Smart Inventory Management is survival tomorrow powered by intelligent inventory choices today
Smart inventory management is an innovative way to control your costs using data and powerful software to fill increasing demand with less inventory. Inventory control procedures work to improve inefficiencies while automated technology syncs your inventory across channels, maximizing profits.
Do you have one of these inventory management problems?
You’re here because you have a problem to solve. And it probably looks something like this:
- You’re scrambling because you need better workflows
- Endless inefficiencies are killing you
- You have no idea how much inventory you have (or don’t have)
- You live in constant fear of out-of-stocks
- Incompatible software is creating extra work for you
- Your business has outgrown your old inventory app
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not dealing with an inventory management problem; you’re dealing with a failing inventory management system.
Smart Inventory Management is the Solution
Smart Inventory Management (SIM) helps you control costs and fuels growth using data and software to help you fulfill increasing customer demand with the least amount of inventory. Data gives you greater visibility allowing you to forecast demand and improve efficiencies, while automated technology syncs your inventory across multiple sales channels allowing you to maximize sales.
When you solve an inventory problem, you save a buck. When you implement Smart Inventory Management, you invest in the potential of your business.
SkuVault is staying ahead of change to meet your needs in the future. Don’t limit your capabilities with outdated systems. Schedule a demo with a Sales Consultant to learn more.
Table of Contents
- The Principles Behind Smart Inventory Management
- Why Smart Inventory Management is Important
- Inventory Costing
- Sourcing
- Forecasting Inventory
- Inventory Management Software
- Warehouse Management System
The inventory management feature has defined our inventory. We know exactly where to look, where we can find our inventory, how much we have on hand, and that alone is worth the price we’re paying.
It starts with the end for some
Companies waiting for the dust to settle on recent changes in technology will find themselves repeatedly frustrated by even newer developments before they eventually vanish. It’s no longer acceptable to return to ‘business as usual.’
And the beginning for you
Because technology now fuels how people shop, it is inseparable from business. So, any business that wants to survive, will be forced to adapt at a faster and faster pace.
Meaning, if you’re in retail, eCommerce, wholesale, distribution, or manufacturing, the way you operate is about to change, and then change again.
Smart Inventory Management is based on the idea that we’re in a permanent state of accelerating change. A lean inventory is key to avoiding the trap tying up capital at the expense of unforeseen, and fleeting opportunities. It’s a high tool that allows you to stop feeling perpetually surprised and exhausted and actually anticipate change so you can use it to your advantage.
How to start using smart inventory management to tap your potential
The first thing that you need to do to play a pivotal role in the survival and growth of your business is to change the way you think. It’s no longer enough to keep your head above water.
You have to limber up and start thinking ahead because without foresight and flexibility, you not only risk falling behind, you risk becoming obsolete.
This page is a guide to help you do just that.
Follow along to learn the concepts you need to implement the smartest inventory control procedures. By the end, you’ll be able to stop wasting time patching the holes of your current system and start enjoying the advantages of intelligent decision making powered by data and automation.
INVENTORY
noun | in·ven·to·ry | \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē\
- goods kept in stock by merchants to fulfill demand
- raw materials kept by manufacturers in the production of goods
SMART INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
noun | in·ven·to·ry man·age·ment | \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē ˈma-nij-mənt\
- the strategic control stock from procurement to fulfillment with the goal of maintaining optimal levels to meet demand
- the strategic use of insights gathered through data and intelligent technology to automate the flow of inventory and eliminate inefficiencies
nventory costs money when you buy it
Your funds are tied up in the goods you have on hand until they’re sold. Product life cycles are becoming shorter and shorter, so the longer you have an item in inventory the less it’s worth until it eventually becomes obsolete.
And when you don’t buy the right amount…
If you’re tying up funds in excess inventory as a safety net to meet unpredictable customer demand, you’re doing it wrong. The same is true if you’re unable to meet demand due to a shortage in your inventory.
The price for both of these is called opportunity cost.
It’s the potential your business fails to reach due to unavailable funds and lost sales that keep you from being able to change course quickly and act on opportunities in today’s ever-changing markets.
Then, inventory keeps costing money until you sell it
But there’s a less visible issue with carrying too much inventory:
There are other costs associated with inventory in addition to the actual price your business has paid for the goods it has on hand. The costs associated with inventory are called carrying cost.
CARRYING COST
Also known as carry cost or holding cost, this is how much it costs your business over time to hold inventory.
