When you are running the type of business that stocks and sells products, you are going to need to make sure that you are controlling and managing the inventory in a proper manner. However, there are also all sorts of different mistakes that can spring up here that you need to be sidestepping. Otherwise, it can end up having a negative knock-on impact in a wide range of different ways – some of which you may not even be able to fathom at this current moment in time. With this fact firmly in mind, here are a few of the top inventory control mistakes that you need to be avoiding.
Waiting Too Long in Between Inventory Checks
The first issue that you are likely to find yourself up against is simply waiting too long between the inventory checks in the first place. If the gaps are simply too wide, this can easily lead to a situation in which you are not on top of keeping track of your stocking situation. As a direct result of this, it can easily mean that you are not property monitoring what you have in currently, what may need to be reordered, what you are ordering too much of etc.
Not Making Sure to Lay Out the Warehouse Properly
Another crucial mistake that can be easily done but you certainly should be avoiding in any way that you can is not laying out the warehouse properly. This means that you should be able to locate everything easily. Not only this, but you should also be in the habit of regularly rotating your stock to ensure that nothing is expiring, which is an easy potential risk when you have a mismanaged warehouse. You should also be thinking closer about how staff members are going to be able to move around the space with ease, ensuring that there are no unnecessary holdups along the way.
Failing to Automate and Bring in Tech
Just as you should be looking to automate various other parts of your business as and when this is at all possible, the same should also be true of your inventory. This way, you are going to be able to experience the full range of benefits from knowing what is currently in stock, what you are low on, what should be reordered soon etc. Also, if you can automate the ordering process, this also means that any human errors that could have otherwise been made are all going to be kept to a complete minimum. Ultimately, you should always be keeping one eye firmly on the future when you are running a company, and there is no doubt that tech, automation and inventory management software should be at the very forefront of what you are doing.
Lack of Proper Training for Staff Members
While you will certainly want to be doing a great deal to ensure that you are properly managing your inventory, you also need to be doing the same for your staff members at the same time. Otherwise, there is always going to be a crucial piece of the puzzle that is sadly missing.
