Whether you are running a traditional, brick and mortar store or an online business, you will need to know exactly where your goods are if you plan on fulfilling orders efficiently. Online inventory management from Canvus Apps can help. We've talked about Areas before and used some examples of logical groupings like 'Accessories' or 'Dresses'. This could work in a small store where you know where to find those types of items and most of them are on the floor. Using this approach will let you re-organize your space freely without having to tweak how you track your inventory.
Another approach is to get literal. Where is that box of 1000 coffee filters anyway? 'Back Room' helps, but not if a hundred other things are there too. 'Shelf A' or 'Garage - Bin 2' is better. If you are holding stock and need to fulfill remote orders this is probably your best bet. You can choose the level of granularity that works for your business. In general, the more variety you have, the more specific you should be in naming your areas.
By incorporating physical areas into your inventory management, you will be forced to consider how you will interact with your merchandise. When you describe where you are going to put something, you'll spot potential risks (maybe those filters shouldn't be near the 15 year old water heater) and build a clear mental picture of your true capacity. In an order fulfillment scenario, this can save valuable time and foster good customer relations.
Of course, it would be nice if you keep this valuable information in an easy to reach and easy to change location. How about online? How about for free?
Signup and give Stockpile a try!