These costs include:
- Capital you’ve got tied up in that inventory
- Opportunity costs
- Taxes
- Employee costs
- The amount that it costs you to insure it
- The cost of storing it in your warehouse
- Utility costs
- The money lost to its depreciation value as it becomes obsolete
- Other incidental costs
This cost is calculated as a percentage of the inventory value and can be used to determine the potential for profit. So, if you’re living on the prayer of blind procurement, are unaware of your inventory turnover ratio, and even losing track of its location once inside of your warehouse, you’re losing money.
The less inventory you have, the more money you have
Smart inventory Management is important because it frees up funds for your business to unlock its full potential while still meeting customer demand. With the right tools, you can forecast demand and make better decisions that lead to faster inventory turnover and higher profit margins.
EXCESS SUPPLY
noun | ex·cess sup·ply | \ik-ˈses sə-ˈplī/\
having more inventory than demand
SHORTAGE
noun | short·age \ˈshȯr-tij\
having more demand than inventory
OPPORTUNITY COST
noun | op·por·tu·ni·ty cost | \ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nə-tē, -ˈtyü- ˈkȯst\
- loss, often monetary, caused by an unfavorable decision
- missing out on gains due to passing up on or being able to make an investment
INVENTORY TURNOVER
noun | in·ven·to·ry man·age·ment turn·over | \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē ˈtərn-ˌō-vər\
the rate at which inventory is sold and replaced over a period of time
-> Read More:
How Reducing Your Inventory Actually Helps You Make More Money
What is inventory costing?
Let’s start with what inventory costing is and why it matters:
It’s about taxes.
In the U.S., you have to figure out how much taxable income you have each tax year so you can report it to the IRS. The cost of goods sold and your inventory are part of that equation.
Who needs to worry about inventory costing?
Businesses that purchase and/or create goods to sell. Basically, if you sell inventory, you need to figure out how much it’s worth.
It’s important to get it right. And whatever method you choose, you must be able to:
- Easily show your income and expenses
- Be able to prove these claims in your records
- Use it consistently year-over-year
To figure out the value, you need a way to identify the items in your inventory and you need to make a decision about how you’ll assign value to those items. The dollar value of your inventory can vary greatly depending on which inventory costing method you use.
Below is a list of the most common methods of inventory costing, but keep in mind that this is a very generalized overview for the purpose of introducing you to the topic:
FIFO
The first in, first out (FIFO) method means the items purchased first are used or sold first. Therefore the remaining stock is the newest items.
LIFO
Last in, first out (LIFO) method means the items purchased last are sold first. Therefore the remaining stock is the oldest items.
FEFO
First expired, first out (FEFO) method means the closest product to reach expiration will be the first removed from stock.
INVENTORY COSTING
noun | in·ven·to·ry cost·ing | \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē ˈkȯstiŋ\
any method that determines the dollar value of your inventory and cost of goods for the purpose of taxes
SkuVault is Smart Inventory Management
We’re staying ahead of change to meet your needs in the future. Don’t limit your capabilities with outdated systems.
Book a Demo with one our Sales Consultants
So at this point, you might be thinking, “Okay, I understand there’s a lot of costs involved with inventory, but where do I get it from?”
And you’re exactly right.
There are a lot of costs involved, so it’s important to selectively choose suppliers for the goods and/or services you use for inventory.
The act of choosing suppliers is called sourcing, which is under a greater umbrella term called the procurement process. Sourcing and procurement are often used interchangeably, so don’t worry if the definitions seem to blur in your research.
Sourcing involves a number of tasks including:
- Establishing payment terms
- Creating a well-written contract
- Choosing the best form of delivery with suppliers
It’s all about creating and sustaining a good relationship with suppliers in order for the next steps in your business to succeed.
-> Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Sourcing
Since we’re talking about the beginning stages of a product, it’s worth mentioning the product life cycle. Before sourcing can even occur, a product needs to be formulated as an idea. This is the first stage in the product life cycle called the introduction stage. In the introduction stage, a product may have little to no marketplace competition.
After this, the following stages are where growing pains can come to play.
- Growth stage: Once the product has gained traction, production levels and sales increase. This brings on the potential for increased competition, bigger levels of promotion, and the possibility of declining gross margins.
- Maturity stage: This is where your product must become defensive. Competition becomes more fierce, so you must lower your prices to stay in business. Be strategic in your marketing to make your product stand out the most it ever has.
- Decline stage: By this point your product has been overcome by the competition and has reached its highest point of demand. You can either let the product slowly decline, or add new features in an effort to revitalize sales.
Why should you care?
The product life cycle involves a lot more than just coming up with a cool product idea.
