There are countless reasons why more and more businesses are looking to optimize their inventory management processes with as little lift as possible. Thanks to inventory automation software, taking control of inventory has never been easier or more efficient.
In this article, we’ll define inventory automation and explain why it’s a crucial strategy for every business.
What is inventory automation?
Inventory automation occurs when inventory-related tasks are streamlined by automated features, such as low stock alerts and barcode and QR code scanning offered by inventory management software.
Other inventory automation features include automated alerts for expiration dates and warranty ends and an inventory list that instantly syncs across all devices.
Three reasons to consider inventory automation
1. Inventory automation speeds up inventory tracking
The right inventory automation features enable faster and much more accurate inventory management.
Automation that uses barcodes or QR codes, for example, will streamline the entire check-in and check-out process while reducing human error. Human error, in and of itself, can lead to costly inventory-related mistakes such as stockouts, shortages, shrinkage, and obsolescence—all of which can cause your business’s productivity and profitability to plummet.
(Note that solutions like Sortly allow you to scan barcodes and QR codes with the camera on your phone or tablet.)
Moreover, inventory automation doesn’t just create more accurate inventory records through perpetual inventory management. It also frees up your employees’ time, which can then be used to tackle more critical business tasks that only a human can handle.
Additionally, if you’re facing a labor shortage or are attempting to operate more efficiently as employment costs rise, inventory automation could help you create a new, leaner inventory management strategy. Once you decide what features to implement in your day-to-day operations, update your standard operating procedure accordingly.
This easy, comprehensive guide will help you:
Free Ebook: Getting Started With Inventory Tracking
2. Automating inventory allows at-a-glance inventory assessments
When you use inventory automation to create and maintain an always-accurate inventory list, you’ll always know what’s on hand . . . without rifling through a single cabinet or even stepping foot in a warehouse, stockroom, or storage closet.
What’s more, for many businesses that work out of multiple locations, such as construction, electrical, and plumbing companies, always-accurate inventory lists allow for more intelligent and efficient inventory utilization and job planning.
Gone are the days of heading across the county for a job only to learn a piece of equipment is miles and miles away. Instead, well ahead of the day’s start, employees can verify all inventory and assets required for a given job are in the right place, at the right time, and in the right condition. This saves time and money while keeping jobs on schedule and customers satisfied.
3. Inventory automation software offers intelligent low-stock alerts and more
Inventory management software like Sortly will automatically alert you when inventory-related events, such as dwindling stock levels or a warranty end date, are about to occur. These reminders are entirely customizable, allowing you to dictate who receives them, when, and how.
Whether you’re dropshipping your products or receiving parts from a manufacturer, automated alerts allow you to manage your entire inventory without obsessing over every detail or nervously counting inventory repeatedly.
About Sortly
Sortly is an inventory management solution that helps you track, manage, and organize your inventory from any device, in any location. We’re an easy-to-use inventory software that’s perfect for large or small companies. Sortly builds inventory tracking seamlessly into your workday so you can save time and money, satisfy your customers, and help your business succeed.
With Sortly, you can track inventory, supplies, parts, tools, assets, and anything else that matters to your business. It comes equipped with smart features like barcoding & QR coding, low stock alerts, customizable folders, data-rich reporting, and much more. Best of all, you can update inventory right from your smartphone, whether you’re on the job or on the go.
Whether you’re just getting started with inventory management or you’re an expert looking for a more efficient solution, we can transform how your company manages inventory—so you can focus on your next build. That’s why over 15,000 businesses globally trust us as their inventory management solution.
Start your two-week free trial of Sortly today.
