is an inventory report that shows the consolidated profitability over a designated time period. Listing profitability is an inventory report that summarizes performance data per SKU, by gross and unit margins. Finally, an inventory report summarizing the SKU profitability of a company is considered to be the most important due to the ease with which the profitability of each SKU can be monitored. Using an inventory profitability report, companies can become more cost-effective, limit the amount of deadstock they have and increase profits by selling better-performing products.  Inventory Performance Report An inventory performance report is a stock audit report that provides information specifically in regard to performance figures of a company, such as the best-selling products, worst-selling products, yearly expansion, and much more. Knowing which products are performing well and which aren’t can lead to firms customizing their product offerings by placing more focus on commodities that are generating the maximum profits for them and getting rid of items that are taking up space through sales or donations. They will also get a better idea of how the overall business is performing and can make changes and tweaks to the relevant processes. Conclusion: Take Advantage of InventoryLogIQ to Manage Your Inventory in 2023 Inventory reports are a supremely important tool to keep eCommerce retailers informed about a plethora of different metrics that impact the performance of their inventory and business processes. As discussed above, there are many different types of stock audit reports and KPIs that companies can opt for but choosing the right one depends on the nature of the business and its products, the short-term and long-term goals that it envisions and the type of information that it wants to track and summarize. Once those details are figured out, it will be a much simpler process to shortlist the type of inventory reports that are needed. If you are an eCommerce retailer and need assistance with choosing the right inventory report or any other activity involved in managing your inventory, consider partnering with InventoryLogIQ. InventoryLogIQ is one the leading inventory management and storage solutions in India that provides a whole host of services, encompassing every aspect of preparing your inventory to be shipped to their respective customers. Some of the unique features we offer include: Analytics for Inventory Level Tracking We provide you with important analytics and data to allow for frequent reviews of inventory position and to react to changes in the business while maintaining an ideal inventory level for each SKU. Optimization of Storage Space Blue lists that identify unsold or excess inventory are presented in a precise manner in order to save storage space. Bundling of Products Product bundling analytics can help businesses increase sales by locating the ideal products for promotional bundles and combinations. Segmenting of Items Keep an eye on daily demand fluctuation and separate rapid movers from sluggish movers that require more concentration and attention. Forecasting Replenishment Red list goods that are getting close to running out of stock can be found using reports from replenishment inventory planning reports that are simple to observe. Inventory Report: FAQs What information should an inventory report have?Whether it is physical or digital, an inventory report should general include information that gives an accurate representation of the total inventory available, best selling products, worst selling products, sales levels and more. What is the goal of an inventory report?An inventory report should summarize the amount of inventory that a company has in hand during a specific time period. This provides insights into how the business is performing and factors that need to be improved. Is an inventory report a part of inventory management?Yes, an inventory report is one of the factors that enables efficient inventory management decisions to be taken, using all the data that it provides. Can you use Excel to create an inventory report?Yes, inventory reports can be created in Excel. However, use it sparingly as many features are omitted and every entry will have to be done manually, which increases the scope of errors and increases the amount of time and effort needed. How can InventoryLogIQ help with inventory reporting?InventoryLogIQ has a custom OMS that automatically tracks various metrics of inventory in real-time and across multiple fulfillment centers and selling platforms and provides the data in a single centralised location.

December 15, 2022
What is a Periodic Inventory System? When and How to Use Periodic Inventory Control in 2023?

What is a Periodic Inventory System? When and How to Use Periodic Inventory Control in 2023?