The success of that product combines a ton of market research, advertising strategies, and pricing strategies. You gotta know when to flip the script on your message or bow out completely in order to keep total sales of your business alive.
Oh, and this whole idea of Smart Inventory Management? It all starts at the initial product idea.
VENDOR-MANAGED INVENTORY
noun l ven·dor man·aged in·ven·to·ry l ven-ˈdȯr\ \ˈma-nijd\ \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē\
a selection of business models used to help the buyer of a product provide specific information to a supplier (vendor) of that product, the supplier becomes responsible for maintaining a level of inventory of the agreed upon material
SOURCING
noun l \ˈsȯrs\
a step in the procurement process to find adequate suppliers for obtaining goods and services
OUTSOURCING
verb l out·source l /ˈoutˌsôrs/
an alternative to sourcing in which goods or services are obtained from an outside or foreign supplier
-> Read More:
How to Source the Best Private Label Manufacturer
Remember how we said Smart Inventory Management is all about using data and powerful software to fill increasing demand? Well, data and good software will help you make better and more efficient forecasting decisions.
Forecasting inventory is the practice of using things like past sales data, average lead times, and demand or sales trends to better forecast your next reorder point.
Why is it important?
When you first start a business you’re most likely purchasing goods on whatever capital you have and pure luck. But once errors like overstocks and missing goods start to arise, you soon realize that flipping a coin and hoping for the right outcome is not actually a good strategy.
You must have data in place in order to make better purchasing decisions in the future. Smart inventory management provides data history and other forecasting capabilities that allow you to stay nimble in the event of sudden inventory changes.
Forecasting Methods
To ensure the most accurate forecast possible, there are a few methods to consider. These are critical to understand and consider before making forecasting decisions with big data. When you understand the actual value of future sales, your carrying costs and profits will be safer down the line.
- Quantitative Forecasting: use past sales data to help better predict future demand for goods. The more data, the more accurate the forecast will be (even if you have to go back 10 years).
- Qualitative Forecasting: predict demand based on market forces, potential demand, and economic demand. As you can see, these factors are not as reliable as concrete data, so if you want to gain 100% accuracy stick to quantitative forecasting.
The Bullwhip Effect – what it is and why you need to know about it
The Bullwhip Effect is this strange occurrence when a shift in customer demand forces a company to move further up the supply chain as a result of increasing swings in inventory.
Why does this matter to you?
Because if you don’t catch errors early on, the bullwhip effect takes the shape of potential excess supply, missed production schedules, or inefficient shipping.
This is why it’s crucial to forecast your inventory with as much past historical data as possible.
Data reports are important, people
Not to beat a dead horse here, but accurate reports are important. Without them, the success of your business is a shot in the dark.
With Smart Inventory Management features like SkuVault’s advanced reporting, data is automatically pulled from sales to produce a fully customizable and thorough data report.
You no longer have to wonder how much a certain brand sold or if the yellow bikes sell better than the blue bikes. With advanced reports you can make better use of your warehouse space and overall time.
VENDOR-MANAGED INVENTORY
noun l ven·dor man·aged in·ven·to·ry l ven-ˈdȯr\ \ˈma-nijd\ \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē\
a selection of business models used to help the buyer of a product provide specific information to a supplier (vendor) of that product, the supplier becomes responsible for maintaining a level of inventory of the agreed upon material
SOURCING
noun l \ˈsȯrs\
a step in the procurement process to find adequate suppliers for obtaining goods and services
OUTSOURCING
verb l out·source l /ˈoutˌsôrs/
an alternative to sourcing in which goods or services are obtained from an outside or foreign supplier
-> Read More:
How to Source the Best Private Label Manufacturer
Everything we’ve talked about up to this point works best when implemented into and with an inventory management software.
Inventory management software is a computer-based, and sometimes cloud-based, software used to track functions of your inventory, such as inventory levels, orders, sales, and deliveries. The principle functions of inventory management software are picking, packing, receiving, and managing locations, with a few more listed below.
Your entire product life cycle can be tracked using this software.
Pretty powerful, right?
To get ahead of human error, outdated practices, and lost profits, you must invest in the proper inventory management software.
It provides the bread and butter functions to keep your head above water so that you can eventually let the software do the work for you.
Some of these features include (but are not limited to):
- PICKLISTS. In the first step of the order fulfillment process, items are picked from a previously created picklist. BENEFIT: Picklists eliminate human error and are completely customizable. You have the ability to create any order of picking routes best suited to your business.
