Guide to Inventory Control Software
Start with your bottleneck and choose your ammunition.
“The biggest misconception about inventory control software is that it – in and of itself – will reduce inventory. Not true. An inventory software implementation requires a great deal of mapping and thinking before it can do any good.
- Define the problem: What type of inventory needs to be managed? Raw materials? Work-in-process? Finished goods? Why is there too much inventory? Different solutions address different points in the manufacturing or retail process.
- Define current inventory levels: Choose which bottlenecks to address, and set a realistic goal for reduction.
- Get buy-in from suppliers: No matter where in the process you will reduce inventory, it will affect suppliers. They, too, may want to streamline deliveries to reduce their own inventories. Working with suppliers instead of against them will make the process easier.
- Decide whether you want to integrate your inventory management software solution into others, buy separate inventory programs to address specific issues, or hire either a contract or staff IT professional to build a custom solution.”
Find an online solution for inventory control
Consider the newer offerings of 'in-demand' inventory software solutions, which run on a remote server and are delivered to clients via the Internet. The advantages for small businesses here are lower start-up costs and flexible scalability, meaning that as your business grows, so can the inventory control solution. “
By Tonya Vinas
Bauer Communications Virtual Store automatically tracks on-line sales and may be easily integrated with your current in-house system.