What’s on yourshelves? Although it can be tedious, inventory counting is a must. Without it, items can be overstocked, understocked, or out of stock without anyone noticing. Business profits, losses, and taxes will be recorded inaccurately and lead to costly mistakes. But what’s the best way to count inventory? In this article, we’ll break down the steps for counting inventory, and detail how an inventory counting app can help make your inventory counts faster and more accurate.
What Is the Best Way to Count Inventory?
The best way to count inventory is with inventory management software that helps keep inventory audits short and sweet. Using an inventory app is faster than physically counting items and maintaining spreadsheets, and it’s also more accurate. You’ll save even more time with inventory management software that uses barcodes and QR codes to automate and simplify the inventory counting process.
No time to read this article now?
Get Asset Tracking 101 Now!
Get Asset
Tracking 101 Now!
Learn about three different asset management systems
Find out exactly what to track on your inventory list
Discover how you can use simple technology to save time, money and stress
The best way to count inventory for your business starts with planning, selecting software that matches your business needs, and setting up barcodes or QR codes. Of course, if you don’t use an inventory app, most of these steps still apply (you’ll just be doing them manually).
1. Choose inventory management software
If you’re wondering how to take inventory, make the process easier on yourself by using inventory management software. Inventory software is the best and easiest way to count inventory. Without it, you’ll likely have to count your inventory manually, which can get tricky—especially if you have items spread across multiple locations.
Sortly is an inventory tracking and inventory counting app that can help you:
Track items across multiple business locations
Categorize items
Format data in a way that’s easy to access and read
Create reports
Offer a mobile-friendly dashboard
Scan barcodes right from your smartphone or tablet—no external hardware required.
2. Identify all locations for inventory
List each physical location where your inventory is stored.
3. Identify each unique item
List each item in your inventory.
4. Categorize items
Establish item categories so you can quickly sort and find them. Inventory management software makes this easy through the use of folders and tags.
5. Describe items
Create a unique description for each item, list its physical location, and include essential details (such as quantity, condition, manufacturer’s number, and more). Using Sortly makes it easy to add these item details, or you can add them to your spreadsheet if you are tracking inventory manually.
As you apply barcodes or QR codes to items, you’ll scan them into the inventory counting app.
Other Than Counting Inventory, How Will Automation Help?
Inventory management software is the best way to count inventory. But it’s also the best way to track and manage assets, equipment, materials, and products. You’ll have real-time access to relevant information about each product, including:
Reorder levels – Limit or prevent shortages and out-of-stock items.
Vendor details – Quickly access the name and location of a vendor and the item cost.
Important dates – View details about item expiration or warranty.
Product summary – Check a product summary to answer customer inquiries about hazmat warnings or product usage.
About Sortly
Sortly is user-friendly inventory management software. But it’s more than automation for counting inventory. How will Sortly help your business?
Delivers real-time inventory counts
Creates and prints barcodes and QR codes
Compatible with Bluetooth scanners and scanners on a mobile device
Works on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones
Allows you to customize and categorize items
Alerts you with low-stock and date reminders
Creates reports that you can print or share
Offers multi-user plans that grow with your business
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