- RECEIVING ORDERS. Orders are received directly from a purchase order. BENEFIT: Purchase order numbers are checked against the original purchase order on the shipment. Again, this is another procedure to eliminate human error and check for discrepancies.
- BARCODE TRACKING. Barcodes are placed on shelves and inventory to track the locations of inventory. BENEFIT: With an efficient mode of tracking, inventory is placed literally anywhere in a warehouse and can be found with the input of a few numbers into the inventory management software. When you get a new shipment in, simply scan the location barcode label of the shelf and scan the product, and then place the item anywhere.
- CYCLE COUNTING. In simple terms, cycle counting is when inventory is counted in a specific location on a specific day or days. BENEFIT: Although a manual process, cycle counting is still considered part of smart inventory management because you’re continuously checking for differences between the quantities you should have for sale online and the quantities you physically have in the warehouse. Think of it as a way to kick it old school and check your inventory levels if the software ever crashes.
So, what’s the big idea?
Inventory management software can sometimes come with a hefty price tag, but the time and money you save with automated processes far outweighs the potential money lost from manual processes. Don’t wait until it’s too late to turn procedures around and keep your business inbusiness.
Our order fulfillment time has improved by 87.5%! Orders that previously would’ve taken us all day, we can now complete in less than an hour.
— Howard Choi, Business Development Manager of Golfio.com, SkuVault client
If you’re looking for a software with all the qualities of inventory management software and then some, a warehouse management system is the answer.
A warehouse management system is essential for distribution centers to run an automated operation and keep track of inventory levels. Items are picked, packed, and also shipped with a warehouse management system. If an item isn’t available, real-time quantity syncs are set in place, as well as channel listing integration capabilities.
Let’s get back to that a bit later.
What happens when you combine an Inventory Management Software with a Warehouse Management System?
Great things. In this case, two is definitely better than one.
And not to mention, the huge benefit of less inventory. With smart inventory management software and a smart warehouse management system, you have a higher controlled amount of goods going in and coming out of your inventory.
With less inventory you’re meeting the demands of your consumers while staying lean in production schedules and overall inventory levels.
The greatest strength of a warehouse management system over inventory software alone, however, is its ability to integrate with other softwares.
Look for a warehouse management system that has an open API to integrate with other softwares. If you’re selling on multiple channels or prefer to ship with multiple carriers, a warehouse management system acts as the connection between all of those services.
Warehouse processes become streamlined and fulfillment times increase as a result of tying all the components together into one interface.
Will my level of customer service become compromised as a result?
The average person expects customer service to consist of ‘I want my product when I want it,’ with a dash of courtesy and cooperation. And they’re not wrong. But a problem arises when too much inventory is ordered to keep customers satisfied.
Not only does excess inventory defeat the motto of smart inventory management, but it also comes with a price tag that compromises the level of customer service. Business owners who order large stocks of inventory to meet customer demand have to decide between paying for the cost of service or the quality of customer service.
Basically, you have to find a middle ground between maintaining customer service and keeping costs down. A primary objective of supply chain management is to provide great customer service, after all. Set expectations for customers of what and what not to expect from the beginning so as not to lose them later.
Features of a Warehouse Management System
- PRODUCT LOCATIONS. A warehouse management system has the ability to track product locations in multiple warehouses, and in some cases, multiple stores.
- KIT CREATION. Product kitting, or bundles, is probably a familiar term in the world of manufacturing. Kit creation is the assembly of individual items into one kit. They’re easily tracked in a warehouse management system under one unique SKU that can be tracked and inventoried as a single unit.
- QUANTITY BUFFERS. Buffers are another unique feature to a warehouse management system that places holds to inventory on specific online marketplace channels. For example, if you have 200 pairs of shoes in your warehouse, but you only want to list 100 on Amazon, set the buffer to only display 100 in stock. As the stock lowers, this creates a sense of urgency for customers and encourages them to buy your product faster.
- PRODUCT STATUSES. Product statuses are an example of the detailed tracking that goes into making a warehouse management system. Statuses allow the user to write unique descriptions, details or other helpful notes in an effort to better categorize inventory.
- USER ACCOUNTABILITY. Not every function of a warehouse management system is technical. The user accountability feature tracks each employee’s movements, from picking, packing, and receiving, down to quality control. It’s a way to hold someone accountable for missing or damaged goods.
- API. The API, or application programming interface, is the feature that allows other softwares to integrate with a warehouse management system. If you’re selling on Amazon, eBay, and a brick-and-mortar store, simply use the API for your channel management software and stream all product locations and levels through the warehouse management system. This prevents oversells, undersells, and mis-shipments.
