Inventory is the most essential item in any business. Inventory loss is a common problem that most retail stores and supermarkets face. This could be due to various factors such as damage, theft, spoilage, or administrative errors in stock management. Thus, it is essential to have strong and proper strategies that can help in the minimisation of inventory shrinkage. A commonly used strategy includes inventory management through inventory management software and optimisation of the business process. The article will discuss the various strategies that can be used to minimise inventory shrinkage.
Overview
Inventory loss can be a significant challenge for retail stores, as it can result in lost revenue, increased costs, and decreased customer satisfaction. Implementing clear receiving procedures, such as checking delivery orders and inspecting merchandise upon delivery, can help prevent issues such as damaged or missing items. By implementing these strategies, you can help prevent inventory loss in your retail store and improve your bottom line.
Strategies to Prevent Inventory Loss in Retail Stores
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Mark your Goods with a Barcode
A barcode provides important information or data by combining machine-readable lines, spaces, shapes, and patterns. Each barcode is unique and employs numbers and letters to differentiate between item classes. Employees scan these codes using sophisticated barcode scanners.
Barcodes provide automatic product identification, rapid recognition, and efficient data application. Regardless of the complexity of your applications, using barcodes will save your overhead expenses and minimise training time and labour, enhancing staff productivity.
Also Read: How to Create a Barcode In Few Steps With Free Barcode Generator
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Access to the Inventory System
It's not difficult to modify a few numbers in the inventory system so that no one notices the product is missing. That's why it's vital to be picky about which personnel have access to inventory systems and how much access they have.
To avoid data input mistakes, you will want to verify that each employee is trustworthy and adequately trained on how to use the system. It is also critical that each employee has a password that they do not share. This will reduce the likelihood of false input and enhance your audit procedure in the event of an error.
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Increase the Security of the Store
Your warehouse and physical outlet must be secure to prevent inventory shrinkage. Those stores with large stocks require the highest level of security. Install CCTV cameras in your warehouse and store corridors to monitor employee and visitor activity, capture suspected trespassers, and avert security violations. Use a digital door lock and limit warehouse access to those who handle inventory.
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Utilise Data to Identify Allocation and Purchasing
The appropriate time is crucial to inventory success. Retailers will be in difficulty if they postpone their purchasing orders. Buying too soon may be equally problematic, resulting in more inventory on the shelf and dwindling cash flow.
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Communication of Policies
It is not enough to have policies in place; you must adequately communicate them and enforce them. Your retail space should have procedures in place to manage employee purchases and returns. In addition, it should authorise customer discounts, access precious inventory, refill items, handle damaged or returned products, and ensure data input is accurate. It should also have repercussions for not following policies.
Once these policies or processes are in place, you want to ensure that each employee completely understands them. You also want to ensure that your entire team is working together to minimise loss by holding frequent meetings and maintaining open lines of communication.
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Minimisation of Internal Theft
Employee theft is becoming more prevalent in retail businesses. While no one wants to think their employees are stealing from them, having effective practices in place to mitigate and avoid employee theft is essential.
When considering hiring new personnel, make sure you take the necessary steps to adequately screen them. Background and criminal checks, drug testing, and references are crucial to ensuring you have the right people on your team.
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Inventory Audit at Regular intervals or Stocktaking
One of the critical processes that should be undertaken is an inventory audit. This is also known as stocktaking. It helps in comparing the stock as per records with the stock actually present in the stores or warehouses. There should be no difference between the two. This stocktaking can be conducted at any time whenever it is considered necessary.
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Monitoring Inventory Levels at Regular Intervals
Inventory shrinkage may be avoided by regularly checking your inventory levels. Set your inventory's minimum level. When your warehouse capacity approaches the bare minimum, it's time to order more inventory. To minimise product degradation and obsolescence, avoid ordering in excess. Inventory forecasting becomes critical in order to identify the appropriate quantity of purchases.
Also Read: Perpetual Inventory System - Methods, Advantages and Disadvantages
Conclusion
It is necessary to prevent inventory loss in order to maximise the profits of the business. Loss of inventory can cause financial losses for the business. Different strategies such as the security of the store, minimising internal theft, stocktaking, communication of policies for inventory, etc. can be used to prevent inventory loss. Hence business owners must take the necessary steps to prevent losses.
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