Counting Inventory Overview

Perform manual physical inventories and cycle counts to collect a baseline of your inventory, and to then ensure that your inventory stays accurate and up-to-date in the system.  

Note:  Although you can use RF Warehouse Management to count products during your business day, we recommend that you perform a manual count when your business is closed. Plan on counting your inventory between the time you close for business on one day and re-open for business on the next day.

Physical Inventories

A full physical inventory is a count of all inventory items at your branch. This count provides a baseline for all items in your warehouse, including their location and quantity as of the count date.

Unlike a cycle count, a physical inventory count involves all products at a branch at once. Companies only conduct full physical inventories on an annual or semi-annual basis because of the preparation, effort, and number of products involved.

Cycle Count

A cycle count verifies that the on-hand quantities for selected inventory items are accurate at your branch.

Unlike a full physical inventory, a cycle count involves a selection of products at a branch. Companies cycle count inventory on a daily basis because it requires less effort and involves fewer products.

Counting Process

The basic process of counting inventory, whether for a manual physical inventory or cycle count, is as follows:

  1. Generate a count control file.

  2. Print either count sheets or count cards.

  3. Count the items.

  4. Enter the physical counts into the system.

  5. Verify the physical counts.

  6. Update your on-hand quantities.

Use additional counting utilities to aid in the count entry process, capture inventory costs, and re-verify that counts are accurate.

Click here for a printable version of the Inventory Counting and Adjustments documentation.

See Also:

Count Control Files Overview

Count Sheets and Count Cards Overview

Counting Recommendations and Guidelines Overview

Entering Inventory Counts Overview

Count Variance Report Overview

Updating On-Hand Quantities Overview

Cycle Counting Specific Utilities Overview

Setup Requirements for Manual Inventory Counts

Manual Warehouse Management Overview