Eght Ways To Keep Stock Control Organized

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Any business with physical stock needs to stay organized. Stock control is essential, especially in the early days of a business. Whether you’re still packing orders yourself or have been able to hire team to handle orders, follow these tips to keep stock moving efficiently.

1. Even if you only own a small warehouse space, make the most of the space you have. Layout the warehouse sensibly, so staff can move around the space and find the stock they need quickly. If you use the space you have in an effective way, you can also avoid having to hire a bigger space before you can really afford it. Clearly mark aisles, and label each shelf and area with what it’s for and what is stored there, so it’s easy to find what you need and keep the space tidy. Establish picking routes to keep staff flowing smoothly through the warehouse. Store items that sell fast near the front, where they’re easy to get to, and don’t overstock on slower sellers. 
2. Choose the right delivery options. If you use an outside contractor to make your deliveries, make sure you’ve chosen a reliable option. Late, lost or damaged deliveries will reflect poorly on your business, even if you’re using an outside company to make them. 
3. Keep stock areas tidy. If you’re working with a small space to store stock, it’s even more important to keep things tidy so you can easily find what you need, and don’t lose any stock units.  
4. Have regular stock audits. Make sure your have accurate numbers and know exactly how much of each item of stock you have, and that actual amounts match your records. If stock is being delivered short, or is being stolen, you can catch an issue much faster with regular checks. 
5. Make sure you use good stock control software to keep things running smoothly. Load management software is ideal to track stock and arrange efficient movement of stock and supplies. Keeping logistics in good order puts you in a great position to keep your business running in an organized manner. 
6. Whenever you have a new delivery of stock, be sure to check it thoroughly when it arrives. New stock should always be checked for damage, and to make sure incorrect items or too few items have been sent. Check in new stock promptly and get it stored in its proper place so it’s not taking up floor space waiting to be unpacked and put away. 
7. When packing orders to send out, make the process as streamlined as possible. Don’t keep multiple kinds of products in the same place or it’s easy to cause confusion and mispicks. Keep sale items, top sellers, new items and other products in clearly designated zones, and put the items you send out most nearest the front so they’re faster to grab for postage. 
8. Simplify the packing process by choosing a small number of standard shipping packages to keep things moving faster. If you only have one or two boxes to choose from, things will go faster than if you’re spending time searching for the right size box out of dozens of options. 

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