Inventory management systems impact every element of business operations, from order fulfillment and revenue generation to warehouse and overhead costs. Perpetual and periodic inventory systems are two techniques for managing inventory. While perpetual inventory systems update inventory after every transaction, periodic inventory control accounts for checking inventory levels at regular time-based periods. A periodic inventory system is the easier of the two approaches to adopt, needing less time, money, and resources. The physical counting approach to the inventory management system is through periodic inventory system techniques. It is done regularly to determine inventory data that affect the cost of goods sold. Periodic inventory control is a difficult task that requires time and effort. As a result, small enterprises with little need for inventory typically use the periodic inventory approach. However, companies of all sizes may use the periodic inventory control method. Let us talk about periodic inventory systems and how they might aid with inventory control. What is a Periodic Inventory System? The periodic examination of inventory is referred to as part of the periodic inventory management system. After a predetermined amount of time, such as monthly, quarterly, or yearly, inventory is physically counted. After one accounting quarter, businesses do the routine inventory count. The commencement of the subsequent accounting period subsequently starts with the data for the ending inventory. Businesses that use periodic inventory systems update their general ledger accounts for the ending inventory after each physical count. With successive journal entries, all other entries are connected to the accounts for purchases and payables. Businesses may also have a freight expense account. It enables them to accurately reflect the expenses of the cost of the items offered. Every time the company receives new goods, the account is updated. A firm finally uses the account to determine final inventory carrying costs. Explaining Periodic Inventory Control Systems To ascertain the amount of inventory on hand and the cost of products sold, a corporation using a periodic inventory system physically counts the inventory after each period. Many businesses pick monthly, quarterly, or yearly intervals depending on their product demands and bookkeeping. Businesses use the starting inventory level, the ending inventory level, and the purchases made during that period to calculate costs rather than continually updating their records with current inventory and cost levels. Businesses that don't have a daily requirement to correctly know their current inventory levels might benefit from periodic inventory. For small enterprises that want to keep prices down, it works effectively. However, larger and expanding companies often choose a permanent inventory system, which is best managed by an ERP inventory module since they require more comprehensive inventory management. Many small firms, especially those with few unique SKUs to update at the end of each quarter, do just fine with periodic inventory, even if it does not provide business decision-makers with real-time data. Use Cases of a Periodic Inventory System in 2023 When You Need It Source The cost of products sold and the precise amount of goods in inventory are typically unknown to businesses using the periodic inventory method until a physical count is done. For this reason, the system is advised for companies with a limited number of SKUs operating in a market that moves slowly. Companies that lack the resources or do not want to spend a lot of money on implementing a more intricate inventory accounting system are also advised to use the system. It could be the most incredible option for new businesses, especially those with substantial inventory made up primarily of inexpensive commodities. When You Don't Need It Source The periodic Inventory System method might not be suited for large enterprises due to the high amount of inventory transactions. This is because large organisations must continually track the number of items in their inventory to make essential purchase choices. Who Uses It? Source Small firms that handle a modest number of transactions or enterprises with a small inventory are the primary users of the periodic inventory technique. These businesses typically choose a periodic inventory system since it is easier to operate and more cost-effective because their sales and costs are simple to control. These enterprises include modest cafés, restaurants, auto dealerships, art galleries, and so on. How Does a Periodic Inventory System Operate? Physical inspections of the inventory are done using the periodic inventory control system. Since most of these jobs are done by hand, the process takes time and is expensive. As a result, businesses with significant inventories must allocate personnel and time each time a physical inventory count is conducted. A periodic inventory system uses a different accounting procedure than other systems like perpetual inventory. A temporary account for purchases in a periodic system serves as the foundation for inventory accounting. After purchases, the inventory account is not immediately deducted. The business first enters all new purchases into a temporary purchasing account. The firm then conducts a physical inventory count. The main inventory account is then given the statistics from the purchases account. The cost of goods sold estimates are then updated using this data. Then, using the initial inventory data, new purchases, and subtracting the ending inventory figures, the Cost of Goods Dold (COGS) is determined. The formula for the cost of goods sold is: COGS = Beginning inventory + New Purchases – Closing Inventory In rare circumstances, the business can substitute the beginning inventory for the ending or remaining balance of inventory from the prior accounting period. Challenges of Periodic Inventory System in 2023 Even though periodic inventory is simple to execute, there are several significant downsides regarding the quantity of detail you receive and how frequently your data is updated. Most business owners and managers require up-to-date information daily to make wise business decisions. With each sale or shipment, most large enterprises immediately update their inventory. With a contemporary ERP, this is simple to accomplish. When you buy anything in a physical shop or online, the merchant has complete knowledge of what was purchased and when allowing them to plan for restocking. When periodic inventory is in place, businesses might not be aware that a product is running low until a client inquires why it isn't on the shelf. Even worse, you may sell something online only to discover that your supplier has back-ordered it because it is out of stock. Both provide customers with less than optimal experiences, which