You're struggling to manage your retail inventory. What's the best tool to help you?

Attention to detail , learn about the inventory and what it’s under your key ahead of time.. tour around the store back room and be aware of everything that belongs there.

We used PDI, since their technology encompassed back end database, front end POS, setup through Pricebook, and fairly configurable settigns on the management side. There are others similar, that offer same or similar features, but I think it will always come down to a few things like: Price Effectiveness Cost of Change (You have X but want to go to Z but upfront or long-term cost makes no real sense) Ease of Use Infrastructure (IT=software / Field=handhelds) Versatility Customization Support* This is key! IF there is no support, or lack thereof, companies will seriously consider leaving even if there is a low or negative ROI. Don't assume because your tech is awesome that you can afford bad customer service or upcharge for "simple" things.

Depends. In some business scenarios, it makes sense to have manual counts on high-cost items (cigarettes, tobacco, other tobacco, alcohol). In some cases, it might not. Real-time is important, but you must consider the human checkpoints involved (paperwork, posting, human errors, theft and shrink). Depending on field needs and leadership styles, spreadsheets may not be ideal for the manager, but ideal for the field. In my experience, I had built a PowerBI model, but although some liked it, most said "keep it simple stupid" and don't change. In theory, if all vendors are EDI and compatible with your system, all inventory IS and SHOULD be automated, but the need for human checkpoints and review is needed to account for human error.

Flexibility and scalability are easy wins, as long as the labeling is accurate as of step one (for example, Pricebook). If an item setup correctly, then the management system should be enabled to have filters on "apply to" so a manager can easily scale, test, troubleshoot, and deploy change management. For example. leadership wants a goal of XYZvolume on ABCproduct, has not tried a tactic before, but wants to minimize risk of $loss through spoilage or markdowns. Sys Admin should create test markets, and apply theoretical changes, and see outcome and measure effectives, present for feedback, and then scale in waves as deemed appropriate.

Totally! Not all tools provide this or support this. In some cases, you have to dig aimlessly in the DBO library to fish for the appropriate data tables to build out queries from scratch using SQL or just learn to slice and dice SSRS data or automate with PowerBI. Some tools may offer neat reporting, but others, might not. I think in most cases one should be able to theoretically automate using SQL the dbo's to either pool a dataset or data model and automate the slicing and dicing with PowerBI. At first it can be confusing, and yes it can break if someone changes up the names, but its not rocket science. I've experienced that most ops folks like simple tools that simply tell them "you did X, and need to do Y, this is how you compare to Z".

Cost-effectiveness can be measured in several ways, usually by "how much work does it save my field". For example, with PDI, we approached inventory replenishment via a hybrid model in Texas, and it worked. I rewarded and nominated folks that leveraged the technology because we knew that when the tech is used, we eliminate replenishment risks and "usually" save time from the field. not all folks felt this way, but that's because our strategy was to reinvest field time into "value add actions" like inventory counts that reduce shrink and ensure our high profit items are sold. Profitability is obtained so much in just ensuring ideal inventory, but also, assisting marketing in strategically approaching volume goals via LIFT, not distributions.

Consistency is the best key for inventory is a every day responsibility to make a easy process at the end and beginning of each day,