may also be stressful for your team. Many small firms have inventory management systems connected to their POS or online store. The inventory is automatically updated when the cashier scans a barcode, and a customer leaves with a purchase. To ensure they never run out of supply, sophisticated firms may set up automatic reordering. The continuing data assists firms in maintaining more detailed data on cost per item sold, which plays a significant role in profit margins and overall profitability. Operating using a periodic inventory method is like running your firm while wearing blinders for huge businesses or developing enterprises. The whole image won't become clear until the conclusion of the time period. Advantages of Periodic Inventory Control System The periodic inventory approach was very well-liked before technology accounting solutions were introduced. There was no denying its shortcomings, but most business owners believed its advantages exceeded them. It's interesting to note that the method is still widely used today, and many business owners prefer it to the perpetual inventory system. However, one may be justified in supposing that the periodic inventory system has just as many detractors as supporters. This is due to the firm belief held by specific individuals that it is undesirable to submit your company to a management tool that may produce unpredictable outcomes. To ensure you are making an informed decision, the benefits of the periodic inventory system have been listed below: Excellent Choice for Small Businesses Smaller companies that don't retain a lot of stock in their inventory are best suited for a periodic inventory system. A physical inventory count is simple to complete for such firms. Estimating the cost of commodities sold over predetermined periods is likewise much simpler. This indicates that other techniques are more appropriate for businesses with a high inventory turnover rate, a high number of SKUs, demands for multichannel inventory management, or who want real-time data. Simple to Implement The simplicity of periodic inventory systems is prized, and all that's required to physically count your beginning inventory at specific periods throughout the year is a little time. As a result, a periodic inventory technique may be adopted without much inventory planning or preparation because it doesn't need complex calculations or accounting records. Minimal Resources and Costs Spreadsheets may be used to do periodic inventory instead of inventory management software, eliminating the need for additional software or training expenditures. Additionally, since the stock is only updated occasionally, more resources are available for other corporate operations. Reduced Inventory Records A periodic inventory system might work for companies with a single location or few product lines. Estimating the current inventory levels and keeping track of sale transactions are relatively simple tasks. A straightforward inventory system will also be simpler to administer and keep up with over time. Disadvantages of Periodic Inventory Control System Remember that the advantages listed above mainly profit small enterprises that handle a few hundred transactions annually. The periodic inventory method becomes complex and challenging to maintain as stock levels increase and your business expands. Because of this, not every firm may benefit from the strategy; most companies instead employ perpetual inventory. And that's one of the system's drawbacks, amongst others, which are listed below: Prone to Human Mistakes  The possibility of a human mistake increases when you physically count all the inventory goods you have on hand. There might be mistakes in the value or the total inventory count. Any errors will also be carried over to the next quarter. After taking stock of all inventory, look for anomalies or statistics that seem noticeably higher or lower than anticipated to avoid this. Difficult to Scale  Periodic inventory is a very manual procedure that may be time-consuming and challenging to scale as a firm expands. A bottleneck may develop during an inventory count if all goods must be put aside for an extended period. Moving from a periodic inventory system to an automated perpetual inventory system may be worthwhile as your product lines expand and new locations open. Less Control and Information In periodic inventory, only the time records at the start and end of the period are entirely correct. A company relies on predictions of its present inventory levels for the remainder of the time. One may lose sales and customers if inventory is too low or if an unnoticed inventory discrepancy in the accounts. A lack of real-time data may hamper other business choices. Does Not Permit Modifications A firm may occasionally encounter product recalls, purchases return, and misplaced products in transit. However, there is no way to consider these unforeseen changes with the periodic inventory. Therefore, up to the conclusion of the next term, inventory records remain fixed. How Does the Periodic Inventory System Calculate Cost of Goods Sold? To get the total cost of the products available for sale, add the inventory amount at the start of the year to the amount displayed on the Purchases account. You can utilise the quantity of stock left at the end of the prior period if your company doesn't have a defined beginning inventory level. This computation uses the following formula: Cost Of Goods Available For Sale = Beginning Inventory + New Purchases The physical count of each item in the inventory is then used to establish the ending inventory. Finally, you can calculate the cost of the ending or closing inventory using the weighted average price, first in, first out, or last in, first out. The cost of goods sold is then calculated by deducting the previously tallied ending inventory from the total price of the commodities offered. The second formula for calculating the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is the following. COGS = Beginning inventory + New Purchases – Closing Inventory This can all seem a little complex, so let's use an example to clarify the idea and demonstrate how to use these computations. Let's imagine that a corporation that sells items has a periodic inventory system and assesses its inventory at the end of the financial year. As a result, any adjustments to inventory resulting from sales or acquisitions made by the company during the year are not recognised until March 31st. Now suppose that March 31st has arrived, and the following data is accessible: At the start of the year, the beginning inventory amounts to $50,000.The total amount spent on items for the entire year is $125,000.The final ending inventory is priced at $30,000. The COGS calculation for this data would be as follows: Cost Of Goods Available For Sale = Beginning Inventory + New Purchases $50,000 + $125,000 = $175,000 Now, COGS = Beginning inventory + New Purchases – Closing Inventory $175,000 - $30,000 = $145,000  Cost of Goods Sold = $145,000  Periodic vs Perpetual Inventory Systems: Which is Better? Which is better, the perpetual or periodic inventory control system? It is a topic that is frequently discussed. It's crucial to note that both approaches are recognised by the General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This section will cover how the two systems differ and which approach is most appropriate based on your company's business strategy. Due to the development of tools like barcode scanning and inventory management software over the years, the perpetual inventory system has grown in popularity. However, most small business owners appear to have a soft place for the periodic inventory system. It's crucial to comprehend exactly what a perpetual inventory system is before we discuss its distinctions. Through point-of-sale inventory systems, the perpetual inventory system keeps track of inventory by immediately documenting any alterations. In addition, continuous inventory taking is made possible because the systems maintain a running account that is updated with each sale or return. Differences Between a Perpetual and Periodic Inventory System The most crucial distinction between the two systems is that the perpetual inventory system permits ongoing inventory counting. In contrast, the periodic system counts inventory once, after a specific accounting period.In businesses, when there aren't a lot of products being sold, the perpetual method is frequently employed. Due to its simplicity, smaller firms with extensive stock typically use the systematic approach.Due to its partial dependence on technology, such as barcode scanners, the everlasting system may be costly. However, you won't incur any further expenditures because the systematic method allows you to count your finishing inventory physically.Since issues are discovered in real-time by the perpetual system's continuous surveillance, they may resolve them more quickly if they already exist. After the accounting period, when it could already be too late, the periodic system would only be able to detect underlying issues.The perpetual system's digital foundation makes it possible to back up data, quickly organise it, and even manipulate it to provide reports with plenty of specific information. On the other hand, the periodic system relies on manual labour, making it possible for a human mistake to result in data loss or misplacing.The perpetual inventory method doesn't interfere with a business's regular activities. However, depending on the number of products being tallied, the periodic system will interfere with company activities, especially on the day of the physical count.Thanks to the perpetual system, you will always have access to precise COGS numbers. However, with the systematic approach, you would have to wait until the physical count was done to obtain the exact COGS during an accounting period.You could need to hire many tech-savvy workers with expertise with the everlasting system or give your current staff substantial training to use it. However, the systematic approach is praised for its simplicity and would not need additional training for the team. Selecting One of the Two Small business owners' activities are often restricted to the cash register and fairly straightforward accounting procedures. Therefore, small business owners would benefit most from the periodic inventory system. You wouldn't need an inventory management system for companies that only supply services rather than items. This is, of course, unless you are in the hospitality sector, running a restaurant, or you have inventory products that need to be tracked, such as food or medications. But if a company grows, switching to a permanent system could be necessary since it gives you access to the cost of goods sold whenever you need them. In addition, you may use it to spot any stock flaws and take the appropriate action instantly. Due to the high amount of inventory transactions they handle and the automated nature of their accounting systems, most influential organisations favour the perpetual inventory system over the systematic approach, as was previously mentioned. You can also learn about distributed inventory systems here. Conclusion One of the most straightforward accounting procedures that enable a corporation to track its entire inventory is periodic inventory systems. Periodic inventory can be sufficient for a firm handling fewer goods, but it may be too basic for businesses with significant or changing sales volumes. Businesses frequently mix the two accounting techniques to manage inventory. While a periodic count is performed at predetermined intervals to confirm the correctness of all accounts in the inventory ledger, a perpetual inventory system is utilised to record all daily inventory movements instantaneously. If you need assistance with periodic inventory systems or any other inventory-related requirement, you can opt to partner with InventoryLogIQ. InventoryLogIQ is one of the country's leading inventory management companies that uses a comprehensive technology platform to provide a variety of services ranging from inventory management to storage solutions. Our custom OMS can help in tasks such as automatic tracking and updating of inventory in real-time, across fulfillment centers and selling platforms, inventory management and a wide range of other services. Periodic Inventory System: FAQs What does routine inventory-taking entail?When utilising a periodic inventory system, periodic inventory taking refers to the physical count of inventory that occurs on a regular basis. Even perpetual inventory users may wish to perform a physical inventory count from time to time to allow for shrinkage (theft, broken, and obsolete items). Define a periodic inventory system with an exampleIn a periodic inventory system, inventory tracking is manually updated at the conclusion of a certain period. For instance, a small retail business with only one location can choose for periodic inventory system to make record keeping easier and might decide to update their inventory records every three months in order to calculate anticipated taxes. How to implement a periodic inventory system?You just need a team to conduct the physical inventory count and an accounting mechanism to calculate the cost of shutting inventory to deploy a periodic inventory system. The inventory weighted average approach, FIFO (first-in-first-out), and LIFO (last-in-first-out) are all viable computation methods. When should you use a periodic inventory system?A periodic inventory system is a type of inventory valuation used at the end of the accounting period by small businesses & early-stage start-ups because of lesser stock in their inventory.

December 14, 2022